Who's who: Lawson Little

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Lawson Little

  • Name:

    William Lawson Little Jr
  • Also known as:

    Cannonball
  • Country:

    USA
  • Lived:

    [1910-1968]. Born on June 23, 1910 in Fort Adams, Newport, Rhode Island. Died on Feb 1, 1968 in Monterey, California (aged 57).
  • Original/Home Club:

    Presidio GC, CA.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1936

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): US Open (1940). Amateur MAJORS (4): US Amateur (1934, '35); British Amateur (1934, '35). PGA Tour wins (8). Walker Cup player (1934). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1980).

Did you know?

Nicknamed "Cannonball", Little won both the US and British Amateur championships two years in a row (1934, 1935); at the time all four events were contested solely on a match play basis. He was presented with the 1935 Sullivan Award as the outstanding US amateur athlete of the year.

Top tournaments won by Lawson Little

1941
America
Willow Springs, TX
273 (-11)
$1,200
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Little, Lawson

Venue

Willow Springs, TX

Score

273 (-11)

Prize money

$1,200

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas Open (Feb 7-9). Second-placed Ben Hogan (USA) finished 3 shots behind Lawson Little (USA). The event saw both rain and snow, and required the application of winter rules. [Willow Springs GC, San Antonio, TX].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Little, Lawson

Score

282 (+2)

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 5-8). Second-placed Clayton Heafner (USA) finished 1 shot behind Little (USA). [Los Angeles CC, Los Angeles, CA].

1940
Majors
287 (-1)
$1,000
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Little, Lawson

Score

287 (-1)

Prize money

$1,000

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (44th) (June 6-9). Little (USA) beat Gene Sarazen (USA) in an 18-hole playoff: Little 70 (-2), Sarazen 73 (+1). [Canterbury GC, Beachwood, Ohio].

1937
America
284 (-4)
$700
PGA of America

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Little, Lawson

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

$700

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Played as the Shawnee Open (July 12-14; last year as a PGA Tour event). Second-placed Jimmy Thomson (Scot/USA) and Leo Mallory (USA) finished 1 shot behind Lawson Little (USA). [Shawnee CC & Inn, Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania; at the time the Inn was known as the Buckwood Inn].

1936
America
St Andrews, Ont.
271 (-9)
$1,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Little, Lawson

Venue

St Andrews, Ont.

Score

271 (-9)

Prize money

$1,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Canadian Open (Sept 10-12). Second-placed Jimmy Thompson (Scot/USA) finished 8 shots behind 26-year-old Lawson Little (USA), who recorded his first win as a professional. [St Andrews GC, North York, Toronto, Ont. This course no longer exists].

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Little, Lawson

Score

4 & 2

Prize money

amateur

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Amateur Championship (39th) (Sept 9-14). Defending champion W. Lawson Little (USA) beat Walter Emery (USA) 4 and 2 in the 36-hole final. [The Country Club, Pepper Pike, nr Cleveland, OH].

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Little, Lawson

Score

1 hole

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

R&A

The Amateur Championship (46th). Little (USA) beat Dr William Tweddell (Eng) by 1 hole in the final to win this title for the second straight year. [Royal Lytham & St Annes GC, nr Blackpool, Lancs].

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Little, Lawson

Score

8 & 7

Prize money

amateur

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Amateur Championship (38th) (Sept 10-15). W. Lawson Little Jr (USA) beat David Goldman (USA) 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final. [The Country Club, Brookline, Boston, Mass.].

1934
Amateur
14 & 13
n/a
R&A

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Little, Lawson

Score

14 & 13

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

R&A

The Amateur Championship (45th). W. Lawson Little (USA) beat James Wallace (Scot) by 14 & 13 in the final. [Prestwick GC, Ayrshire, Scotland].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

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Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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