Vijay Singh is standing on the
brink of golf history. After three
rounds of the Honda Classic being played this weekend at the PGA National Champions
Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Singh who turned 56 on February 22, 2019,
is only one shot back of the leader, Wyndham Clark heading into Sunday’s final
round. As a result, Singh has the chance
to become the oldest golfer to win a PGA tournament. The current holder of that distinction is not
Jack Nicklaus or Bernhard Langer. No,
that record is held by Slammin’ Sam Snead, one of golf’s all-time greats. Snead is the oldest player to win a PGA Tour
event: age 52 years, 10 months, 8 days, at the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open, a
tournament he won eight times. (Snead also is the oldest player to make a
cut on the PGA Tour at the tender age of 67 years, 2 months, 21 days at
the 1979 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic.) Snead, who was inducted into the World Golf
Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1974, also owns the record for total PGA
victories with 82. Snead, with his smooth swing was smashing 300 yard drives
with ease when it was an almost impossible feat, given the lack of today's
superior golf technology in the '40s, '50s and '60s.Amazingly athletic,
Snead was proud of the fact that he could leap from a standstill to kick the
top of a seven-foot door jamb.
With 17 golfers, including Singh, within four strokes of
the lead, it is unlikely that Singh can shoot a 2nd consecutive 65
and win the golf tournament. So, the Slammin’
Sam Snead All-Time PGA Records Preservation Society cries out in unison: Hold on, Sam!
AMDG
© 2012-19 R.E. Kelly
