Sam Snead

Slammin' Sam — 82 PGA Tour victories including the all-time wins record, yet he never won the US Open despite finishing second four times.

Samuel Jackson Snead was born in Ashwood, Virginia in 1912 and won 82 PGA Tour titles — tied with Tiger Woods for the most in history — across a competitive career spanning more than 40 years. 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.

Natural swing with exceptional length and accuracy

Greatest golfer never to win US Open, tied record holder for most PGA Tour victories

• Masters 1949, 1952, 1954
• The Open Championship 1946
• PGA Championship 1942, 1949, 1951
• PGA Tour all-time wins record 82 (tied with Tiger Woods)
• Oldest PGA Tour winner (52 years 10 months)
• PGA Tour Vardon Trophy 4x