Tiger Woods has recently announced that additional back surgery will delay his comeback to the PGA Tour for the indefinite future. See Golf Digest article here So, not only does Woods’ chase to break Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major golf tournament victories seem even more out of reach, Woods may also experience futility chasing another amazing career record.
Slammin’ Sam Snead had owned the record for career PGA victories with 82. Tiger, with his victory at the ZoZo Championship in Japan in October, 2019, is now tied with Snead with 82 victories as well, having passed Jack Nicklaus’s second-place total of 73 PGA victories in 2012. Snead is unquestionably one of the all-time golfing greats. Aside from his 82 Tour victories, among his many other records is the fact that 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, with his smooth swing (ask Gary Player) was smashing 300-yard drives with ease when it was an almost impossible feat, given the lack of today's superior golf technology during Snead’s heyday in the 1930s through the 1960s. 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.
Given Woods’ recent health problems, not only is his catching the Golden Bear becoming less likely with each passing major tournament, Woods’ passing Snead has now become a great deal more difficult as well. As fellow HOFers (of the Rock and Roll variety) Sam & Dave sang, Hold on, Sam!
© 2012-21 R.E. Kelly
AMDG
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