Gene Littler And The 1970 Masters

[Hoganman1]

I just saw the Golf Channel's tribute to "Gene the Machine". I was truly fortunate enough to watch him play Billy Casper in an 18 hole Monday playoff at the 1970 Masters. I was a sophomore in college and our biology professor gave a friend and me his tickets (and permission to cut his class). It was my first time to actually see an actual tournament round having only attended practice rounds while in high school. There wasn't much drama as Casper won 69 to 74. There weren't many patrons in attendance and it was a very intimate setting to watch two great players up close and personal. I don't remember much about how they played except that Casper hit a screaming hook into the trees on number 2. As a hooker myself I received some solace in seeing a touring pro do that and still make par. Also, it was the last 18 hole playoff in Masters history. The 1979 Masters ending in a tie was decided by a sudden death playoff won on #11 (the second playoff hole) by Fuzzy Zoeller over Ed Sneed and Tom Watson. Because of that experience I've always been fond of both Littler and Casper.

[PeaceFrogg]

That screaming hook of Casper's that ended up in the trees probably just started out too far left as I remember my dad telling me that Casper basically played a low hook on every shot.

[powerfade66]

On 2/19/2019 at 4:23 AM, PeaceFrogg said:

That screaming hook of Casper's that ended up in the trees probably just started out too far left as I remember my dad telling me that Casper basically played a low hook on every shot.

I thought he did as well. I began to study him and found he actually hit a fade in his prime. He left the tour for a time and weakened his left arm and found a way to fade it consistently. He releases under in a similar way to DJ. It’s all in books both by him and about him.