J.C. Snead, 8-time PGA Tour winner and Sam’s nephew, dies at 84

J.C. Snead, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour in the 1970s and ’80s and four-time winner on PGA Tour Champions, died April 25 from complications with cancer in Hot Springs, Va. The nephew of World Golf Hall of Fame Member Sam Snead was 84.

Born Jesse Carlyle Snead, J.C. joined the PGA Tour in 1968, just three years after his famous “Uncle Sam” as he called him had won his 82nd tour title. Sam always referred to J.C. only as Carlyle, refusing to use either Jesse or J.C.

J.C. Snead won his first two events in 1971—in Tucson and Miami—and again in 1972. His first six titles came in five years, then it took five years before he won again, the 1981 Southern Open. His final victory came at Westchester Country Club in New York, via a playoff over Seve Ballesteros. Snead won his four Champions Tour events between 1993-2002. He played on the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1971, ’73 and ’75, going a perfect 4-0 in his rookie debut, even being paired with Jack Nicklaus in his first foursomes match. Arnold Palmer was his captain in 1975 at Laurel Valley in Pennsylvania.

“J.C. Snead carried on the legacy of the Snead name for the 42 years he was a regular either on the PGA Tour or PGA Tour Champions,” said Miller Brady, PGA Tour Champions president. “J.C. was a brilliant competitor, and like his Uncle Sam, he came from a small town only to end up competing and succeeding on the biggest of stages. We mourn his death and send our love to his family.”

Snead had his share of near misses too. He had four top-10 finishes in major championships, three of those being top-three finishes. At the 1973 Masters, Snead finished second, a shot behind Tommy Aaron. Five years later at the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills in Colorado, Snead tied for second place with Dave Stockton, one shot behind Andy North.

J.C. was born in Hot Springs to Jesse and Sylvia Snead, his father being seven years older than Sam. However, baseball was J.C.’s favorite sport growing up. He attended East Tennessee State to play baseball and later signed a professional contract.

After years of toiling in the minor leagues, J.C., who had only played golf casually during his formative years, became more serious about the sport that his Uncle Sam loved.

The two Sneads actually partnered in the 1972 National Team Championship and tied for 17th place that week. In 24 PGA Tour seasons, J.C. Snead made 632 starts. He played his last Champions Tour event in 2012 and combined for play in 1,097 events on both tours.

J.C. Snead, for a big portion of his career, earned the reputation for being gruff and difficult, although he always contended that he was just quiet and liked to keep to himself. Golf Digest even did a report in September 1984 asking if Snead was the least popular pro on the PGA Tour of if people simply had him all wrong. Digest hired the services of renowned columnist Mickey Herskowitz to investigate. (The whole profile can be read here.)

“I have gotten a reputation for being a hard-ass,” he said in the Golf Digest piece 41 years ago, “and I think it is undeserved.”

Snead was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and the state’s golf hall of fame in 2017. He is survived by his wife, Suzie, son Jason and two grandsons.