Sam Saunders, the grandson of legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, recently announced his retirement from professional golf after missing the cut at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Magnit Championship. The 37-year-old Saunders has had a long career, making more than 150 starts on both the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour. Unfortunately, he was experiencing the worst season of his career, making only four cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour and missing the cut in nine of his last 10 starts. He ranked 157th in the season-long points standings and had earned just $29,920. After shooting 71-75 and missing the cut at the Magnit Championship, Saunders decided to call it quits.
Saunders, who played college golf at Clemson, turned professional in 2009. Throughout his career, he had some notable achievements, including a playoff loss at the Puerto Rico Open in 2015 and shooting a 59 on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019. He also lost in a playoff at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Panama Championship last season. Despite these highlights, Saunders struggled with injuries in recent years, which may have impacted his performance on the course.
Throughout his career, Saunders had the support of his grandfather, Arnold Palmer, who served as his swing coach before his passing in 2016. In addition to his grandfather, Saunders also had his childhood friend Eric Cole as a second set of eyes to help him improve his game. Despite not reaching all of his playing goals, Saunders expressed gratitude for the opportunities golf had given him and looks forward to the next chapter of his life.
In a social media post announcing his retirement, Saunders did not specify his plans for the future other than stating that he would always be involved in the game of golf. With over 320 PGA Tour-sanctioned starts, four runner-up finishes, and countless memories, Saunders leaves behind a legacy in the world of professional golf. Fans and fellow golfers took to social media to congratulate Saunders on his career and wish him well in his future endeavors.
As Saunders embarks on this new chapter in his life, he leaves behind a legacy of hard work, dedication, and passion for the game of golf. Despite not achieving all of his goals, he can look back on his career with pride and satisfaction, knowing that he gave his all to the sport he loves. With the support of his family, friends, and fans, Saunders will undoubtedly find success in whatever path he chooses to pursue next.
