Coming it at #6, Sam Snead, the winner of 82 PGA Tour events, won every major title except the U.S. Open. That did not keep him off our top ten list—no way as Snead not only won 82 events he was competitive into his 60’s coming in 3rd in the PGA Championship at the age of 63.
Remarkable longevity and because of that longevity he is one of sports greatest athletes not just golf.
Did you miss the rest of the top 10 so far? Here they are: 10, 9, 8, 7.
The winner of 7 major championships and a total of 62 PGA Tour events Palmer made golf fashionable to play and watch on television. He came along when TV and golf were not yet united as they are today. His charisma and charm made him a universally loved player—simply stated everyone adored Arnold Palmer. He transcended generations and was America’s golfing hero. In addition he revitalized the British Open as Americans had virtually stopped going over to the event but Palmer created an American invasion starting in 1960 that continues today.
A gracious but tenacious competitor, Gene was part and parcel of the fabric of professional golf in the early 1920’s through the 1940’s.
Following his brilliant playing career he became a golf television commentator especially known for his color analysis on television’s Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf series running from the early 1960’s to the late 60’s.
Did you miss #9 and #10? Click their numbers to check them out!
Did you see this coming? Come on, no one could have fully predicted this. Jordan Spieth is the youngest PGA Tour winner since Ralph Guldahl won on tour in 1931. He turns 20 in less than 2 weeks and becomes only the 4th ever teenager to win a PGA Tour event.
Spieth, the Dallas, Texas, native playing on a temporary PGA Tour card, outlasted 9 time PGA Tour winner, 2007 Masters Champion 37-year-old Zach Johnson and 34-year-old Canadian David Hearn to win on the fifth playoff hole at TPC Deer Run in Silvis, Illinois,—thus earning fully exempt status on the Tour for the next two years and a quick trip across the sea to this week’s Open Championship. Spieth admitted in an interview following his victory that he actually had no long sleeve shirts for the trip as Scotland. This time of the year can be cold—I guess he can find the local pro shop for sturdy clothing to accommodate.
What a journey for this young man—we remember him playing as a 16-year-old in the HP Byron Nelson Classic 3 years ago and bolting after the Saturday round to attend his high school prom. Could he be the next coming of Tiger? That’s what my wife asked me, and I said probably not, that’s just too much to expect of anyone, but I can hardly wait to see what is next on his agenda. I do not expect miracles this week but with Oak Hill (site of this year’s PGA) on the horizon, and a potential slot on the President’s Cup squad, who knows.
No question the talent is there, putting it all together is always another factor that completes the golfer—he joins a group of first time winners on tour that makes a golf enthusiast salivate with expectation as the deep player pool on the PGA Tour just got deeper!
