Editing Sam Snead (section)

==Biography==
===Personal life===
Born in [[Ashwood, Virginia]], near [[Hot Springs, Virginia|Hot Springs]], Snead began caddying at age seven at [[The Homestead (Hot Springs, Virginia)|The Homestead]]'s Old Course in Hot Springs. He worked as an assistant pro at The Homestead at 17 in 1929, then moved to the Cascades Course and turned professional in 1934.<ref name=mapga/> During the depression, Snead taught himself the game of golf from a set of clubs carved from tree limbs. Snead joined the PGA Tour in 1936 and achieved immediate success by winning the West Virginia Closed Pro tournament.

In 1936 he won two matches at the [[Meadow Brook Golf Club|Meadow Brook Club]], earning a $10,000 prize. This gave him the money he needed to start playing professionally full-time.<ref>{{cite book |last=Moss |first=Richard J. |title=The Kingdom of Golf in America |page=188 |date=June 1, 2013 |publisher=U of Nebraska Press |isbn=978-0-8032-4680-5 |lccn=2012047430 |oclc=841906541}}</ref> In 1944 he became resident playing professional at [[The Greenbrier]] Resort in [[White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia]], and maintained ties to Hot Springs and The Homestead all of his life. During the winter, he was a resident playing pro at the [[Boca Raton Resort]] from 1956 to 1969.<ref name=mmay>{{cite news |url=http://www.gogolfandtravel.com/florida-historic-golf-trail/boca-raton-resort |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708232552/http://www.gogolfandtravel.com/florida-historic-golf-trail/boca-raton-resort |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |publisher=Go Golf and Travel |title=Golf @ The Boca Resort: Living, Breathing History |first=Mike |last=May}}</ref> Each spring he returned to the Mid-Atlantic, stopping at The [[Masters Tournament]] on his way back to The Greenbrier.

Snead served in the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] during [[World War II]] from 1942 to 1944.<ref name="Gettinto">{{cite book |title=Gettin' to the Dance Floor: An Oral History of American Golf |author-link=Al Barkow |first=Al |last=Barkow |year=1986 |publisher=Atheneum |location=New York |isbn=978-0-689-11517-2 |lccn = 85047660|oclc=42892255}}</ref> He was an athletic specialist in Cmdr. [[Gene Tunney]]'s program in [[San Diego]], and was given a medical [[Military discharge#United States|discharge]] for a back injury in September 1944.<ref name=ssgmd>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p5ExAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yU4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3860,1762916 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |agency=Associated Press |title=Sam Snead discharged from navy |date=September 13, 1944 |page=6}}</ref>

Snead appeared as himself in an episode of ''[[The Phil Silvers Show]]'', "The Colonel Breaks Par", in 1957.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Colonel Breaks Par |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0674174/ |publisher=IMDb}}</ref>

His nephew, [[J. C. Snead]], was also a successful professional golfer, winning tournaments on both the [[PGA Tour]] and the [[Champions Tour]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vshfm.com/hall/induct_jcsnead.html|title=Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Class of 2003|access-date=March 15, 2010|archive-date=November 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130135629/http://vshfm.com/hall/induct_jcsnead.html}}</ref>

===Career===
In July 1936, Snead won his first tournament, the West Virginia Closed Pro, contested at [[The Greenbrier]]'s Championship Course and Old White Course. He shot rounds of 70–61 to rout [[Logan, West Virginia]] professional, Clem Wiechman by 16 strokes (74-73).<ref>{{cite web |last=Kelley |first=Brent |title=Largest Margin of Victory on the PGA Tour |work=About.com Sports |url=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/qt/pgawinmargin.htm |publisher=About.com |access-date=January 16, 2015 |archive-date=June 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628075033/http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/qt/pgawinmargin.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28310306/portsmouth-daily-times/ |newspaper=[[Portsmouth Daily Times]] |title=Weichman Second in White Sulphur Event |date=July 11, 1936 |page=3}}</ref> The following month, he won the first of 17 [[West Virginia Open]] championships by beating Art Clark by five strokes at Guyan Country Club in [[Huntington, West Virginia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47603928/bluefield-daily-telegraph/ |newspaper=[[Bluefield Daily Telegraph]] |title=Sam Snead Blast Out Five-Under-Par to Win State Open Golf Title |date=August 8, 1936 |page=8}}</ref>

In 1937, Snead's first full year on the PGA Tour,<ref name=mapga/> he won six events, including the [[Oakland Open]] at Claremont Country Club in California and his second West Virginia Open. In Snead's debut in the [[1937 U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] hosted at [[Oakland Hills Country Club|Oakland Hills]], he finished runner-up to [[Ralph Guldahl]] (who won with 19 clubs in his bag).<ref name=37usopen>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74B_giQRJ8M | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/74B_giQRJ8M| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=1937 U.S. Open Highlights |publisher=[[United States Golf Association|USGA]] |date=August 17, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Snead shared the first round lead shooting 69 with fellow West Virginian [[Denny Shute]] ([[1936 PGA Championship|1936]] and [[1937 PGA Championship|1937]] PGA Champion). In Snead's first of two attempts in [[The Open Championship]], he finished tied for 11th.<ref name=ghcbv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jkJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xYQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4146%2C1584837 |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |location=(Scotland) |title=Cotton's brilliant victory |date=July 10, 1937 |page=6}}</ref> While working at [[The Greenbrier]], Snead played in the [[U.S. Pro Tennis Championships]]. In the first round, he faced the eventual winner [[Karel Kozeluh]], losing to Kozeluh by scores of 6–1, 6–1, and 6–1.

In 1938, Snead first won the [[Greater Greensboro Open]], the first of eight times, the Tour record for victories in a single tournament event. Snead's last win at Greensboro was in 1965, at the age of {{age in years and days|1912|5|27|1965|4|3}}, making him the oldest player to win a PGA Tour event.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oldest PGA Tour Winners |url=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/qt/pgaoldestw.htm |first=Brent |last=Kelley |work=About.com Sports |publisher=About.com |access-date=March 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054509/http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/qt/pgaoldestw.htm }}</ref> Snead introduced his first book, ''Sam Snead's quick way to better golf''.<ref name=qwbg>{{cite book |title=Sam Snead's quick way to better golf |last=Snead |first=Sam |location=Garden City, New York |publisher=Sun Dial Press |year=1938 |lccn=39000237 |isbn=978-1-161-62978-1 |oclc=504827770}}</ref>

In 1939, Snead won three times. 1939 was the first of four times (although Snead had already come close in 1937, losing to the eventual champion who had 19 clubs in his bag) where Snead failed at crucial moments of the [[1939 U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]], the only major event he never won. Needing a par to win at the Philadelphia C.C., but not knowing that, since on-course scoreboards did not exist at that time, Snead posted a triple-bogey 8 on the par-5 72nd hole, taking a risky shot from a difficult lie in the fairway. Snead had been told on the 18th tee by a spectator that he needed a birdie to win.<ref name="Gettinto" /> Snead ended up in fifth place, two shots behind three players who went into a playoff.

[[File:Sam Snead 1945.jpg|thumb|left|Snead lacing up his golf shoes in the locker room, circa 1945]]

During [[World War II]], Snead was prevented from participating in 14 major championships (1940–1945 Open Championship, 1942–1945 U.S. Open, 1943–1945 Masters, 1943 PGA Championship), due to their cancellations. Snead served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1944.

In 1946, Snead won six times including the [[1946 Open Championship|Open Championship]] at [[St Andrews]]. His expenses for playing there were more than three times his winning purse.<ref name=46open>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016478.html |first=Bob |last=Carter |title=Only old age could stop Snead |publisher=ESPN |access-date=February 8, 2021}}</ref><ref name=theopen>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-02-sp-4783-story.html |title=After 51 Years on Tour, Snead Takes It Easy |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 2, 1989 |access-date=July 21, 2019}}</ref> Snead tied for sixth in the Open in 1962. Snead introduced the book, ''Sam Snead's How to play golf, and professional tips on improving your score. Also, rules of the game of golf, as approved by the United States Golf Association, and by the Royal and ancient golf club of St. Andrews''.<ref name=htpg>{{cite book |title=Sam Snead's How to play golf and professional tips on improving your score. Also, rules of the game of golf, as approved by the United States Golf Association, and by the Royal and ancient golf club of St. Andrews |last=Snead |first=Sam |location=Garden City, New York |publisher=Garden City Publishing |year=1946 |lccn=46004312 |isbn=978-1-258-14298-8 |ol=OL2693695W}}</ref>

At the U.S. Open in [[1947 U.S. Open (golf)|1947]], Snead missed a {{convert|30|in|cm|adj=on}} putt on the final playoff hole to finish runner-up to [[Lew Worsham]].<ref name=usopen>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwKpsrvdxeA | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/SwKpsrvdxeA| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=1947 U.S. Open: Snead Recalls Tough Defeat |publisher=[[United States Golf Association|USGA]] |date=May 27, 2014|access-date=July 21, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Snead won three times in 1948, including his first [[Texas Open]] and fourth [[West Virginia Open]].

In 1949, Snead won nine PGA events including two majors including the Masters<ref name=49masters>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFvfQ54f0-k | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/qFvfQ54f0-k| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Masters Golf (1949) |publisher=[[Pathé News]]|website=youtube.com |date=April 13, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the PGA Championship<ref name=49pga>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhrd0y-zhRI | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Hhrd0y-zhRI| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Sam Snead Wins PGA (1949) |publisher=Pathé News |website=youtube.com |date=April 13, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and was awarded Golfer of the Year. For Snead, it was the third of four second-place finishes at the [[1949 U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]], the only major championship he never won. Needing two pars to finish in a tie for the lead, Snead took three shots to hole out his ball from the fringe of the green on the 17th hole.<ref name=1949nonyt>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1949/07/11/archives/middlecoff-sinks-decisive-putt-to-capture-reading-golf-with-266.html|newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press|title=Middlecoff Sinks Decisive Putt to Capture Reading Golf With 266|date=July 11, 1949}}</ref><ref name=usopen49>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yYgAKsmTCg | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/4yYgAKsmTCg| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=1949 U.S. Open Highlights |publisher=[[United States Golf Association]] |date=September 14, 2017}}</ref>

In 1950, Snead won 11 events, placing him third in that category behind [[Byron Nelson]] (18, in 1945) and [[Ben Hogan]] (13, in 1946).<ref name="PGA records"/> Snead claimed that 1950 was his "greatest year" winning "eleven tournaments" including a playoff victory over Hogan in the L.A. Open yet lost the "Golfer of the Year" to Hogan, who won one "tournament".<ref name=ssneadi /> His scoring average of 69.23 was a Vardon Trophy record that stood for 50 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/qt/pgascoreavg.htm |title=Lowest PGA Tour Vardon Trophy Scoring Averages |first=Brent |last=Kelley |work=About.com Sports |publisher=About.com |access-date=March 20, 2013 |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403165205/http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/qt/pgascoreavg.htm }}</ref>

In 1952, Snead won ten events including the [[1952 Masters Tournament|Masters]].<ref name=52masters>{{cite web |url=https://www.masters.com/en_US/watch/2012-03-31/013673d17e7800000026.html |title=Masters Greats: Sam Snead 1952 |website=masters.com}}</ref> At the [[Jacksonville Open]], Snead forfeited rather than play an 18-hole playoff against [[Doug Ford (golfer)|Doug Ford]] after the two golfers finished in a tie at the end of regulation play. The forfeit stemmed from a ruling Snead received during the tournament's second round of play. On the 10th hole, Snead's drive landed behind an out-of-bounds stake. While [[Chick Harbert]], who was playing with Snead, thought the ball was out of bounds,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vWYuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QNoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3673,2123731&dq=doug+ford+sam+snead+jacksonville+open+out+of+bounds&hl=en |title=Ford Gets First Major Golf Win |newspaper=[[Reading Eagle]] |agency=United Press |date=March 25, 1952 |page=17 |access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> a rules official ruled differently due to the starter not telling players the stakes had been moved after the previous day's play had ended. Afterward, Snead explained why he forfeited even though Ford suggested they play sudden death for the title. "I want to be fair about it. I don't want anyone to think I took advantage of the ruling."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pzBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6OUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5341,6203766&dq=doug+ford+sam+snead+jacksonville+open+out+of+bounds&hl=en |title=Sam Snead Forfeits First in Jacksonville Open |newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |agency=Associated Press |date=March 25, 1952 |page=12 |access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> Snead set the record for most PGA wins after reaching age 40, with 17.

In 1953, Snead won three events. He finished runner-up to Ben Hogan at the [[1953 U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] (the fourth time he would finish runner-up at the U.S. Open).<ref name=53open>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6isbcfosGFw | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/6isbcfosGFw| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=1953 U.S. Open Highlights |website=youtube.com |publisher=USGA |date=October 10, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1954, Snead won two events, one of which was the [[1954 Masters Tournament|Masters]] in an 18-hole playoff over Ben Hogan.<ref name=54augusta>{{cite web |url=http://www.augusta.com/masters/story/history/1954-snead-wins-legendary-masters-battle-hogan |title=1954: Snead wins in legendary Masters battle with Hogan |website=augusta.com |date=March 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name=54augustalb>{{cite web |url=http://www.augusta.com/masters/historic/leaderboards/1954 |title=Historic Leaderboard: 1954 Masters |website=augusta.com}}</ref><ref name=54masters>{{cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/crowd-shot-crowd-walks-across-green-at-masters-tournament-news-footage/585554664 |title=Sam Snead wins 1954 Masters Tournament |publisher=[[Getty Images]] |website=gettyimages.co.uk|date=August 2, 2016 }}</ref>

In December 1959, Snead took part in a controversial match against [[Mason Rudolph (golfer)|Mason Rudolph]], at the [[Mid Ocean Club]] in [[Bermuda]]. The match played under the [[NBC|NBC's]] "[[World Championship of Golf|World Championship Golf]]" series, was a match-play event that was tied after 11 holes.  On the 12th hole, Snead discovered that he had a 15th club in the bag, a violation of the [[Rules of golf|Rules of Golf]] that limits a player to 14 clubs. The extra club in his bag, a [[Wood (golf)|fairway wood]] Snead had been experimenting with in practice, meant Rudolph had won on the 12th hole immediately, 11 and 7, after applying the penalty of a loss of hole for each hole the club was in the bag, even though he did not use it during the round. With the match legally concluded, Snead deliberately missed puts later in the program to create the legitimate result, a Rudolph win. Snead explained the match had ended up on the 11 loss of hole penalties, and said he did not disqualify himself in order not to spoil the show. This occurred shortly after the investigations into the [[1950s quiz show scandals|quiz show scandals where players were given answers to questions in fixed matches]].  The match was broadcast in April 1960, and the sponsor canceled further participation in the series after Snead's admission he recreated the result after the match officially ended as a Rudolph win.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lKNOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QIgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2182,966467&dq=mason+rudolph+sam+snead+asr&hl=en |title=Sponsor Cancels After Snead TV Golf Incident |newspaper=[[The Victoria Advocate]] |agency=Associated Press |date=April 9, 1960 |page=9 |access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref>  The rule was changed for the 1964 Rules of Golf, where the penalty is capped at two holes ([[match play]]) or two strokes per hole capped at four strokes ([[stroke play]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rule 4 - The Player's Equipment - USGA |url=https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/players-edition/rule-4.html#:~:text=that%20you%20have%20more%20than,upside%20down%20in%20your%20bag).}}</ref>

[[File:Sam Snead 1967.JPG|thumb|A [[publicity photo]] of Snead for his [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television program ''The Sam Snead Golf Show'' in 1967.]]

Beginning in 1960, Snead hosted television's ''Celebrity Golf'' program, emceed by [[Harry von Zell]], competing for charity in nine-hole contests against Hollywood celebrities like [[Dean Martin]], [[Jerry Lewis]] and [[Bob Hope]]. Snead had appeared with [[Martin and Lewis]] in their 1953 comedy film, ''[[The Caddy]]''.

On February 7, 1962, at age 49, Snead won the [[Royal Poinciana Plaza Invitational]], an [[LPGA Tour]] "Battle of the Sexes" tournament where he faced off against 14 LPGA pros.  The low woman was [[Mickey Wright]], herself Snead's equivalent in women's golf, with the most wins on that tour.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/slammin-sam-only-man-lpga-victory/ |title=Slammin' Sam the only man with LPGA victory |last=Sobel |first=Jason |date=February 7, 2015 |work=Golf Channel |access-date=September 26, 2016}}</ref>

His 1962 autobiography was titled ''The Education of a Golfer.''<ref name=ssas>{{cite book |title=The education of a golfer |last=Snead |first=Sam |location=New York |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=1962 |lccn=62009601 |oclc=1087094040}}</ref> Snead later wrote several golf instructional books, and frequently wrote instructional columns in golf magazines.

In 1965, Snead became the oldest player (52 years, 10 months, and 8 days) to win on the PGA Tour (the Greater Greensboro Open).

Snead played on seven [[Ryder Cup]] teams: 1937, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1955, and 1959. Snead was selected to the 1939 Ryder Cup team however the event was never played due to World War II.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.golfchannel.com/video/golf-detective-1939-ryder-cup-never-was |title=Golf Detective: Lost Ryder Cup of 1939 |date=August 11, 2014 |work=[[Golf Channel]]|access-date=July 21, 2019}}</ref> He captained the team in 1951, 1959, and 1969.

In 1971, he won the [[PGA Club Professional Championship]] at [[Pinehurst Resort]].

In [[1973 U.S. Open (golf)|1973]], Snead became the oldest player to make a cut in a U.S. Open at age 61.

In 1974, at age 61, he shot a third-round 66 at the [[Los Angeles Open]] at Riviera Country Club to move into contention.  A birdie at #17 in the last round moved him to within one stroke of the lead. Dave Stockton hit a miraculous fairway wood on the final hole. Snead was joint runner-up.

He shot a final-round 68 at the [[1974 PGA Championship]] to finish tied for third, three strokes behind winner [[Lee Trevino]]. At age 62, it was Snead's third consecutive top-10 finish at the [[PGA Championship]], but his last time in contention at a major.

In 1978, he won the first [[Legends of Golf]] event, which was the impetus for the creation, [[1980 in sports|two years later]], of the Senior PGA Tour, now the [[Champions Tour]].

In [[1979 PGA Tour|1979]], he was the youngest PGA Tour golfer to shoot his age (67) in the second round of the 1979 [[Quad Cities Open]]. He shot under his age (66) in the final round.

In 1982, he teamed with [[Don January]] to shoot 27-under-par to win the rain-shortened 54-hole [[Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf]] event at [[Onion Creek Club]] "The Birthplace of the Senior PGA Tour" in [[Austin, Texas]]. This victory would mark victories for Snead that spanned over six decades (1930s–1980s) winning tour and senior tour events.

In 1983, at age 71, he shot a round of 60 (12-under-par) at [[The Homestead (Hot Springs, Virginia)|The Homestead]] in [[Hot Springs, Virginia]].

In 1986, Snead wrote the book, ''Pigeons, Marks, Hustlers and Other Golf Bettors You Can Beat''.<ref name=pmh>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/pigeonsmarkshust0000snea |title=Pigeons, marks, hustlers and other golf bettors you can beat |last=Snead |first=Sam |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=1986 |lccn=86019516 |oclc=14131378 |isbn=0-671-54073-4 |url-access=registration }}</ref>

In 1997, at age 85, he shot a round of 78 at the Old White course of [[The Greenbrier]] in [[White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia]].

In 1998, he received the [[PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award]], the fourth person to be so honored.

From 1984 to 2002, he hit the honorary starting tee shot at the [[Masters Tournament]]. Until 1999, he was joined by [[Gene Sarazen]], and until 2001, by [[Byron Nelson]].

In 2000, Snead was ranked the third greatest golfer of all time, in ''[[Golf Digest]]'' magazine's rankings, behind only [[Jack Nicklaus]] and [[Ben Hogan]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_7_51/ai_63015233 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040916084849/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_7_51/ai_63015233 |archive-date=September 16, 2004 |title=50 Greatest Golfers of All Time: And What They Taught Us |access-date=December 5, 2007 |last=Yocom |first=Guy |date=July 2000 |magazine=[[Golf Digest]]}}</ref>

===Death===
[[File:Sam Snead Cemetery.jpg|thumb|Snead's grave at his house in Hot Springs]]
Snead died in [[Hot Springs, Virginia]] in 2002 following complications from a stroke, four days before his 90th birthday. He was survived by two sons: Sam Jr. of Hot Springs, and Terry, of Mountain Grove, Virginia, and a brother, Pete, of Pittsburgh, as well as two grandchildren. His wife Audrey died in 1990. His nephew [[J. C. Snead]] was also [https://www.pgatour.com/player/02118/j-c--snead a PGA Tour golfer].