VALDOSTA —
Imagine growing up with a grandfather who is considered one of the greatest golfers in professional golf history, a man that won seven major championships, including four Masters, and totaled 62 career PGA TOUR victories.
That is what Sam Saunders’ grandfather achieved. Who is Saunders’ legendary family figure?
Just World Golf Hall of Fame member Arnold Palmer — the King of golf.
“It is what it is,” said Saunders following his final round of the 2012 South Georgia Classic at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club. “It is just the way I was born. I can’t really change it, but it is great. I am a lucky guy, and I have a great family.”
With the pressure that comes with being the grandson of Arnold Palmer, Saunders, 24, has handled it well, as he is on his way to becoming, what he hopes, a future star on the PGA TOUR.
After starting this year with conditional status on the Nationwide Tour, Saunders has played himself onto the Nationwide Tour on full-time basis, following a 6-under par finish at this weekend’s South Georgia Classic.
But just competing on the Nationwide Tour isn’t the goal, as Saunders said he is aiming for a much higher prize this season.
“My goal is to win the money list out here,” Saunders said. “We still have a long year left. I came into the year with conditional status, I’ve played my way on now, and after this (weekend), I should be set to get into every event, so my goal is to still win the money list out here. But I would love to get a win. That is what I am going to try to do.”
In order for Saunders to win the money list, it will take more strong showings like this weekend at Kinderlou. He was 106th on the money list heading into the Classic.
As for his performance at the South Georgia Classic — his first career start at the event — Saunders had a solid showing, shooting below par in three of his four rounds. In his Saturday round, which he finished with a 3-over 75, Saunders managed a triple bogey on the par-5 13th, a hole that still haunted him following his Sunday round.
"One bad hole, that 13th hole yesterday,” said Saunders of his weekend. “It was kind of a tricky, goofy hole, and I screwed up on it. It kind of cost me my round yesterday, but other than that, I am 9-under on the week. So, I would have been in contention coming into today if I would have just pared that hole.”
While he has still yet to record a victory, Saunders knows one will eventually come.
“I’d love to get a win. That is what I want to try and do,” Saunders said. “And once I get that, it will kind of open up some doors for me, and I will have that under my belt. ... In my mind, at least, other people may not believe this, but in my mind, it is just a matter of time before I play my way onto the PGA TOUR and win out there. I am just going to keep doing the things I am doing.”
The possible door it may open is a future career on the PGA TOUR, which he has already played on. Saunders has 19 career starts on golf’s biggest stage, making the cut in six of those events.
“Ultimately, yeah, get on the PGA TOUR, that is my goal,” Saunders said. “That is where everyone wants to be.”
With Saunders seeing more time on the Nationwide Tour, and quite possibly the PGA TOUR one day, he doesn’t feel pressure.
“The better I play, the less pressure there is,” Saunders said. “It is when I am playing bad that is when there is more pressure."
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Sam Saunders tees off on the first hole of Saturday’s round at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club. Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Times
Discussion
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