Slammin Sammy Snead
Posted on October 29, 2019
Sam Snead was one of the best golfers of all time. Snead had a smooth swing that led him to a record 82 PGA Tour victories, including seven majors. He’s the only golfer to win in six different decades. Snead competed against Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, the three formed the American Triumvirate. Discover more about Slammin’ Sammy Snead in this legend spotlight.
Samuel Jackson Snead got involved in golf young and by seven began caddying at The Homestead in his hometown of Ashwood, Virginia. Snead learned to swing by watching and imitating his brother Homer. They would carve clubs from maple limbs and drive old club heads they were given to create rudimentary clubs. Those clubs were very limber which many believe led to Snead’s smooth swing tempo. He timed his swing to align with classical music. Snead had arguably the greatest golf swing in history, it looked effortless to all who watched.
At the age of 19, Snead became the first assistant professional at the Homestead. In 1934 after being denied a dollar raise at the Cascades Course, Snead packed his clubs and set out to join the PGA Tour. In 1936, Snead won his first PGA Tour title at the West Virginia Closed Pro. After winning the 1937 Oakland Open, Snead being a naive country boy couldn’t understand how the New York Times got his picture for their paper since he’d never been there. After the era of Bobby Jones golf was looking for a new marketable star, Snead’s looks and charm made him the ideal new star in golf.
In 1938, Snead won the Greater Greensboro Open for the first time. He would earn a total 8 victories at the tournament, setting a record for most wins in a single event. He gained his eighth and final win at the Greater Greensboro Open in 1965, which was his record 82nd PGA Tour win. The 1965 victory made Snead the oldest golfer, at age 52, to win on the PGA Tour. Snead’s milestone 82 PGA Tour wins remained unmatched for over 50 years.
After accumulating 27 wins on tour, Slammin’ Sammy Snead finally captured a major championship at the 1942 PGA Championship. Snead nearly missed the tournament as he was enlisting in the U.S. Navy to join the U.S. efforts in World War II. He was able to delay his enrollment into the Navy by a week just to play in the event. Snead began his time in the U.S. Navy a major champion. During the war time 14 major championship opportunities were missed due to cancellations. Snead served until 1944, upon returning to the tour he earned victories at the Portland and Richmond Open.
In 1946, Snead took his only trip across the pond to compete in the 75th Open Championship. Snead won to become the Champion Golfer of the Year and claim the Claret Jug at the Old Course at St. Andrews. His next major triumph came in 1949 at Augusta National Golf Club. Snead won the Masters Tournament and was the first winner to receive the now iconic Augusta Green Jacket, symbolizing the winner is an honorary member of Augusta National Golf Club. Later that year, Snead won his 2nd PGA Championship and earned Player of the Year honors for 1949.
1950 was perhaps Snead’s best year on tour where he won 11 tournaments and surpassed the 50-career wins mark. However, he lost Player of the Year honors to Ben Hogan who’d made a triumphant comeback to golf that same year. He did win the Vardon Trophy for his low scoring average of 69.23. In 1951, Snead won his third and final PGA Championship.
During Snead’s career his main contemporaries were Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, the three formed the American Triumvirate. Snead and Hogan would trade Augusta Green Jackets between 1951 to 1954. 1951 Masters champion Hogan would present the green jacket to Snead in 1952. Snead got the honors of presenting Hogan the green jacket in 1953. In 1954 after a playoff, Snead was crowned Masters champion one final time. Snead’s 1954 Masters Tournament victory would be his final major and the final major for the American Triumvirate.
While his contemporaries retired from the game, Snead kept on swinging. Continuing to accrue victories on the PGA Tour and even a winning an event on the LPGA Tour. In 1961, Snead competed at the LPGA Royal Poinciana Invitational, which was a tournament between 24 men and women, professional and amateur golfers. Louis Suggs won the first playing and Snead finished third. In 1962, the format for the LPGA Royal Poinciana Plaza Golf Invitational shifted with a field of 14 LPGA professional golfers, such as Louis Suggs, Mickey Wright, Patty Berg, and Kathy Whitworth, against one PGA Tour golfer, Sam Snead. Snead was able to win at the Palm Beach Par-3 Golf Club. Snead remains the only man to earn an LPGA Tour title.
Sam Snead’s career is highlighted by many records and unremarkable achievements. In 1959, during a pro-am at The Greenbrier, Snead carded the first recorded round of 59 during tournament play. However, the round didn’t occur during a PGA Tour event. Throughout his career Snead made 34 holes-in-ones, making an ace with every club except the putter. At the 1979 Quad Cities Open, Snead became the first PGA Tour golfer to shoot his age with a round of 67 followed the next day by a round of 66. Snead recorded victories in six decades, his first in 1936 and his final in 1982 at the Legends of Golf tournament.
His game remained in stellar form throughout the years. Snead, at 62, finished tied for third at the 1974 PGA Championship behind winner Lee Trevino. He became the only player to finish top-10 in at least one major in five different decades. Snead won the first Legends of Golf event in 1978, which featured older PGA Tour players. The television success of the Legends of Golf event brought forth the idea of the Senior PGA Tour. Snead was an integral part in getting the Senior PGA Tour started along with other seasoned professionals.
Many lessons about the golf swing can be learned from Sam Snead. Snead never utilized all his power but used only 80 to 90 percent power in his swing. He tried to avoid too much conscious thought while swinging. Snead gripped the club lightly, especially in his right hand, to hit the ball further and straighter. He tried to feel oily and smooth while attempting to swing on the same plane. To begin his swing, he’d cock his chin towards his right shoulder, which was copied by Jack Nicklaus after the two played together. Sam Snead was a true legend of the game.
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