Long before Tiger Woods chased the record books, a caddie from the Virginia mountains set the benchmark. Sam Snead won 82 times on the PGA Tour, a total only Tiger has matched, with a swing Jack Nicklaus called the most fluid motion in the game.
Slammin' Sammy won seven majors, won a Tour event at 52 and made a major cut at 67. Here is the full story of golf's great natural, plus the best pieces from our golf collection.
Sam Snead Fact File
| Full name | Samuel Jackson Snead |
| Date of birth | 27 May 1912 |
| Place of birth | Ashwood, Virginia, USA (near Hot Springs) |
| Died | 23 May 2002, Hot Springs, Virginia (aged 89) |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Discipline | Professional golfer |
| Nationality | American |
| Status | Retired; World Golf Hall of Fame (1974) |
| PGA Tour wins | 82 (joint record with Tiger Woods) |
| Nickname | Slammin' Sammy, The Slammer |
Career History
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | PGA Championship | Winner (first major) |
| 1946 | The Open | Winner at St Andrews |
| 1949 | Masters and PGA Championship | Winner of both |
| 1951 | PGA Championship | Winner |
| 1952 | Masters | Winner |
| 1954 | Masters | Winner after a play-off with Ben Hogan |
| 1965 | Greater Greensboro Open | Winner at 52, the oldest PGA Tour champion |
Majors in bold. Snead won 82 official PGA Tour events and seven majors in total.
Early Years: The Caddie From The Homestead
Snead grew up in Bath County, Virginia, and started caddying at The Homestead resort in Hot Springs when he was just seven. The story goes that he taught himself with clubs carved from tree branches. By 17 he was an assistant professional at The Homestead, and he turned pro in 1934.
Snead never looked like he was trying hard, yet he hit the ball huge distances with a rhythm coaches still study.
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The Breakthrough: Money Leader and Major Winner
In 1938 Snead topped the money list and won the first of four Vardon Trophies for the lowest scoring average. His first major came at the 1942 PGA Championship, and in 1946 he crossed the Atlantic to win The Open at St Andrews.
The great what-if is the U.S. Open, where he finished second four times.
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Peak Years: Augusta, Hogan and 1949
1949 was Snead at his best. He won the Masters and the PGA Championship in the same season, topped the money list again and was named PGA Player of the Year. Two more Masters titles followed in 1952 and 1954, the second after a famous 18-hole play-off against his great rival Ben Hogan, which Snead edged 70 to 71.
He also played on seven Ryder Cup teams and captained the US in 1959 and 1969.
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Later Career: Winning at 52
In 1965 he won the Greater Greensboro Open for an eighth time at 52 years and 10 months, making him the oldest winner in PGA Tour history. He was third at the 1974 PGA Championship aged 62, and in 1979 he made the cut at the PGA Championship at 67, still the oldest player ever to do so at a major.
He also won the Senior PGA Championship six times.
Honours
Major Championships (7)
- Masters: 1949, 1952, 1954
- PGA Championship: 1942, 1949, 1951
- The Open: 1946
Tour and Season Awards
- 82 PGA Tour wins (joint record)
- Leading money winner: 1938, 1949, 1950
- Vardon Trophy: 1938, 1949, 1950, 1955
- PGA Player of the Year: 1949
Team and Lifetime Honours
- Ryder Cup: seven playing appearances; captain in 1959 and 1969
- World Golf Hall of Fame: 1974
- PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award: 1998
Off the Course
Snead stayed loyal to his Virginia roots throughout his life. He was also an innovator, pioneering the sand wedge around the greens and later putting side-saddle. He died in Hot Springs in May 2002, four days before his 90th birthday.
FAQs
How many PGA Tour events did Sam Snead win?
Sam Snead won 82 official PGA Tour events, the all-time record, later equalled by Tiger Woods. He won more than 140 professional titles worldwide.
How many majors did Sam Snead win?
Seven: the Masters in 1949, 1952 and 1954, the PGA Championship in 1942, 1949 and 1951, and The Open in 1946. He never won the U.S. Open, finishing second four times.
Where was Sam Snead born?
Snead was born in Ashwood, Virginia, near Hot Springs, on 27 May 1912. He started caddying at The Homestead resort there at the age of seven.
Who is the oldest winner on the PGA Tour?
Sam Snead. He won the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open aged 52 years and 10 months, his eighth win at that event.
How tall was Sam Snead?
Sam Snead stood 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall.
Shop the Sam Snead Collection
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Sam Snead Men's Hoodie
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Sam Snead Men's T-Shirt
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Browse the full Sam Snead collection and the wider golf collection. Or design your own with our Custom Name Men's Hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Jack Nicklaus Career Story and Ben Hogan Career Story.
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