The resolution cites his ‘significant contributions to the game of golf as a player, a teacher, and a commentator’. Although the award procedure had begun back in March of 2006, Nelson died on 26 September, less than three weeks before the approval process was finalised.
Winner of five Major championships and 52 PGA Tour titles, Nelson will forever be remembered for the remarkable feat of winning 11 straight events in 1945, including the PGA Championship—that year’s only major—and a total of 18 of the 31 events he had entered.
This was part of an extraordinary run of form between 1942 and 1946, when he had 65 consecutive top 10s, only once finishing outside the top 10, with 34 victories and 16 runner-up places.
Source: GolfToday.co.uk