Sam Snead

You may not have heard of "Slammin Sammy" by name, but chances are that nearly every golfer has been influenced by his contributions to the sport. Throw away those titanium reinforced clubs, virtual reality training courses and swing secretes - Sam Snead rose to the top of the game as an amateur from Hot Springs, Virginia on the basis of hard work, talent and creativity.

Over his career, Snead won seven majors, including three Masters and PGA Championships tournaments, putting his reputation up there with the all time greats of the game. Turning professional at age 22, he developed his own unique swing that many players tried (but failed) to imitate and was famous for playing barefoot in a straw hat, outplaying competitive who were buttoned up and insulted by his casual attire. While his opponents were frustrated, he would only play lights out - winning over 80 PGA tour events over his career, and becoming one of the single best golfers in the 20th century.

A Virginia Golfers Tees it Up

Take a drive across the Virginia landscape and stop by any of the local golf courses in the Center of the state. If you were to ask any of the local professionals at Sam Snead, they could tell you dozens of legendary stories - if they were about anyone else you might doubt the story, but in the case of Sneak they are entirely true. Snead rose to become a legend by working as a caddy at the Homestead Country Club and gradually rose to become a top amateur player. He never rose above his local origins, continuing to visit his hometown courses and maintaining a home in the area even as he rose to a top professional golfer.

Earning his way onto the PGA tournament at the age of 23, Snead won his first event as the Greensboro Open in 1938. Never one to settle for an isolated title, Snead won that event seven more times in his career, along with countless other events, including 11 PGA tour titles in 1950. As one of the top American golfers, he played on Ryder Cup teams from 1939 to 1959, serving as captain three times. Even as he aged, Snead continued to play at the top of his game, winning the very first Senior PGA (Champions) Tour event he participated in during 1938.

One of the stories you're likely to hear about the legend is how he returned to his home course in Hot Springs to shoot a score of 60 on a par course at the age of 71 - breaking a course record at an age when most of his contemporaries had retired. Snead continued to work as a teacher, instructor and advocate for the game as it rose to prominence. Never one to rest, Snead continued to actively play in tournament events into his 70s. While his name might be as well known as the biggest names in the sport, his accomplishments and approach were second to none.