Woods-Snead: Tale of the Tape

They first met when Tiger Woods was 5 years old. The elder man, one of the most successful in the game’s history, was present when Woods made his pro debut. And they were frequent neighbors at golf’s most exclusive gathering.

Woods knew Sam Snead for decades. Now he’s pursuing the legend, trying to beat a record that once seemed unassailable. The chase for 82 begins at this week’s PGA Championship, where Woods can tie Snead’s record for PGA TOUR victories.

Their first encounter took place at an exhibition at Calabasas Country Club near Los Angeles in the early 1980s. Snead was the star attraction, playing two holes with nine different groups.

“I was this little snot-nosed kid at 5 years old that he had to play the last two holes with,” Woods recalled a few years ago. “I remember it was a par 3. You know, I'm 5, I can't carry it very far. I hit it into the water and he tells me to go pick it up out of the water … when my dad was alive, he would tell me that I was slightly competitive even at that age and I didn't like him telling me to pick the ball up, because my dad always taught me you play it as it is, there's no such thing as winter rules.

“So I went in and played it and I made bogey on that hole, the par 3, and I made bogey on the last hole. I still have the card at home. He signed it and he went par-par and I lost by two.”

Woods retorted by offering his signature to Snead, who was taken by what he had just seen on those two holes.

“I’ve worked for years to get the hitch out of that swing of mine,” Snead said afterward, “and along comes this kid. I think I’ll toss my clubs in a lake someplace.”

Their paths crossed 10 years later, when Woods made his PGA TOUR debut. Snead, who was being honored by the tournament now known as the Genesis Open, watched Woods play in the pro-am. He was impressed by the way Woods had developed over the previous decade and offered these prescient words:

“He looks like he’s going to be a force on the TOUR,” Snead said.

Even he couldn’t predict how successful Woods would be. Snead kept a close eye on Woods’ progress during their annual reunion at the Masters Champions Dinner, which Woods earned an invitation to after his record-setting win in 1997.

Now his latest Masters victory has him on the precipice of Snead’s incredible record. To celebrate Woods’ chase for 82, we compiled this Tale of the Tape comparing the two legends.

Born
Snead: May 27, 1912 (passed away May 23, 2002)
Woods: Dec. 30, 1975

PGA TOUR wins
Snead: 82
Woods: 81

First event as a pro
Snead: Won 1936 West Virginia Closed Pro
Woods: Finished T60 at Greater Milwaukee Open

First win
Snead: 1936 West Virginia Closed Pro
Woods: 1996 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

Age at first win
Snead: 24 years old
Woods: 20 years old

Career winning percentage
Snead: 14% (82 of 585)
Woods: 23% (81 of 352)

81st victory
Snead: 1961 Sentry Tournament of Champions
Woods: 2019 Masters

Age at 81st win
Snead: 48 years old
Woods: 43 years old

Starts needed to reach 81 wins
Snead: 385
Woods: 352

Earnings for first 81 wins
Snead: $372,322
Woods: $118,309,570

82nd win
Snead: 1965 Wyndham Championship
Woods: TBD

Age at 82nd win
Snead: 52 years old
Woods: TBD

Seasons with 5-plus wins
Snead: 8 (2nd all-time)
Woods: 10 (PGA TOUR record)

Most events won 5-plus times
Snead: 3 (T2 all-time)
Woods: 7 (PGA TOUR record)

Cut line fame
Snead: Oldest player to make a PGA TOUR cut (67 years, 2 months, 21 days at the 1979 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic)
Woods: Made the cut in a PGA TOUR-record 142 consecutive starts

Nickname
Snead: Slammin’ Sammy
Woods: Tiger, Big Cat

Famous quote
Snead: “Of all the hazards, fear is the worst.”
Woods: “Hello world.”

Family ties
Snead: Uncle of eight-time PGA TOUR winner J.C. Snead
Woods: Uncle of LPGA player Cheyenne Woods

Trademark fashion
Snead: Porkpie hat
Woods: Sunday Red shirt

Back-to-back
Snead: Received medical discharge from U.S. Navy in 1944 because of back injury
Woods: Four back surgeries, including spinal fusion in 2017

Home state
Snead: Virginia
Woods: California