This week’s tour stop for the Greenbrier Classic inevitably brings to mind the name of Sam Snead
In 1944 Sam became head pro at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs and was there for many, many years.
In April 2002 at aged 89, Sam was interviewed by Golf Digest’s Guy Yocom and Sam has some sage words to say.

‘Some people aren't cut out to play golf — mentally, physically or both. You've seen the people I'm talking about. It comes to a point where they should just find a different hobby.’
And if my golf doesn’t improve I might decide I’m one of them.

‘Could I have whipped Tiger Woods? Hell, yes. In my prime I could do anything with a golf ball I wanted. No man scared me on the golf course.’
That’s not what I heard. Somewhere I read Sam said, that the three things he feared most were lightning, a side-hill putt and Ben Hogan.

‘The best golf exercise is hiking up and down steep hills. It helps strengthen your legs, which drive your whole body. You build up your wind, too. Golfers need wind more than you think. Under pressure it's hard to breathe properly, and if you can't catch your breath, your touch will suffer. You can't concentrate, either.’
Reminds me of Gene Sarazen’s words about golf and growing old. The legs are the first thing to go

‘People always said I had a natural swing. They thought I wasn't a hard worker. But when I was young, I'd play and practice all day, then practice more at night by my car's headlights. My hands bled. Nobody worked harder at golf than I did.’
So much for those people who think golf’s an easy game if you’re a ‘natural’.

‘It goes without saying that my biggest disappointment was never winning the U.S. Open. I'm reminded of it all the time. It hurts when people remember you for the things you didn't do, rather than for the things you did do.’
Sounds a bit like what Doug Sanders said about his famous missed putt at the Open.

‘My favorite meal has always been a sirloin steak cooked medium, a baked potato with nothing on it and a green salad with two tablespoons of oil and vinegar dressing. For 50 years I avoided dessert, but now I eat all the ice cream I want.’
Aha! two tablespoons of oil. Maybe that’s why Sam’s most used swing thought was to feel ‘oily’.

Here’s the link to Guy Yocom

Thought for the day from Sam talking about the Old Course
“Until you play it, St. Andrews looks like the sort of real estate you couldn't give away.”

Guid gowfin’ at the weekend

Slainte

Stan