Jim Nelford

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Jim Nelford (born June 28, 1955) is a Canadian professional golfer, who has played on the PGA Tour. He has also been a golf commentator for ESPN.

Nelford was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He won the 1973 B.C. High School golf Championship and the 1973 B.C. Junior Championship. He attended Brigham Young University, where he played on the varsity golf team on scholarship.^[1] Nelford won two All-American selections: 1976 and 1977, both Second Team.^[2]

Nelford won the 1975 and 1976 Canadian Amateur Championships, and the 1977 Western Amateur. He turned professional in 1977, and played on the PGA Tour from 1978 to 1988, where his best finish was second at the 1983 Sea Pines Heritage Classic and at the 1984 Bing Crosby Pro-Am (playoff loss to Hale Irwin). He won the World Cup with Dan Halldorson in 1980, and he won one Tournament Players' Series event (a PGA Tour satellite event).^[1]

Nelford was seriously injured in a waterskiing accident in September 1984, suffering crippling damage to one of his arms, when it was badly sliced by the propeller blade. Although he recovered, he was never able to regain his top golf form after that, and gradually lost his playing status on the PGA Tour.

Along with Lorne Rubenstein, Nelford co-authored the 1984 book Seasons in a Golfer's Life, a story of his life in golf. Nelford putts left-handed, but plays all of his other shots right-handed. Since turning age 50, Nelford has appeared in a few Champions Tour events, without achieving notable success.^[3]