He was famed for his folksy image, wearing a straw hat and playing even on turnaments barefoot and making such statements as "Keep close count of your nickels and dimes, stay away from whiskey, and never concede a putt."
He was survived by two sons, Sam Jr., of Hot Springs, and Terry, of Mountain Grove, Va.; a brother, Pete, of Pittsburgh; and two grandchildren. His wife, Audrey, died in 1990.
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In 1937, his first year on the Tour, he won five events, including the Oakland Open in California.
In 1938, he first won the Greater Greensboro Open, which he won eight times, the Tour record for victories at an event, concluding in 1965 at the age of 52, making him the oldest player to win a PGA Tour event.
1939 was the first year he choked at the United States Open, the only major event he never won.
He won 11 events in 1950. No one has since won more.
In 1974, at age 62, he shot a one-under-par 279 to come in third (three strokes behind winner Lee Trevino) at the PGA Championship at Tanglewood in Clemmons, North Carolina.
In 1978 he won the first event of the PGA Senior Tour, the Legends of Golf.
In 1979 he was the youngest PGA Tour golfer to shoot his age (67) in the second round of the 1979 Quad Cities Open. He shot under his age (66) in the final round.
In 1983, at age 71, he shot a round of 60 (12-under-par) at the Homestead in Hot Springs.
In 1997, at age 85, he shot a round of 78 at the Greenbrier's Old White course in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
In 1998, he received the fourth PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award.
From 1984 to 2002, he hit the honorary starting tee shot at the Masters at Augusta National. Until 2001, he was joined by Byron Nelson, and until 1999, by Gene Sarazen.Career