American · Ashwood, Virginia, USA · Born 27 May 1912 · Died 2002-05-23'Slammin' Sammy' Snead is regarded as one of golf's greatest ball-strikers, holding the record for most PGA Tour wins despite never winning the US Open.
Eighty-two PGA Tour victories across a 29-year span — a record tied only by Tiger Woods — and seven major championships make Sam Snead the most prolific winner in the history of professional golf, a man who also set the record as the tour's oldest winner at 52 years and 10 months and whose swing Jack Nicklaus called the finest he ever saw. He won 7 major championships: Masters (1949, 1952, 1954), The Open Championship (1946) and PGA Championship (1942, 1949, 1951). He became the oldest winner on the PGA Tour at 52 years and 10 months when he won the Greater Greensboro Open in 1965 — a record that still stands. He won the PGA Vardon Trophy (lowest scoring average) 4 times. His smooth, rhythmical, seemingly effortless swing was considered technically the finest in golf history — described by Jack Nicklaus as the greatest natural swing he ever saw. He never won the US Open despite finishing runner-up 4 times — the most painful absence from a major record of any golfer of his stature. He competed in the Ryder Cup from 1937 to 1959. He remained competitive on tour into his 60s and played in the Masters until 1983, aged 71. He died in May 2002 aged 89. His 82 wins span a record 29-year period of tour victory.
Record 82 PGA Tour wins
His 82 PGA Tour victories is the all-time record — despite never winning the US Open, which he finished second in four times.
Did You Know?How They Played
Natural swing with exceptional length and accuracy
Lasting Impact
Greatest golfer never to win US Open, tied record holder for most PGA Tour victories
Career Honours
- PGA Tour record 82 wins
- World Golf Hall of Fame 1974
- 7 major titles
American Athletes