Snead got his 1st of 82 at his home state of West Virginia

In 1936, Sam Snead won his first tournament, the West Virginia Closed Pro, contested at The Greenbrier’s Championship Course and Old White Course. He shot rounds of 70-61 to rout Logan, West Virginian, pro Clem Weichman by 16 strokes (74-73). His margin of victory, 16 strokes is tied for a PGA Tour record. The late Snead won his first of his 17 West Virginia Open titles. For many years, Snead would interrupt his pro tour schedule to return to West Virginia to play in various events throughout the state.

Snead’s Legacy

Although this win was Snead’s only of 1936, he was off to the races in 1937 winning five events. His 82 PGA Tour victories are still the most by any professional golfer, and his seven major championship victories included three Masters, three PGA’s and one British Open title in 1946. Snead was the PGA player of the year in 1949 and was also the leading money earner on the pro tour in 1938, 1949 and 1950.