Watson's shortcuts: what you can learn from Sam's silky swing

Golf Digest, Sept, 2002 by Tom (American golfer) Watson, Nick Seitz

The first time I went to the Masters, my father told me, "Sit in the bleachers behind the practice area and watch Sam Snead swing." It was great advice. Sam influenced my swing tremendously over the years, and I would always make it a point to watch him practice when I had the chance.

One of the best tips I overheard Sam give was to keep the left arm close to the chest during the swing. Don't let the arm move away from the body.

Sam always wanted to control his swing with his left side. He believed that pushing the clubhead away from the ball with the left hand and arm--without them "disconnecting" from the body--led to his big turn and silky tempo.

A favorite key of mine to slow down my swing is to visualize Sam's swing. He wanted it to feel "oily." As he got older he worked hard to keep his swing long so his tempo wouldn't get rushed. His gorgeous swing lasted a long time at a high level.

I've said before that I think every golfer's television room should include a video of Sam Snead swinging a club. Just watching it will improve your tempo.

RELATED ARTICLE: Here's Johnny!

"When I arrived at Royal Birkdale to play in the 1976 British Open, I discovered my housemate for the week was going to be Sam Snead. This happy surprise came about because, at the time, Sam and I shared the same manager.

When I returned from the course each day, Sam would tell stories long into the night. His company was relaxing and inspirational, and that week he played a part in my winning the championship--my second major title."