The driver was said to have been used by Snead from 1936 to 1953, during which time he won seven major titles including three US Masters, three US PGA Championships and an Open Championship.

Snead, who died in 2002 at the age of 89, revealed he came into possession of the driver after paying fellow player Henry Pickard $5.25 (£3.22/€4.05) for it in 1936.

Heritage Auctions, who were in charge of the auction, had claimed they expected the driver to sell for in excess of $1 million (£613,000/€772,000).

The club is part of a collection of golfing memorabilia belonging to golf enthusiast Bob Burkett.

More than 400 Snead pieces were on auction as part of the Sports Collectibles Golf Catalogue Auction held in Dallas on September 25 and 26.

Sam Snead used the driver to win seven major Championships between 1936 and 1953 ©Hulton Archive/Getty Images



A putter used by Snead to win the Open Championship at St Andrews in 1946 did sell for $31,825 (£19,794/€25,167).

Meanwhile, his 1942 US PGA Championship Wanamaker Trophy went for $143,400 (£89,174/€113,592), while his 1952 US Masters Trophy was sold for $113,525 (£70,608/€89,968). 

Snead, who was born in Virginia, is regarded by many as the greatest golfer of all time.

His six major wins on US soil are among a record 82 wins on the PGA Tour.

He took part in eight Ryder Cups as player and captain, winning seven plus one tied, captaining the US side on three occasions in 1951, 1959 and 1969.

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