Sam Saunders (golfer)

Samuel Palmer Saunders (born July 30, 1987) is an American professional golfer and the grandson of Arnold Palmer.[1][2]

Sam Saunders
Personal information
Full nameSamuel Palmer Saunders
Born (1987-07-30) July 30, 1987
Orlando, Florida
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st)
Nationality United States
ResidenceFort Collins, Colorado
Atlantic Beach, Florida
Career
CollegeClemson University
Turned professional2009
Current tour(s)PGA Tour
Korn Ferry Tour
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenT50: 2015
The Open ChampionshipDNP

Early years

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Saunders parents are Roy and Amy (Palmer) Saunders;[3] his mother Amy is the younger daughter of Arnold and Winnie Palmer.[4][5][6][7] Saunders attended high school at Trinity Prep in Winter Park.[8] As a senior, he won his second club championship at Bay Hill Club and Lodge by seventeen strokes, which earned him an invitation to the 2006 PGA Tour event hosted by his grandfather.[3] He attended Clemson University in South Carolina, and skipped his senior season to turn pro.[9]

Pro career

In 2011, he played a total of 13 events – eight on the PGA Tour, with a best finish of 15th at Pebble Beach – and the Nationwide Tour, where he finished tenth in Panama. That same year, Saunders made it to the final stage of the tour's qualifying school, but finished tied for 109th and did not earn a PGA Tour card. Saunders finished 50th on the 2012 Web.com Tour season in his first full professional season.

Saunders played on the Web.com Tour in 2014 after earning his tour card through qualifying school.[9] He finished 13th in the Web.com Tour Finals to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2015 season. On September 29, 2017, he shot 59 in the first round of the Web.com Tour Championship, including a 6 birdie finish.[10] In the 2017–18 PGA Tour season, Saunders earned $981,936 and placed 120th in the FedEx Cup standings. In the 2018–19 PGA Tour season, Saunders earned $413,887 and placed 173rd in the FedEx Cup standings.[9]

In August 2019, Saunders suffered a compound fracture of the clavicle that was incurred in a motorized skateboard accident. Saunders stated he expected to be out for 4–6 months.[11]

Personal life

Saunders and his wife Kelly were married in 2012 and reside in Atlantic Beach, Florida, with their sons, Cohen and Ace [1][12]

Playoff record

PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponents Result
1 2015 Puerto Rico Open Alex Čejka,  Jon Curran,
Emiliano Grillo, Tim Petrovic		 Čejka won with birdie on first extra hole

Results in major championships
Tournament 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open CUT T50
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament 2019
Masters Tournament
PGA Championship
U.S. Open CUT
The Open Championship
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

See also

References
  1. Crouse, Karen (March 19, 2015). "Sam Saunders, a descendant of a King of Golf, carves his own path". New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  2. Sobel, Jason (March 17, 2016). "Saunders finally embracing grandfather Arnold Palmer". ESPN. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  3. "Bay Hill invite for Palmer's grandson". Daily News. (Kingsport, Tennessee). Reuters. March 13, 2006. p. 11.
  4. Ryan, Jack (June 10, 1962). "Arnold Palmer – the winningest man in golf". Family Weekly. p. 11.
  5. "Arnold Palmer's wife dies". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. November 22, 1999. p. 3C.
  6. "Fantastic Arnold Palmer rated legend and outstanding personality in sports". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. March 31, 1963. p. 42.
  7. "Arnie Palmer has troubles and his Army wants to help". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. June 8, 1969. p. 63.
  8. "Palmer teams with grandson for golf event". Free Lance-Star. (Fredericksburg, Virginia). Associated Press. December 6, 2003. p. B4.
  9. "Sam Saunders profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  10. "Sam Saunders, grandson of Arnold Palmer, shoots 59 on Web.com Tour". ESPN. September 28, 2017.
  11. "Sam Saunders on Instagram: "Sorry I haven't posted anything in a long time and this isn't exactly the post I want to be sharing, but I wanted my friends and fans to…"". Instagram. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  12. Silvy, Tyler (December 29, 2013). "Arnold Palmer's grandson, Fort Collins resident playing his best golf when it matters most". Fort Collins Coloradoan.
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