Sam Snead
Snead in 1967
Personal information
Full name	Samuel Jackson Snead
Nickname	The Slammer Slammin' Sammy
Born	(1912-05-27)May 27, 1912 Ashwood, Virginia, U.S.
Died	May 23, 2002(2002-05-23) (aged 89) Hot Springs, Virginia, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Sporting nationality	United States
Spouse	Audrey Karnes ​ ​ (m. 1940; died 1990)​
Children	2
Career
Turned professional	1934
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour Champions Tour
Professional wins	142
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	82 (Tied 1st all time)
LPGA Tour	1
Other	45 (regular) 14 (senior)
Best results in major championships (wins: 7)
Masters Tournament	Won: 1949, 1952, 1954
PGA Championship	Won: 1942, 1949, 1951
U.S. Open	2nd/T2: 1937, 1947, 1949, 1953
The Open Championship	Won: 1946
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 1974 (member page) PGA Tour leading money winner 1938, 1949, 1950 PGA Golfer of the Year 1949 Vardon Trophy 1938, 1949, 1950, 1955 PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award 1998

Samuel Jackson Snead (/sniːd/; May 27, 1912 – May 23, 2002) was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for the better part of four decades (having won PGA of America and Senior PGA Tour events over six decades)^[1] and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Snead was awarded a record 94 gold medallions, for wins in PGA of America (referred to by most as the PGA) Tour^[2][3] events^[4] and later credited with winning a record 82 PGA Tour events^[5][6] tied with Tiger Woods, including seven majors. He never won the U.S. Open, though he was runner-up four times. Snead was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

Snead's nicknames included "The Slammer", "Slammin' Sammy Snead", and "The Long Ball Hitter from West Virginia", and he was admired by many for having a "perfect swing", which generated many imitators. Snead was famed for his folksy image, wearing a straw hat, and making such statements as "Keep close count of your nickels and dimes, stay away from whiskey, and never concede a putt."^[7] and "There are no short hitters on the tour anymore, just long and unbelievably long."^[8] Fellow West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Campbell has said of Snead, "He was the best natural player ever. He had the eye of an eagle, the grace of a leopard and the strength of a lion." Gary Player once said that, "I don't think there's any question in my mind that Sam Snead had the greatest golf swing of any human being that ever lived." Jack Nicklaus said that Snead's swing was "so perfect."

Awards

Snead was the PGA leading money winner in 1938, 1949 and 1950. He won the Vardon Trophy, for lowest scoring average, four times: 1938, 1949, 1950, and 1955. In 1949, he was PGA Golfer of the Year.^[9][10]

Snead was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1973.^[11] In 1986, Snead was inducted into the Middle Atlantic PGA Hall of Fame.^[2] Snead was also inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame^[2][12] and the Helms Hall of Fame.^[13] Snead received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. In 2009, Snead was inducted into the inaugural class of the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame^[14][15][16] and in 2016, Snead was the unanimous top choice for inclusion in the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame's inaugural class.^[17]

Personal life

Born in Ashwood, Virginia, near Hot Springs, Snead began caddying at age seven at 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.^[2] 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 Club, earning a $10,000 prize. This gave him the money he needed to start playing professionally full-time.^[18] 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 resident playing pro at the Boca Raton Resort from 1956 to 1969.^[19] Each spring he returned to the Mid-Atlantic, stopping at The Masters Tournament on his way back to The Greenbrier.

Snead served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1944.^[20] He was an athletic specialist in Cmdr. Gene Tunney's program in San Diego, and was given a medical discharge for a back injury in September 1944.^[21]

Snead appeared as himself in an episode of The Phil Silvers Show, "The Colonel Breaks Par", in 1957.^[22]

His nephew, J. C. Snead, was also a successful professional golfer, winning tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.^[23]

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).^[24][25] 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.^[26]

In 1937, Snead's first full year on the PGA Tour,^[2] 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 U.S. Open hosted at Oakland Hills, he finishes runner-up to Ralph Guldahl (who won with 19 clubs in his bag).^[27] Snead shared the first round lead shooting 69 with fellow West Virginian Denny Shute (1936 and 1937 PGA Champion). In Snead's first of two attempts in The Open Championship, he finished tied for 11th.^[28] While working at The Greenbrier, Snead played in the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships. In the first round, he faced 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 of a single tournament event. Snead's last win at Greensboro was in 1965, at the age of 52 years, 311 days, making him the oldest player to win a PGA Tour event.^[29] Snead introduced his first book, Sam Snead's quick way to better golf.^[30]

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 U.S. Open, the only major event he never won. Needing 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.^[20] Snead ended up in fifth place, two shots behind three players who went into a playoff.

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 Open Championship at St Andrews. His expenses for playing there were more than three times his winning purse.^[31][32] 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.^[33]

At the U.S. Open in 1947, Snead missed a 30-inch (76 cm) putt on the final playoff hole to finish runner-up to Lew Worsham.^[34]

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^[35] and the PGA Championship^[36] and was awarded Golfer of the Year. For Snead, it was the third of four second-place finishes at the 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.^[37][38]

In 1950, Snead won 11 events, placing him third in that category behind Byron Nelson (18, in 1945) and Ben Hogan (13, in 1946).^[39] 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".^[1] His scoring average of 69.23 was a Vardon Trophy record that stood for 50 years.^[40]

In 1952, Snead won ten events including the Masters.^[41] At the Jacksonville Open, Snead forfeited rather than play an 18-hole playoff against 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,^[42] 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. Afterwards, 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."^[43] 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 U.S. Open (the fourth time he would finish runner-up at the U.S. Open).^[44]

In 1954, Snead won two events, one of which was the Masters in an 18-hole playoff over Ben Hogan.^[45][46][47]

In December 1959, Snead took part in a controversial match against Mason Rudolph, at the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda. Snead decided to deliberately lose the televised match, played under the "World Championship Golf" series, during its final holes, after he discovered on the 12th hole that he had too many golf clubs in his bag. (A player is limited to 14 clubs during competitive rounds.) The match was tied at that stage. The extra club in his bag, a fairway wood Snead had been experimenting with in practice, would have caused him to be immediately disqualified according to the Rules of Golf, even though he did not use it during the round. After the match was over, Snead explained the matter, and said he did not disqualify himself in order not to spoil the show. The problem did not become known outside a small circle until the show was televised four months later. After the incident came to light, the sponsor cancelled further participation in the series.^[48]

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.^[49]

His 1962 autobiography was titled The Education of a Golfer.^[50] 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.^[51] He captained the team in 1951, 1959, and 1969.

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

In 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, two years later, of the Senior PGA Tour, now the Champions Tour.

In 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 in Hot Springs, Virginia.

In 1986, Snead wrote the book, Pigeons, Marks, Hustlers and Other Golf Bettors You Can Beat.^[52]

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.^[53]

Death

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 a PGA Tour golfer.

In popular culture

Snead was mentioned several times in the comic strip Peanuts at the height of his popularity during the 1950s^[54] and 1960s.^[55] As its creator and avid golfer Charles M. Schulz^[56] said in a 1971 interview: "I was a great admirer of Sam Snead. I once watched him play a round in the St. Paul tournament when he hit every green in regulation figures – and all the par fives in two – for a truly flawless round."^[57]

Playing style

During his peak years, Snead was an exceptionally long driver, particularly into the wind, with very good accuracy as well. He was a superb player with the long irons. Snead was also known for a very creative short game, pioneering use of the sand wedge for short shots from grass. As he aged, he began to experiment with different putting styles. Snead pioneered croquet-style putting in the 1960s, where he straddled the ball with one leg on each side. The United States Golf Association banned this technique in 1968 by amending the old Rule 35–1,^[58] since, until that time, golfers had always faced the ball when striking. Snead then went to side-saddle putting, where he crouched and angled his feet towards the hole, and held the club with a split grip. He used that style for the rest of his career.

Records

Snead holds the following records:

• Most PGA Tour victories: 82
• Most PGA sanctioned tour victories: 94
• Became the first player to win 17 times at an event: at the West Virginia Open (1936–1938, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1966–1968, 1970–1973)
• First player to win an event in six different decades (1930s–1980s).
• Became the first player to win 8 times at an event: at the Greater Greensboro Open (1938, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1965)
• First player to be credited with winning a PGA Tour event in four different decades.
• Oldest player to be credited with winning a PGA Tour event: age 52 years, 10 months, 8 days at the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open
• Oldest player to make the cut at a major: age 67 years, 2 months, 7 days at the 1979 PGA Championship
• First PGA Tour player to shoot his age: 67 in the second round of the 1979 Quad Cities Open
• Oldest player to make a cut on the PGA Tour: age 67 years, 2 months, 21 days at the 1979 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic.
• Only player to post a top-10 finish in at least one major championship in five different decades.
• Became the first player to win PGA and Senior PGA Tour events over six decades (1930s–1980s)

Sources:^[1][39]

Professional wins (142)

PGA Tour wins (82)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Jul 10, 1936	West Virginia Closed Pro	−9 (70-61=131)	16 strokes	Clem Wiechman
2	Jan 17, 1937	Oakland Open	−2 (69-65-69-67=270)	2 strokes	Ralph Guldahl
3	Feb 7, 1937	Bing Crosby Pro-Am	−4 (68)*	4 strokes	George Von Elm
4	Aug 1, 1937	St. Paul Open	−5 (72-69-71-71=283)	1 stroke	Willie Goggin
5	Dec 20, 1937	Nassau Open	−4 (66-70-70-70=276)	1 stroke	Vic Ghezzi
6	Dec 25, 1937	Miami Open	−13 (68-67-66-66=267)	5 strokes	Ralph Guldahl, Horton Smith
7	Jan 17, 1938	Bing Crosby Pro-Am (2)	−5 (72-67=139)	2 strokes	Jimmy Hines
8	Mar 28, 1938	Greater Greensboro Open	−11 (66-68-69-68=271)	5 strokes	Johnny Revolta
9	May 29, 1938	Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (with Vic Ghezzi)	+9 points	1 point	Harry Cooper and Horton Smith, Ed Dudley and Ky Laffoon
10	Jun 26, 1938	Palm Beach Round Robin	+14 points	Playoff	Gene Sarazen
11	Jul 24, 1938	Chicago Open	−3 (64-73-70=207)*	1 stroke	Ralph Guldahl
12	Aug 22, 1938	Canadian Open	−11 (69-67-69-72=277)	Playoff	Harry Cooper
13	Sep 27, 1938	Westchester 108 Hole Open	+10 (73-72-73-72-71-69=430)	2 strokes	Billy Burke
14	Nov 10, 1938	White Sulphur Springs Open	−7 (68-68-69-68=273)	2 strokes	Ky Laffoon
15	Mar 3, 1939	St. Petersburg Open	−9 (70-69-68=207)	Playoff	Henry Picard
16	Mar 8, 1939	Miami Biltmore International Four-Ball (with Ralph Guldahl)	7 and 6		Paul Runyan and Horton Smith
17	Dec 17, 1939	Miami Open (2)	−12 (68-72-67-64=271)	2 strokes	Jug McSpaden
18	Jun 16, 1940	Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (2) (with Ralph Guldahl)	+15 points	3 points	Jimmy Demaret and Dick Metz
19	Aug 19, 1940	Canadian Open (2)	−3 (67-66-75-73=281)	Playoff	Jug McSpaden
20	Sep 8, 1940	Anthracite Open	−4 (65-73-68-70=276)	2 strokes	Byron Nelson
21	Jan 25, 1941	Bing Crosby Pro-Am (3)	−8 (67-69=136)	1 stroke	Craig Wood
22	Feb 28, 1941	St. Petersburg Open (2)	−5 (67-72-68-72=279)	2 strokes	Herman Barron, Chick Harbert, Ben Hogan, Jug McSpaden
23	Mar 20, 1941	North and South Open	−11 (69-66-73-69=277)	3 strokes	Clayton Heafner
24	Aug 9, 1941	Canadian Open (3)	−6 (71-68-66-69=274)	2 strokes	Bob Gray
25	Aug 17, 1941	Rochester Times-Union Open	−3 (67-70-73-67=277)	7 strokes	Ben Hogan
26	Sep 21, 1941	Henry Hurst Invitational	−8 (64-74-69-65=272)	9 strokes	Dick Metz
27	Mar 6, 1942	St. Petersburg Open (3)	−2 (70-74-73-72=286)	3 strokes	Sam Byrd, Chick Harbert, Byron Nelson
28	May 31, 1942	PGA Championship	2 and 1		Jim Turnesa
29	Nov 26, 1944	Portland Open	+1 (70-74-73-72=289)	2 strokes	Mike Turnesa
30	Dec 17, 1944	Richmond Open	−6 (70-69-69-70=278)	1 stroke	Charles Congdon
31	Jan 8, 1945	Los Angeles Open	−1 (71-71-72-69=283)	1 stroke	Jug McSpaden, Byron Nelson
32	Feb 19, 1945	Gulfport Open	−9 (65-71-70-69=275)	Playoff	Byron Nelson
33	Feb 25, 1945	Pensacola Open	−21 (67-64-68-68=267)	7 strokes	Byron Nelson
34	Mar 4, 1945	Jacksonville Open	−22 (69-65-66-66=266)	4 strokes	Bob Hamilton
35	Sep 9, 1945	Dallas Open	−12 (70-69-69-68=276)	4 strokes	Jug McSpaden
36	Sep 16, 1945	Southwestern Invitational	−7 (68-67-69-73=277)	9 strokes	Vic Ghezzi, Ben Hogan
37	Mar 17, 1946	Jacksonville Open (2)	−24 (64-66-67-67=264)	4 strokes	Jimmy Demaret
38	Mar 24, 1946	Greater Greensboro Open (2)	−10 (70-67-67-66=270)	6 strokes	Herman Keiser
39	Apr 21, 1946	Virginia Open	−1 (69-66-68-72=275)	Playoff	Chandler Harper
40	Jul 5, 1946	The Open Championship	−2 (71-70-74-75=290)	4 strokes	Johnny Bulla, Bobby Locke
41	Sep 8, 1946	World Championship of Golf	−6 (69-69=138)	2 strokes	Byron Nelson
42	Dec 8, 1946	Miami Open (3)	−12 (65-66-66-71=268)	3 strokes	Clayton Heafner
43	Feb 8, 1948	Texas Open	−20 (66-65-65-68=264)	2 strokes	Jimmy Demaret
44	Mar 28, 1949	Greater Greensboro Open (3)	−8 (68-69-69-70=276)	Playoff	Lloyd Mangrum
45	Apr 10, 1949	Masters Tournament	−6 (73-75-67-67=282)	3 strokes	Johnny Bulla, Lloyd Mangrum
46	May 31, 1949	PGA Championship (2)	3 and 2		Johnny Palmer
47	Jul 4, 1949	Washington Star Open	−16 (69-64-69-70=272)	2 strokes	Cary Middlecoff
48	Jul 18, 1949	Dapper Dan Open	−16 (67-67-69-71=272)	1 stroke	Lloyd Mangrum
49	Jul 31, 1949	Western Open	−20 (69-67-65-67=268)	4 strokes	Cary Middlecoff
50	Jan 15, 1950	Bing Crosby Pro-Am (4)	−2 (69-72-73=214)	Shared title with Jack Burke Jr., Dave Douglas and Smiley Quick
51	Jan 18, 1950	Los Angeles Open (2)	−4 (71-72-71-66=280)	Playoff	Ben Hogan
52	Feb 12, 1950	Texas Open (2)	−19 (71-68-63-63=265)	1 stroke	Jimmy Demaret
53	Mar 12, 1950	Miami Beach Open	−15 (71-66-65-71=273)	3 strokes	Lawson Little
54	Mar 26, 1950	Greater Greensboro Open (4)	−11 (66-70-66-67=269)	10 strokes	Jimmy Demaret
55	May 21, 1950	Western Open (2)	−2 (69-71-69-73=282)	1 stroke	Jim Ferrier, Dutch Harrison
56	May 28, 1950	Colonial National Invitation	−3 (66-72-66-73=277)	3 strokes	Skip Alexander
57	Jul 16, 1950	Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (3) (with Jim Ferrier)	+18 points	13 points	Fred Haas and Fred Hawkins
58	Sep 10, 1950	Reading Open	−20 (68-65-65-70=268)	8 strokes	Jim Ferrier
59	Nov 3, 1950	North and South Open (2)	−13 (68-71-66-70=275)	4 strokes	Johnny Palmer
60	Dec 3, 1950	Miami Open (4)	−13 (69-66-66-66=267)	5 strokes	Jack Burke Jr., Dick Mayer
61	Jul 3, 1951	PGA Championship (3)	7 and 6		Walter Burkemo
62	Dec 9, 1951	Miami Open (5)	−12 (64-68-68-68=268)	5 strokes	Chandler Harper, Dutch Harrison
63	Apr 6, 1952	Masters Tournament (2)	−2 (70-67-77-72=286)	4 strokes	Jack Burke Jr.
64	May 18, 1952	Palm Beach Round Robin (2)	+57 points	2 points	Cary Middlecoff
65	Jun 29, 1952	Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (4) (with Jim Ferrier)	+13 points	12 points	Doug Ford and Ed Oliver
66	Aug 3, 1952	All American Open	−17 (67-65-74-65=271)	8 strokes	Tommy Bolt
67	Sep 14, 1952	Eastern Open	−13 (71-67-68-69=275)	2 strokes	Ed Oliver
68	Mar 8, 1953	Baton Rouge Open	−13 (69-68-67-71=275)	3 strokes	Dick Mayer
69	Apr 12, 1954	Masters Tournament (3)	+1 (74-73-70-72=289)	Playoff	Ben Hogan
70	May 16, 1954	Palm Beach Round Robin (3)	+62 points	36 points	Bob Toski
71	Apr 17, 1955	Greater Greensboro Open (5)	−7 (68-67-69-69=273)	1 stroke	Julius Boros, Art Wall Jr.
72	Jun 5, 1955	Palm Beach Round Robin (4)	+46 points	24 points	Johnny Palmer
73	Sep 5, 1955	Insurance City Open	−15 (66-68-66-69=269)	7 strokes	Fred Hawkins, Mike Souchak
74	Dec 11, 1955	Miami Open (6)	−9 (70-67-64=201)*	Playoff	Tommy Bolt
75	Apr 15, 1956	Greater Greensboro Open (6)	−5 (66-69-74-70=279)	Playoff	Fred Wampler
76	Jun 2, 1957	Palm Beach Round Robin (5)	+41 points	8 points	Doug Ford
77	Sep 16, 1957	Dallas Open Invitational (2)	−20 (70-60-66-68=264)	10 strokes	Bob Inman, Billy Maxwell, Cary Middlecoff
78	Jun 8, 1958	Dallas Open Invitational (3)	−8 (67-67-69-69=272)	Playoff	Julius Boros, John McMullin, Gary Player
79	Mar 27, 1960	De Soto Open Invitational	−8 (69-72-67-68=276)	1 stroke	Jerry Barber
80	Apr 17, 1960	Greater Greensboro Open (7)	−14 (68-66-67-69=270)	2 strokes	Dow Finsterwald
81	May 7, 1961	Tournament of Champions	−15 (68-67-69-69=273)	7 strokes	Tommy Bolt
82	Apr 4, 1965	Greater Greensboro Open (8)	−11 (68-69-68-68=273)	5 strokes	Billy Casper, Jack McGowan, Phil Rodgers

*Note: Tournament shortened to 18/54 holes due to weather.

PGA Tour playoff record (12–6)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1938	Palm Beach Round Robin	Gene Sarazen	Won with birdie on second extra hole
2	1938	Canadian Open	Harry Cooper	Won 27-hole playoff; Snead: −7 (67-34=101), Cooper: −2 (67-39=106)
3	1939	St. Petersburg Open	Henry Picard	Won with birdie on seventh extra hole after 18-hole playoff; Snead: −3 (69), Picard: −3 (69)
4	1940	Canadian Open	Jug McSpaden	Won 18-hole playoff; Snead: E (71), McSpaden: +1 (72)
5	1945	Gulfport Open	Byron Nelson	Won with par on first extra after 18-hole playoff; Snead: E (71), Nelson: E (71)
6	1945	Charlotte Open	Byron Nelson	Lost second 18-hole playoff; Nelson: −3 (69), Snead: +1 (73) Level after first 18-hole playoff; Nelson: −3 (69), Snead: −3 (69)
7	1946	Virginia Open	Chandler Harper	Won 18-hole playoff; Snead: −5 (64), Harper: −2 (67)
8	1947	U.S. Open	Lew Worsham	Lost 18-hole playoff; Worsham: −2 (69), Snead: −1 (70)
9	1949	Greater Greensboro Open	Lloyd Mangrum	Won 18-hole playoff; Snead: −2 (69), Mangrum: E (71)
10	1950	Los Angeles Open	Ben Hogan	Won 18-hole playoff; Snead: +1 (72), Hogan: +5 (76)
11	1950	St. Paul Open	Jim Ferrier	Lost to par on third extra hole after 18-hole playoff; Ferrier: −3 (69), Hogan: −3 (69)
12	1952	Jacksonville Open	Doug Ford	Lost after concession before playoff
13	1953	Greater Greensboro Open	Doug Ford, Earl Stewart, Art Wall Jr.	Stewart won with par on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff; Stewart: −2 (68), Snead: −2 (68), Ford: E (70), Wall: +2 (72)
14	1954	Masters Tournament	Ben Hogan	Won 18-hole playoff; Snead: −2 (70), Hogan: −1 (71)
15	1955	Miami Open	Tommy Bolt	Won with par on first extra hole
16	1956	Greater Greensboro Open	Fred Wampler	Won with birdie on second extra hole
17	1958	Dallas Open Invitational	Julius Boros, John McMullin, Gary Player	Won with birdie on first extra hole
18	1958	Havana International	George Bayer	Lost to par on first extra hole

Sources:^[59][60]

LPGA Tour wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	Feb 7, 1962	Royal Poinciana Plaza Invitational	−5 (52-53-53-53=211)	5 strokes	Mickey Wright

Other wins (45)

• 1936 West Virginia Open
• 1937 West Virginia Open
• 1938 West Virginia Open
• 1940 Ontario Open (Canada)
• 1941 Center Open (Argentina)
• 1941 St Augustine Pro-am (with Wilford Wehrle)
• 1942 St Augustine Pro-am (with Wilford Wehrle)
• 1948 West Virginia Open, Havana Invitational
• 1949 North and South Open, West Virginia Open, National Celebrities Open
• 1951 Greenbrier Pro-Am
• 1952 West Virginia Open, Brazil Open, Greenbrier Pro-Am, Julius Boros Open, Seminole Pro-am
• 1953 Greenbrier Pro-Am, Orlando International Mixed Best Ball (with Betty MacKinnon)
• 1954 Panama Open
• 1955 McNaughtons Pro-am
• 1956 Canada Cup (with Ben Hogan), Boca Raton Open
• 1957 West Virginia Open
• 1958 West Virginia Open, Greenbrier Invitational
• 1959 Sam Snead Festival, Eldorado Professional (tied with Doug Ford)
• 1960 West Virginia Open, Canada Cup (with Arnold Palmer)
• 1961 West Virginia Open, Sam Snead Festival, Canada Cup (with Jimmy Demaret), Canada Cup – International Trophy
• 1962 Canada Cup (with Arnold Palmer)
• 1964 Haig & Haig Scotch Foursome (with Shirley Englehorn)
• 1966 West Virginia Open
• 1967 West Virginia Open
• 1968 West Virginia Open
• 1970 West Virginia Open
• 1971 PGA Club Professional Championship, West Virginia Open
• 1972 West Virginia Open
• 1973 West Virginia Open

Note: this list is incomplete.

Senior wins (14)

• 1964 PGA Seniors' Championship, World Senior Championship
• 1965 PGA Seniors' Championship, World Senior Championship
• 1967 PGA Seniors' Championship
• 1970 PGA Seniors' Championship, World Senior Championship
• 1972 PGA Seniors' Championship, World Senior Championship
• 1973 PGA Seniors' Championship, World Senior Championship
• 1978 Legends of Golf (with Gardner Dickinson)
• 1980 Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am
• 1982 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Don January)

Major championships

Wins (7)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1942	PGA Championship	n/a	2 & 1		Jim Turnesa
1946	The Open Championship	Tied for lead	−2 (71-70-74-75=290)	4 strokes	Johnny Bulla, Bobby Locke
1949	Masters Tournament	1 shot deficit	−6 (73-75-67-67=282)	3 strokes	Johnny Bulla, Lloyd Mangrum
1949	PGA Championship (2)	n/a	3 & 2		Johnny Palmer
1951	PGA Championship (3)	n/a	7 & 6		Walter Burkemo
1952	Masters Tournament (2)	Tied for lead	−2 (70-67-77-72=286)	4 strokes	Jack Burke Jr.
1954	Masters Tournament (3)	3 shot deficit	+1 (74-73-70-72=289)	Playoff1	Ben Hogan

Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958.
¹Defeated Ben Hogan in 18-hole playoff – Snead 70 (−2), Hogan 71 (−1).

Results timeline

NT = no tournament
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play

Summary

• Most consecutive cuts made – 55 (1937 Masters – 1958 Masters)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 6 (1948 U.S. Open – 1950 Masters)

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

• Ryder Cup: 1937 (winners), 1947 (winners), 1949 (winners), 1951 (winners, playing captain), 1953 (winners), 1955 (winners), 1959 (winners, playing captain), 1969 (tied, non-playing captain)
• Canada Cup: 1954, 1956 (winners), 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 (winners), 1961 (winners, individual winner), 1962 (winners)