Golfing legend Sam Snead passes away

Sam Snead, whose unmatched 135 tournament victories worldwide and trademark straw hat made him a golfing legend, died on Thursday at the age of 89.

Snead, who would have turned 90 on Monday, died at his home in Hot Springs, Virginia, the remote, hill country town of his birth, after having suffered a series of minor strokes, said his daughter-in-law Ann Snead.

"Slammin' Sam", who wore his straw hat to hide his baldness, ended his career about 20 years ago with a record 81 victories on the U.S. PGA Tour and 135 internationally, including three U.S. Masters, three U.S. PGA Championships and one British Open.

After turning professional in 1934, Snead and his classical swing won titles in six different decades, capturing along the way numerous records as he competed until he was almost 70.

But every time he played at the U.S. Open, he came up short. Four times he was runner-up, once needing a five at the last hole for the title but collapsing with an eight.

His triumph in the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open at the age of 53 made him the oldest winner of a tour event in history.

Nine years later, aged 62, he almost eclipsed that feat when he was runner-up at the Los Angeles Open, two strokes behind the winner, and at the U.S. PGA Championship where he tied for third.

In the 1979 Quad Cities Open, Snead matched his age when he shot a 67. He then bettered it the next day with a 66.

CLASSICAL SWING

The secret behind his amazing longevity was his fluid, classical swing. Unlike his great rivals Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, who were born in the same year, Snead was blessed with a natural swing and never had to work at his game.

He was also exceptionally limber -- he always denied he was double-jointed -- and in his 60s won numerous wagers by betting that he could kick a seven-foot high ceiling.

"He has more natural rhythm than any man I've ever seen," Bill Campbell, a U.S. amateur champion and president of the U.S. Golf Association, once said of Snead.

"When he swings a club, his feet, knees and trunk all move, but it's so smooth it isn't apparent to the eye," said Campbell.

"People think of him as overpowering the ball, but that's never been true. He just gets everything together at the same time and place."

Samuel Jackson Snead was born on May 27, 1912, one of six children of a part-time farmer and hotel worker in Hot Springs. A natural sportsman, he began his golfing involvement as a caddy but was soon famous for his long driving.

After a spell as a club professional, Snead won the West Virginia Closed Pro tournament in 1936, and decided to try his luck on the tour.

He was an immediate sensation, winning five events in 1937, finishing runner-up in the U.S. Open and placing third on the list of money winners.

The next year he did even better, winning eight times to finish top money-earner.

INFAMOUS EIGHT

In 1939, Snead won five events and was second in the Masters, but laid the foundations for his U.S. Open jinx with his infamous eight at the last hole.

He explained afterwards that he thought he needed a birdie four to win, when a par five was all he required. In any event, he pressed too hard, three-putted and missed a playoff which Nelson won against two other players.

Snead finally earned his first major title in 1942, the U.S. PGA, then went off to serve in the Navy during World War Two.

After the war he resumed winning tournaments, but had to share the limelight with Nelson and Hogan in a great three-way rivalry. More major titles eluded him until 1949 when he won two, the PGA and the Masters.

Snead never went close to a U.S. Open title after 1953, but instead astounded the golfing world with his ability to outplay professionals young enough to be his grandsons.

When he was 47 he shot a 59, he was also a tournament winner at 53 and he was a runner-up several times in his 60s.

His putting failed to hold up as well as his swing, so he adopted a croquet-style late in life. When that was ruled illegal, he switched to a "side-saddle" stance, one hand gripping the putter just above the club face.

Snead only quit tournament golf when he developed a problem with his eyes.

He leaves two sons, Samuel J. Jr. and Terry, and two grandchildren. A memorial service is planned in Hot Springs on Sunday.