Gene Alec Littler (July 21, 1930 – February 15, 2019) was an American professional golfer and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth, rhythmical swing, 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 life 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.
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 is one of only very few players who won both a U.S. national junior tournament (he won the 1948 U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska) and the U.S. Amateur.
Littler graduated from San Diego State University, and after that served in the United States Navy from 1951 to 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. In 1959 after taking advice he received from Paul Runyan and adjusting his grip, he recovered 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, but came back to win five more times on the PGA Tour. He won many championships including 29 PGA Tour wins. He played on the Men's Senior PGA Tour and also won two major tournaments in Japan and one in Australia. In his book, Gene Littler The Real Score with Jack Tobin an Appendix B states that "through the 1975 season only eight players in the history of golf had earned over $1 Million in sanctioned professional golf play" (listed in order the eight were Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, Bruce Crampton, Tom Weiskopf, Gene Littler, Gary Player).
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.
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.
After he turned 50, Littler also played on the Senior PGA Tour, winning eight times.
Personal life On January 5, 1951, ten days before joining the Navy, Littler married Shirley Warren, his university classmate. They had a son, Curt, born in March 1954 and a daughter, Suzanne, born in October 1957.
Littler died at the age of 88 on February 15, 2019.
Awards and honors
In 1973, Littler was bestowed the Ben Hogan Award, given to a golfer for a courageous comeback from injury or illness. Littler earned this after returning to the tour following treatment for melanoma. In 1973, he was honored with the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. In 1990, Littler was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
In popular culture Littler inspired Sandy Mac Divot, the main character of the long running comic strip Mac Divot by Jordan Lanski (a former schoolmate of Littler) and Mel Keefer.
Professional wins (54) PGA Tour wins (29) Legend Major championships (1) Other PGA Tour (28) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Jan 21, 1954San Diego Open(as an amateur)−14 (67-66-69-72=274)4 strokes Dutch Harrison2Jan 9, 1955Los Angeles Open −8 (72-67-68-69=276)2 strokes Ted Kroll3Feb 6, 1955Phoenix Open −5 (66-70-68-71=275)1 stroke Billy Maxwell, Arnold Palmer4May 1, 1955Tournament of Champions −8 (69-71-68-72=280)13 strokes Jerry Barber, Pete Cooper, Bob Toski5Aug 28, 1955Labatt Open−8 (67-69-68-68=272)Playoff Stan Leonard6Feb 19, 1956Texas Open Invitational−12 (68-73-70-65=276)2 strokes Mike Fetchick, Frank Stranahan, Ernie Vossler7Apr 29, 1956Tournament of Champions (2)−7 (70-71-69-71=281)4 strokes Cary Middlecoff8Jun 10, 1956Palm Beach Round Robin +55 pts (69-69-68-68-70=344)24 points Ted Kroll9Apr 21, 1957Tournament of Champions (3)−3 (73-73-69-70=285)3 strokes Billy Casper, Jimmy Demaret, Dow Finsterwald, Billy Maxwell 10Feb 8, 1959Phoenix Open Invitational (2)−12 (67-63-67-71=268)1 stroke Art Wall Jr.11Feb 15, 1959Tucson Open Invitational−14 (65-67-68-66=266)1 stroke Joe Campbell, Art Wall Jr.12May 17, 1959Arlington Hotel Open−18 (67-69-64-70=270)1 stroke Jim Ferree 13Jul 19, 1959Insurance City Open Invitational−12 (64-66-72-70=272)1 stroke Tom Nieporte14Aug 30, 1959Miller Open Invitational −15 (68-66-64-67=265)1 stroke Bob Rosburg, Bo Wininger15Jun 12, 1960Oklahoma City Open Invitational−11 (71-64-70-68=273)1 stroke Art Wall Jr.16Jul 31, 1960Eastern Open Invitational−15 (65-68-73-67=273)2 strokes Gary Player17Jun 17, 1961U.S. Open +1 (73-68-72-68=281)1 stroke Bob Goalby, Doug Sanders18Jan 28, 1962Lucky International Open−10 (65-68-68-73=274)2 strokes George Knudson19Jun 10, 1962Thunderbird Classic Invitational−13 (67-71-70-67=275)2 strokes Jack Nicklaus20Jul 17, 1965Canadian Open−7 (70-68-69-66=273)1 stroke Jack Nicklaus21Feb 16, 1969Phoenix Open Invitational (3)−21 (69-66-62-66=263)2 strokes Miller Barber, Don January, Billy Maxwell 22Apr 6, 1969Greater Greensboro Open −10 (66-70-69-69=274)Playoff Julius Boros, Orville Moody, Tom Weiskopf23Apr 18, 1971Monsanto Open−8 (71-67-71-67=276)3 strokes George Archer, Pete Brown24May 23, 1971Colonial National Invitation +3 (72-68-74-69=283)1 stroke Bert Yancey25Jul 22, 1973St. Louis Children's Hospital Golf Classic−12 (66-66-68-68=268)1 stroke Bruce Crampton26Jan 26, 1975Bing Crosby National Pro-Am−8 (68-71-68-73=280)4 strokes Hubert Green 27May 25, 1975Danny Thomas Memphis Classic−18 (67-68-69-66=270)5 strokes John Mahaffey28Aug 3, 1975Westchester Classic−17 (68-68-69-66=271)Playoff Julius Boros29May 1, 1977Houston Open−12 (70-65-67-74=276)3 strokes Lanny Wadkins
PGA Tour playoff record (3–8) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11955Labatt Open Stan LeonardWon with par on first extra hole 21956Texas International Open Cary Middlecoff, Peter ThomsonThomson won with birdie on second extra hole 31957Western Open George Bayer, Doug Ford, Billy MaxwellFord won with par on third extra holeLittler and Maxwell eliminated by par on first hole 41960 Memphis Open Invitational Tommy Bolt, Ben HoganBolt won 18-hole playoff;Bolt: −2 (68),Hogan: −1 (69),Littler: +1 (71) 51962Memphis Open Invitational Lionel Hebert, Gary PlayerHebert won with birdie on first extra hole61966Tucson Open Joe CampbellLost to birdie on first extra hole71969Greater Greensboro Open Julius Boros, Orville Moody, Tom WeiskopfWon with birdie on fifth extra holeWeiskopf eliminated by par on first hole81970Masters Tournament Billy CasperLost 18-hole playoff;Casper: −3 (69),Littler: +2 (74) 91975Westchester Classic Julius BorosWon with par on first extra hole101977Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open Bruce LietzkeLost to birdie on fourth extra hole111977PGA Championship Lanny Wadkins Lost to par on third extra hole
Source:
PGA of Japan Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Oct 12, 1975Taiheiyo Club Masters−6 (69-66-73-70=278)1 stroke Lee Elder, Hubert Green, Allen Miller, Masashi Ozaki
PGA Tour of Australia wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Mar 2, 1980Australian Masters−4 (70-74-67-77=288)Playoff Rodger Davis
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11980Australian Masters Rodger DavisWon with bogey on first extra hole
Other wins (3) 1954 California State Open 1966 World Series of Golf 1974 Taiheiyo Club Masters
Senior PGA Tour wins (8) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Mar 20, 1983Greater Daytona Senior Classic−13 (65-70-68=203)6 strokes Guy Wolstenholme2Jul 10, 1983Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Classic−9 (69-69-70-67=275)2 strokes Don January3Jan 4, 1984Seiko-Tucson Senior Match Play Championship1 up Don January4May 4, 1986Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf Classic−14 (65-66-71=202)2 strokes Don January5Aug 31, 1986Bank One Senior Golf Classic−12 (71-63-67=201)Playoff Miller Barber, Bob Goalby6Aug 2, 1987NYNEX/Golf Digest Commemorative−10 (67-68-65=200)1 stroke Dale Douglass7Nov 22, 1987Gus Machado Senior Classic−6 (71-67-69=207)3 strokes Orville Moody8Feb 26, 1989Aetna Challenge−7 (70-70-69=209)2 strokes Harold Henning
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11981Peter Jackson Champions Miller BarberLost to par on first extra hole21986Greater Grand Rapids Open Jim Ferree, Chi-Chi RodríguezFerree won with birdie on first extra hole31986Bank One Senior Golf Classic Miller Barber, Bob GoalbyWon with par on third extra holeGoalby eliminated by par on first hole Source:
Japan Senior Tour wins (2) 1983 Coca-Cola Grandslam Championship 1987 Coca-Cola Grandslam Championship
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) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1961 U.S. Open 3 shot deficit +1 (73-68-72-68=281) 1 stroke Bob Goalby, Doug Sanders
Amateur wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreRunner-up 1953 U.S. Amateur 1 up Dale Morey
Results timeline Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT22T22T12CUT42T8U.S. Open215T34T324T11The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipR64T10U.S. AmateurR64QF1––––––
Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentCUTT154T24T13T6T44T26T43T8U.S. OpenCUT1T8T21T11T8T48CUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA ChampionshipT18T5T23T34T33T28T3T7T30T48
Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters Tournament2T4T17T39T22T12T8T24T10U.S. OpenT12T37T18CUTT49T50T35CUTThe Open ChampionshipT18CUTT32PGA ChampionshipT4T75CUTT28T7T222CUTT16
Tournament1980198119821983Masters Tournament49U.S. OpenT38T22The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipCUTCUTT49CUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut DQ = disqualified WD = withdrew R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play "T" indicates a tie for a place.
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 madeMasters Tournament 0 1 0 3 8 18 26 24U.S. Open 1 1 0 3 5 12 25 20The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 2PGA Championship 0 1 1 4 7 11 25 20Totals 1 3 1 10 20 42 80 66