JC Snead and Jay Sigel

I apologize for being late this week. I am currently travelling.

This past week, the golf world lost two memorable golfers. One followed in the footsteps of his more famous uncle while the other eschewed professional golf until he turned 50 and joined the Champions Tour. JC Snead followed his uncle, Sam Snead, into professional golf. Jay Sigel built his reputation as one of America’s best amateurs before finally turning professional at the age of 50.

JC Snead won 16 professional tournaments over his career with 8 of those victories coming on the PGA Tour. He played on three Ryder Cup teams. For a stretch in the ‘70’s, he battled Nicklaus, Trevino and Watson routinely but never won a major. In 1974, Snead finished 2nd four times on the PGA Tour without winning a tournament. He set a record for most money won at the time without a win. In today’s golf world, JC would be a superstar. Golf media writes stories routinely about the top players, even when they fail to win.

JC started his career as a professional baseball player in the Washington Senators farm system. At the age of 27, after a few years of baseball, he turned to golf and became a professional. His last professional win came in 2012 at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in the Demaret Division (over 70) with partner Gibby Gilbert.

Over the years, JC developed a reputation as being difficult and gruff. He felt the reputation was unfair. He viewed himself as quiet and preferred to give people space. In some cases, he thought he might have been treated differently if his last name wasn’t Snead. All in all, JC built a good career and life in golf even with the added burden of following in his famous uncle’s footsteps.

Jay Sigel built his reputation in golf as an amateur. An immensely talented player, he considered turning professional while attending Wake Forest University, however, an arm injury made him rethink his plans. Instead, he settled on a career in the insurance industry and focused on high-level amateur golf. This turned out to be a pretty good decision as he built a hugely successful career in the insurance industry and created a legacy in golf as an amateur.

Throughout the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, Sigel won numerous amateur titles including the US Amateur, British Amateur and the US Mid-Amateur as well as being a member of nine Walker Cup teams. his victories in the US Amateur and US Mid-Amateur in 1983 made him only the third player to win two USGA individual titles in the same year, and he is the only player to hold both those championships in the same year.

At the age of 50, he finally turned professional and joined the Champions Tour in 1994 when he won Rookie of the Year with 14 top-10’s and a victory at the GTE West Classic. Overall, Sigel won eight times on the Champions Tour with his last victory coming in 2003 at the Bayer Advantage Celebrity Pro-Am.

Both JC Snead and Jay Sigel created lasting legacies in the golf world. JC built a successful professional career in the shadow of his famous uncle. Jay Sigel pursued an amateur career and built a successful business before turning professional. Golf is better for both of them. They will be missed.

As always, be grateful when you play. Be thankful for the privilege and opportunity to play this amazing game. Now, go golf!