Gene Littler
Gene Littler | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||||
Full name | Gene Alec Littler | ||||
Born | San Diego, California | July 21, 1930||||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||
Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) | ||||
Sporting nationality | ![]() | ||||
Residence | Rancho Santa Fe, California | ||||
Career | |||||
College | San Diego State University | ||||
Turned professional | 1954 | ||||
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour | ||||
Professional wins | 52 | ||||
Number of wins by tour | |||||
PGA Tour | 29 | ||||
Japan Golf Tour | 2 | ||||
PGA Tour Champions | 8 | ||||
Other | 13 | ||||
Best results in major championships (wins: 2) | |||||
Masters Tournament | 2nd: 1970 | ||||
PGA Championship | 2nd: 1977 | ||||
U.S. Open | Won: 1961 | ||||
The Open Championship | T18: 1974 | ||||
U.S. Amateur | Won: 1953 | ||||
Achievements and awards | |||||
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Gene Alec Littler (born July 21, 1930) is an American professional golfer and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.[1] Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth rhythmical swing,[1] he once said that, "Golf is not a game of great shots. It's a game of the best misses. The people who win make the smallest mistakes."
Early years and amateur career
Littler was born in San Diego, California. He played on the 1953 United States Walker Cup team, and won the U.S. Amateur and the California State Amateur that same year.[1] In 1954, he won a PGA Tour event as an amateur, a rare achievement which was not to be repeated until Doug Sanders won the Canadian Open in 1956.
Littler graduated from San Diego State University. He also served in the United States Navy before turning pro in the spring of 1954.
Professional career
An early highlight of Littler's professional playing career was a second-place finish at the 1954 U.S. Open. He finished one shot behind Ed Furgol.
In 1955, he won four times on the tour, but fell into a slump in the late 1950s after tinkering with his swing. After taking advice from Paul Runyan and adjusting his grip,[2] he recovered in 1959 to have his best year with five PGA Tour victories. He finished second on the money list that year, which was to remain his career best. Only once from 1954 to 1979 did Littler finish out of the top 60 on the final money list. He was stricken with melanoma cancer found in a lymph node under his left arm in 1972,[1] but came back to win five more times on the PGA Tour. He ended his career with 29 PGA Tour wins, and also won two tournaments in Japan and one in Australia.
One of Littler's 29 PGA Tour wins was unique. When he won the 1975 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, it marked the first and (so far) only time that a player won that event as a professional after having previously won the pro-amateur portion, which Littler did as a 23-year-old amateur in 1954.[3]
Littler won one major championship – the 1961 U.S. Open. He shot a 68 in the final round to overtake Doug Sanders. He accumulated 17 top-10 finishes in the three U.S.-based majors: seven at the Masters Tournament, five at the PGA Championship, and five at the U.S. Open. In addition to his U.S. Open victory, he had one second-place finish in each of the three U.S. majors, losing playoffs to Billy Casper at the 1970 Masters and to Lanny Wadkins at the 1977 PGA Championship. The latter was the first ever sudden-death playoff in a major. He was a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup teams of 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and 1975, and had a 14-5-8 win/loss/tie record including five wins and three ties in 10 singles matches.
Littler received the Ben Hogan Award in 1973 for a courageous comeback from injury or illness, after returning to the tour following treatment for malignant melanoma. Also in 1973, he was given the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. In the 1980s and 1990s Littler played on the Senior PGA Tour, winning eight times. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1990.[1]
Professional wins
PGA Tour wins (29)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jan 21, 1954 | San Diego Open (as an amateur) |
−14 (67-66-69-72=274) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
2 | Jan 9, 1955 | Los Angeles Open | −8 (72-67-68-69=276) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
3 | Feb 6, 1955 | Phoenix Open | −5 (66-70-68-71=275) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
4 | May 1, 1955 | Tournament of Champions | −8 (69-71-68-72=280) | 13 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
5 | Aug 28, 1955 | Labatt Open | −8 (67-69-68-68=272) | Playoff | ![]() |
6 | Feb 19, 1956 | Texas Open Invitational | −12 (68-73-70-65=276) | 2 stroke | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
7 | Apr 29, 1956 | Tournament of Champions | −7 (70-71-69-71=281) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
8 | Jun 10, 1956 | Palm Beach Round Robin | +55 pts (69-69-68-68-70=344) | 24 points | ![]() |
9 | Apr 21, 1957 | Tournament of Champions | −3 (73-73-69-70=285) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
10 | Feb 8, 1959 | Phoenix Open Invitational | −12 (67-63-67-71=268) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
11 | Feb 15, 1959 | Tucson Open Invitational | −14 (65-67-68-66=266) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
12 | May 17, 1959 | Arlington Hotel Open | −18 (67-69-64-70=270) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
13 | Jul 19, 1959 | Insurance City Open Invitational | −12 (64-66-72-70=272) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
14 | Aug 30, 1959 | Miller Open Invitational | −15 (68-66-64-67=265) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
15 | Jun 12, 1960 | Oklahoma City Open Invitational | −11 (71-64-70-68=273) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
16 | Jul 31, 1960 | Eastern Open Invitational | −15 (65-68-73-67=273) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
17 | Jun 17, 1961 | U.S. Open | +1 (73-68-72-68=281) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
18 | Jan 28, 1962 | Lucky International Open | −10 (65-68-68-73=274) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
19 | Jun 10, 1962 | Thunderbird Classic Invitational | −13 (67-71-70-67=275) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
20 | Jul 17, 1965 | Canadian Open | −7 (70-68-69-66=273) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
21 | Feb 16, 1969 | Phoenix Open Invitational | −21 (69-66-62-66=263) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
22 | Apr 6, 1969 | Greater Greensboro Open | −10 (66-70-69-69=274) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
23 | Apr 18, 1971 | Monsanto Open | −8 (71-67-71-67=276) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
24 | May 23, 1971 | Colonial National Invitation | +3 (72-68-74-69=283) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
25 | Jul 22, 1973 | St. Louis Children's Hospital Golf Classic | −12 (66-66-68-68=268) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
26 | Jan 26, 1975 | Bing Crosby National Pro-Am | −8 (68-71-68-73=280) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
27 | May 25, 1975 | Danny Thomas Memphis Classic | −18 (67-68-69-66=270) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
28 | Aug 3, 1975 | Westchester Classic | −17 (68-68-69-66=271) | Playoff | ![]() |
29 | May 1, 1977 | Houston Open | −12 (70-65-67-74=276) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Source[4]
PGA Tour playoff record (3–8)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1955 | Labatt Open | ![]() |
Won with par on first playoff hole |
2 | 1956 | Texas International Open | ![]() ![]() |
Thomson won with birdie on second extra hole |
3 | 1957 | Western Open | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ford won with par on third extra hole Littler and Maxwell eliminated with par on first extra hole |
4 | 1960 | Memphis Open Invitational | ![]() ![]() |
Lost an 18-hole playoff (Bolt:68, Hogan:69, Littler:71) |
5 | 1962 | Memphis Open Invitational | ![]() ![]() |
Hebert won with birdie on first extra hole |
6 | 1966 | Tucson Open | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
7 | 1969 | Greater Greensboro Open | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Littler won with birdie on fifth extra hole Weiskopf eliminated with par on first hole |
8 | 1970 | Masters Tournament | ![]() |
Lost an 18-hole playoff (Casper:69, Littler:74) |
9 | 1975 | Westchester Classic | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
10 | 1977 | Tucson Open | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on fourth extra hole |
11 | 1977 | PGA Championship | ![]() |
Lost to par on third extra hole |
Major championship is shown in bold.
Japan Golf Tour wins (2)
- 1974 Taiheiyo Masters
- 1975 Taiheiyo Masters
Other wins (3)
this list may be incomplete
- 1954 California State Open
- 1966 World Series of Golf
- 1980 Australian Masters
Champions Tour wins (8)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mar 20, 1983 | Greater Daytona Senior Classic | −13 (65-70-68=203) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
2 | Jul 10, 1983 | Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Classic | −9 (69-69-70-67=275) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
3 | Jan 4, 1984 | Seiko-Tucson Senior Match Play Championship | 1 up | ![]() | |
4 | May 4, 1986 | Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf Classic | −14 (65-66-71=202) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
5 | Aug 31, 1986 | Bank One Senior Golf Classic | −12 (71-63-67=201) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
6 | Aug 2, 1987 | NYNEX/Golf Digest Commemorative | −10 (67-68-65=200) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
7 | Nov 22, 1987 | Gus Machado Senior Classic | −6 (71-67-69=207) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
8 | Feb 26, 1989 | Aetna Challenge | −7 (70-70-69=209) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Champions Tour playoff record (1–2)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1981 | Peter Jackson Champions | ![]() |
Lost to par on first extra hole |
2 | 1986 | Greater Grand Rapids Open | ![]() ![]() |
Ferree won with birdie on first extra hole |
3 | 1986 | Bank One Senior Golf Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Littler won with par on third extra hole Goalby eliminated with par on first hole |
Other senior wins (10)
- 1980 World Senior Invitational
- 1981 Vintage Invitational
- 1981 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Bob Rosburg)
- 1983 Vintage Invitational
- 1985 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Don January)
- 1986 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Don January)
- 1994 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Don January)
- 1997 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Don January)
- 2001 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Don January)
- 2004 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Don January)
Major championships
Wins (1)
Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runners-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1961 | U.S. Open | 3 shot deficit | +1 (73-68-72-68=281) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
Amateur wins (1)
Year | Championship | Winning score | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|
1953 | U.S. Amateur | 1 up | ![]() |
Results timeline
Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T22 | T22 | T12 | CUT | 42 | T8 |
U.S. Open | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 2 | 15 | T34 | T32 | 4 | T11 |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | R64 | DNP | T10 |
U.S. Amateur | R64 | DNP | QF | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | T15 | 4 | T24 | T13 | T6 | T44 | T26 | T43 | T8 |
U.S. Open | CUT | 1 | T8 | T21 | T11 | T8 | T48 | CUT | DNP | CUT |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | T18 | T5 | T23 | T34 | T33 | T28 | T3 | T7 | T30 | T48 |
Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 2 | T4 | DNP | T17 | T39 | T22 | T12 | T8 | T24 | T10 |
U.S. Open | T12 | T37 | DNP | T18 | CUT | T49 | T50 | DNP | T35 | CUT |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T18 | CUT | T32 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | T4 | T75 | DNP | CUT | T28 | T7 | T22 | 2 | CUT | T16 |
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 49 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
U.S. Open | T38 | DNP | T22 | DNP |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | CUT | CUT | T49 | CUT |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
Source for U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur: USGA Championship Database
Summary
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 24 |
U.S. Open | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 20 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 25 | 20 |
Totals | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 42 | 80 | 66 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 14 (1962 PGA – 1967 Masters)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (1961 U.S. Open – 1962 U.S. Open)
U.S. national team appearances
Amateur
- Walker Cup: 1953 (winners)
Professional
- Ryder Cup: 1961 (winners), 1963 (winners), 1965 (winners), 1967 (winners), 1969 (tie), 1971 (winners), 1975 (winners)
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "World Golf Hall of Fame profile". Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Kelley, Brent. "Gene Littler profile". About.com. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
- ^ Shain, Jeff (February 1, 2013). "AT&T Pebble Beach – First Look". PGA Tour. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
- ^ Barkow, Al (November 1989). The History of the PGA TOUR. Copyright PGA Tour. Doubleday. p. 264. ISBN 0-385-26145-4.
External links
- Gene Littler at the PGA Tour official site
- Gene Littler at the Japan Golf Tour official site
- World Golf Hall of Fame profile
- American male golfers
- San Diego State Aztecs men's golfers
- PGA Tour golfers
- Champions Tour golfers
- Ryder Cup competitors for the United States
- Winners of men's major golf championships
- World Golf Hall of Fame inductees
- Golfers from California
- Sportspeople from San Diego
- People from Rancho Santa Fe, California
- 1930 births
- Living people