May 23rd, 2002, 6:46:28 PM
Oh man, this sucks. He has been an honorary starter of the Masters tournament since 1983. I'm not a big golfing fan...but from what I hear, he is a pretty good golfer and was a great golfer many years ago. This is from MSNBC.....
http://www.msnbc.com/news/756624.asp?0na=x210E440-
Sam Snead, the golfing great known as “Slammin’ Sam” who used the sweetest swing in the game to win seven major championships and a record 81 PGA Tour events, died Thursday at age 89.
Snead was ageless, the only player who won sanctioned tournaments in six decades, from the 1936 West Virginia Closed Pro to the 1982 Legends of Golf, which he won with Gardner Dickinson as his partner.
He was famous for his straw hat, cocky grin and homespun humor. A three-time Masters champion, Snead had been an honorary starter since 1983. He would jaunt to the first tee, show off that flowing, flawless swing and then tell stories outside the clubhouse. This year was different.
Snead’s son said he was recovering from strokelike symptoms, and for the first time, he needed someone else to tee up the ball at the Masters. The ceremonial shot flew into the gallery and struck a fan in the face, breaking the man’s glasses.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/756624.asp?0na=x210E440-
Sam Snead, the golfing great known as “Slammin’ Sam” who used the sweetest swing in the game to win seven major championships and a record 81 PGA Tour events, died Thursday at age 89.
Snead was ageless, the only player who won sanctioned tournaments in six decades, from the 1936 West Virginia Closed Pro to the 1982 Legends of Golf, which he won with Gardner Dickinson as his partner.
He was famous for his straw hat, cocky grin and homespun humor. A three-time Masters champion, Snead had been an honorary starter since 1983. He would jaunt to the first tee, show off that flowing, flawless swing and then tell stories outside the clubhouse. This year was different.
Snead’s son said he was recovering from strokelike symptoms, and for the first time, he needed someone else to tee up the ball at the Masters. The ceremonial shot flew into the gallery and struck a fan in the face, breaking the man’s glasses.