Samuel Jackson Snead (May 27, 1912 - May 23, 2002) was one of the top golfers in the world. He won a record 81 PGA Tour events and about 70 others. He won three Masters, three PGA Championships and one British Open.
He was famed for his folksy image, wearing a straw hat and playing even on turnaments barefoot and making such statements as "Keep close count of your nickels and dimes, stay away from whiskey, and never concede a putt."
He was survived by two sons, Sam Jr., of Hot Springs, and Terry, of Mountain Grove, Va.; a brother, Pete, of Pittsburgh; and two grandchildren. His wife, Audrey, died in 1990.
Career
In 1937, his first year on the Tour, he won five events, including the Oakland Open in California.
In 1938, he first won the Greater Greensboro Open, which he won eight times, the Tour record for victories at an event, concluding in 1965 at the age of 52, making him the oldest player to win a PGA Tour event.
1939 was the first year he choked at the United States Open, the only major event he never won. |
