Byron Nelson, Colonial officials seek sunnier skies at 2016 PGA Tour events

The PGA Tour’s two-week trek through Dallas-Fort Worth begins this week, moving the “Metroplex Majors” to the forefront of the local sports calendar.

As in most seasons, the events will be played in consecutive weeks on the May calendar with the traditional running order back in place. Golfers will stop first in Irving for the AT&T Byron Nelson, which begins Thursday at the Four Seasons Resort, then carry on to Fort Worth for the Dean & DeLuca Invitational, May 23-29 at Colonial Country Club.

Last year’s water-logged journey through DFW began in Fort Worth and ended in Irving, where Nelson tournament officials recorded 9.85 inches of rain at the TPC Las Colinas layout during those two weeks and were forced to tweak the par value of one hole to complete the event.

Because of flooding on the fairway at the 14th hole, the 406-yard par-4 was converted to a par-3 during the 2015 tournament, making the course play as a par-69 venue.

Dallas resident Steven Bowditch took advantage of the soft greens, firing an 18-under-par total that established a tournament scoring record of 259. Bowditch, a native of Australia, became the Nelson’s first wire-to-wire winner since Tom Watson in 1980.

Bowditch, 32, will be back to defend his title at this week’s $7.3 million event, and he’ll be joined by a cast of contenders headed by Jordan Spieth — a Dallas resident who is the reigning U.S. Open champion. Spieth, 22, is the No. 2 player in the world golf rankings.

Dustin Johnson, the No. 8 player in the rankings, also is headed to Irving, where PGA Tour officials are hoping for significantly less rainfall during this year’s DFW doubleheader.

Fans at the Nelson will be able to test the skies first at a tournament named for the late golf legend from Roanoke, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame who learned the game while working as a teenaged caddie at Glen Garden Country Club in Fort Worth.

The defending champ

Bowditch established a tournament scoring record at last year’s AT&T Byron Nelson. He finished with a 259 total, which was 18 under during tournament week because of the flexible par value assigned to No. 14.

The lowest total in relation to par in Nelson tournament history (19 under, 261 total) remains in possession of Fort Worth resident Rory Sabbatini, who won the event in 2009.

But the tournament scoring record belongs to Bowditch, who married his wife, Amanda, on Sept. 10, 2011 at the same resort where he won last year’s Nelson title by four strokes to secure the second PGA Tour title of his career. His other triumph came at the 2014 Texas Open in San Antonio.

On accepting the Nelson trophy at the 18th green: It was a pretty surreal feeling because that’s a very special place for myself and my wife. It’s a really fantastic feeling to have wedding pictures down the 18th green and pictures with the trophy. Taking photos [last May] was definitely the second best time I’ve had on that green since we got married.

On being treated for depression after surviving only two of 22 cuts on the 2006 PGA Tour: My personal life, it’s a closed door. But it’s built me into the person I am today.

On winning two tour stops in Texas, his adopted home state, as a native Australian: I’ve been here for 12 years now. I love playing in Texas. The weather and the golf courses are very similar to where I grew up. It’s pretty windy in both places, so that’s been a big benefit when the wind kicks up at tournaments in Texas. I’m accustomed to it, so I think that is a little bit of an advantage for Australians when we have windy, firm conditions in Texas. It’s just the way we grew up.

On the up-and-down nature of his career, which includes six missed cuts in his past eight events on the 2016 PGA Tour: It’s basically the way my career has been my whole life. When it’s good, it’s good. And when it’s not, I’m just trying to hang on and make some cuts and get better. It’s the game of golf. I’m obviously not at the superstar level.

DFW double dippers

Through the years, 15 golfers have won both DFW tournaments in their PGA Tour careers. The most recent player to turn the trick was Adam Scott, with his 2014 win at Colonial. Dallas winners include champions at both the Byron Nelson and Dallas Open, the event’s former name. All Fort Worth titles came at Colonial:

Nelson’s career

A look at significant numbers posted by Byron Nelson, the tournament namesake, as a Hall of Fame golfer during his professional career:

2 Seasons as the leading money winner on PGA Tour (1944, 1945)

4 Ryder Cup appearances (1937, 1939, 1941, 1947)

11 Consecutive victories during the 1945 season, a PGA Tour record

18 Victories during the 1945 season, a PGA Tour season record

52 Career victories at PGA Tour events, including five major championships

65 Consecutive top-10 finishes at PGA Tour events (1942-46), a tour record

68.33 Scoring average in 1945, a PGA Tour record that stood for 55 years

Tournament rounds

Thursday-Sunday, TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas (Par 70, 7,166 yards), Irving

Purse: $7.3 million

Winner’s share: $1,314,000

Defending champion: Steven Bowditch

TV: Thursday-Friday, 2-5 p.m., Golf; Saturday-Sunday, 2-5 p.m., KTVT/11

Tickets, more info: attbyronnelson.org

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 7:26 PM.