Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407030121
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING
DATELINE: PINEHURST, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
After carding "another-no-nothing-happening" 75 in Friday's second round of the U.S. Senior Open at Pinehurst No. 2, Snead displayed about as much confidence in the current state of his game as a 30-handicapper has standing over a 1-iron.
"I've got no chance out here," said Snead, who also shot a 75 Saturday. "If you can't get the ball in the hole you can't beat too many people."
Except yourself. And when it comes to inflicting self-wounds, nobody can beat Jesse Carlyle Snead.
"I've got no confidence at all," he said. "I'm hitting the ball pretty good. I just can't score. I don't make any birdies.
"What's happening? Well, something always happens . . . either it's not happening or something bad is happening."
As the Hot Springs native, in his distinctive southern drawl, puts it, "times ain't good these days."
And Snead's mind - on and off the course - is buried in a deep bunker.
First, there's this off-the-course matter called a divorce. Snead and his wife, Sue, are currently negotiating a financial settlement, which Snead says he hopes will be wrapped up soon.
"Right now, the only thing wrapped up is my a-," Snead said.
"And everytime I get a call about [the divorce] I play like crap. And I get a lot of calls. I got one this morning, matter of fact."
On the course, Snead's game remains severely handicapped by the one club in his bag that just won't work. Snead's flat stick has been on strike ever since he joined the over-50 tour in 1990.
"It's just like here the first two days," Snead said. "What do I have? Three birdies in 36 holes?
"These other guys like [Dave] Stockton, [Lee] Trevino, [Raymond] Floyd and that bunch are making 15-20 15- to 20-footers a week and I make one. Making a 15-footer is almost unheard of in my game."
The self-effacing Snead said the putter chokes off his chances to win week after week.
"It's really frustrating," he said. "Round after round, I hit it well and make no putts."
Snead, never recognized as a great putter while winning eight times on the regular PGA Tour in 20 years, claimed he doesn't have the yips, the dreaded putting disease that has wiped out many a player.
"If I've got the ball straight on line to the hole I seem to leave it short," he said. "I really don't think it's the stroke. It's not like I'm not afraid to putt or anything.
"I think it's all in reading greens. I can't read one anymore. The caddies I've had can't read 'em, either. I'm trying to hire somebody to help me. I need somebody to help me, for sure."
The read on Snead's Senior Tour career to this point has been far off line, too. More than one figured the long-knocking nephew of Sam Snead had the capabilities of overpowering many of the short-stroking seniors.
Although he's been in contention numerous times, Snead has won only one time in 107 career Senior starts. The lone win came last year in San Antonio.
"I'm not at all happy with what I've done out here," Snead said. "There have been so many opportunities, so many chances. Somehow, I managed to screw 'em all up but one. I just can't make a putt when I have to.
"This year, I had chances at Dallas, Miami, San Antonio . . . didn't win any. About par for the course, I guess.
"Yeah, I keep thinking maybe it will all change one week. But right now, I'm thinking maybe things are too far gone."
Snead, despite being on line for his fourth straight $300,000-plus season on Senior money-earnings, said he may soon high tail it, too. He talks like a man who wouldn't mind if he never saw another 3-foot downhill slider.
"I want to go home [to Hot Springs] so bad I can't stand it," Snead said. "This just isn't any fun anymore. I don't have a home . . . well, I've got a condo in Florida but I'm never there because I'm always out here.
"You know, there's got to be something else in life to do besides running around playing golf, hitting practice balls, eating in restaurants every meal and staying in motel rooms every night.
"Every damned day, that's all we do out here. The same old thing. That's exciting as hell, I'm telling you. And people think we've got it made out here."
Snead said the impending divorce and its financial ramifications will force him to put his "fanny to the grindstone" another few years.
"I'm getting wiped out, and I need to make as much as I can the next four or five years," Snead said last month in a tour stop in Charlotte.
Snead claimed he would then like to go home and stay until he dies and "let 'em bury me under this old stump."
Good game plan. Unless his putter buries him somewhere else first.
by CNB