Irving, Texas ? Byron Nelson, golf’s “Lord Byron” whose 11 straight tournament victories in 1945 stand as one of sports’ most enduring records, died Tuesday. He was 94.

His death was confirmed by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. No cause of death was listed on its Web site.

Known for his graceful swing and gentle manner, Nelson had the greatest year in the history of professional golf in 1945 when he won 18 tournaments. He captured 31 of 54 tournaments in 1944-45. Then, at age 34, he retired after the 1946 season to spend more time on his Texas ranch.

“When I was playing regularly, I had a goal,” Nelson recalled years later. “I could see the prize money going into the ranch, buying a tractor, or a cow. It gave me incentive.”

That incentive pushed Nelson to become one of the best players of his era. He won the Masters in 1937 and ’42, the U.S. Open in 1939 and the PGA Championship in 1940 and ’45.

He also finished second once in the U.S. Open, twice in the Masters and three times in the PGA. Nelson played in the British Open only twice, finishing fifth in 1937.

Nelson’s long, fluid swing is considered the model of the modern way to strike a golf ball and his kind, caring style with fans and competitors made him one of the most well-liked people in sports.

“I don’t know very much,” Nelson said in a 1997 interview with The Associated Press. “I know a little bit about golf. I know how to make a stew. And I know how to be a decent man.”

Byron Nelson is shown practicing for the L.A. Open in this 1936 photo in Los Angeles. Nelson died Tuesday at age 94.

His second British Open was in 1955, when he was no longer a serious competitor, although he did win the French Open on that trip for his last professional victory. His prize money, however, was not enough to pay the hotel bill.

“I had to put up another $200,” he told the AP with a huge smile.

Nelson was born Feb. 4, 1912, on the family farm and started in golf in 1922 as a caddie at Glen Garden Country Club in Fort Worth. One year, he won the caddies’ championship, defeating Ben Hogan in a playoff.

It was the beginning of a rivalry that never really materialized. Though they were born six months apart, Nelson won all five of his major championships before he was 34 and Hogan won all nine of his after he was 34.

After graduating from high school, Nelson got a job as a file clerk in the accounting office of the Forth Worth and Denver Railroad and played golf in his spare time.

He lost his job during the Great Depression but found work in 1931 with a bankers’ magazine. The same year, he entered his first tournament, the National Amateur in Chicago.

Auto Racing

NASCAR mulls changes

Charlotte, N.C. – NASCAR’s championship-deciding system isn’t the only thing about to be changed. The annual All-Star race is also being examined by series officials for tweaks to its format, The Associated Press has learned.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler confirmed Tuesday that talks were under way to make changes to the Nextel All-Star Challenge. The race has been run at the suburban Charlotte track 20 of its 21 years.

The All-Star race currently is a 90-lap invitational, non-points race for Nextel Cup drivers. The winner gets a $1 million payout. The field is determined by drivers who have won races in the current and preceding year, past All-Star race winners and Cup champions from the last 10 years.

Hockey

Jackets’ Klesla suspended

Toronto – Defenseman Rostislav Klesla of the Columbus Blue Jackets will sit out two regular-season games for a questionable preseason hit, the first player suspended by the NHL this season. Klesla was suspended Tuesday for the hit on Chicago forward Tuomo Ruutu, who is out four weeks because of a sprained MCL in his left knee.

Flyers lose goaltender

Philadelphia – Flyers goalie Antero Niittymaki could miss up to two months because of a hip injury sustained during practice Tuesday. An MRI revealed the torn labrum in his left hip, and Philadelphia general manager Bob Clarke said a decision on whether to operate would be made today.

NBA

Nowitzki’s pact extended

Dallas – Dirk Nowitzki is sticking with the Dallas Mavericks at least through the 2010-11 season. A week before opening training camp, the Mavs made sure their standout forward remains under contract for the next five seasons with a lucrative extension Tuesday.

Nowitzki, 28, already was signed for the upcoming season and had a $16 million-plus option for 2007-08 under the maximum contract he signed in 2001. The new deal guarantees that season, plus tacks on three more. He’ll turn 33 the summer his new contract expires.

Terms of the deal were not released, but with basic raises the extension is likely worth around $60 million.

Nowitzki finished third in MVP voting each of the last two years. His value soared this past postseason, when he led Dallas to the league finals for the first time in franchise history. The Mavs took a 2-0 lead over the Miami Heat, then lost in six games.

He averaged a career-high 26.6 points per game last season, along with 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 blocks.

Tennis

Rubin halts victory drought

Luxembourg – Chanda Rubin won her first match in more than a year, beating Germany’s Martina Muller, 6-3, 6-0, Tuesday to reach the second round of the Fortis Championships. Seventh-seeded Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and eighth-seeded Mary Pierce of France were knocked out in the opening round. Italian qualifier Karin Knapp defeated Groenefeld, 6-0, 6-4, and Ukraine’s Alona Bondarenko stopped Pierce, 6-3, 6-3.

Ljubicic wins in Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand – Top-seeded Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia overcame Fernando Vicente of Spain, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, on Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Thailand Open. American Robby Ginepri also moved on, defeating Kenneth Carlsen, 6-3, 6-4.

Simon advances at Palermo

Palermo, Sicily – Third-seeded Gilles Simon of France and fourth-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain advanced to the second round of the clay-court Palermo International on Tuesday. Simon defeated Andreas Seppi of Italy, 6-0, 6-7 (6), 6-2, and Almagro topped Oliver Marach of Austria, 6-1, 6-4.