Gene Alec Littler (July 21, 1930 – February 15, 2019)[1] was an American professional golfer and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

[2] Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth, rhythmical swing,[2] he once said that, "Golf is not a game of great shots.

In 1959 after taking advice he received from Paul Runyan and adjusting his grip,[9] he recovered to have his best year with five PGA Tour victories.

He was stricken with melanoma cancer found in a lymph node under his left arm in 1972,[2] but came back to win five more times on the PGA Tour.

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).

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.

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.

[2] On January 5, 1951, ten days before joining the Navy, Littler married Shirley Warren, his university classmate.