Littler to Keep Swinging Away on Senior Tour : Golf: Rejuvenated former PGA great plans to play in about 30 tournaments on over-50 tour in 1990.

It was more than 35 years ago that Gene Littler first showed his “perfect swing” to professional golfers.

Although he will be 60 next year there is no sign that Littler, long known as one of the finest golfers developed in Southern California, is ready to slow down.

In fact, Littler, who was still an amateur when he won his first PGA tournament--the San Diego Open in 1954--is playing more than he did when his sweet swing made him one of the best players on the regular tour.

“On the PGA Tour I used to play about 20 tournaments a year,” Littler said in an interview. “The last couple of years I have played about 30 tournaments on the Senior Tour and it looks as though I’ll play that many again.”

Littler, who has lived most of his life in the San Diego area except when on tour, won the U.S. Open in 1961 at Oakland Hills in Birmingham, Mich., but many of his 29 victories on the regular tour and an additional 10 on the tour for 50 and older golfers have been won in the West.

His first victory after becoming a pro was the 1955 Los Angeles Open. He won the Tournament of Champions three times in a row when it was played at Las Vegas and has won often in Phoenix and Tucson.

He would like to add the local senior event to his list. The GTE tournament, which was twice played at MountainGate and twice at Wood Ranch in Simi Valley, will be played at the Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club, the first weekend in December. It is one of the few in the area he hasn’t won.

It is generally conceded that “youngsters” of 50, 51 and 52 have a decided edge on the senior tour, but early this year Littler, who was 59 in July, found a fountain of youth.

For nearly two months, Littler seemed almost always in position where he had a chance to win. The only time he broke through was in the Aetna Challenge at Naples, Fla., in late February.

“I agree that the young guys have an edge,” Littler said. “But for several weeks, I was playing as well as I ever did. I’ve lost a little distance and I have to work harder, but the way I feel, I’m going to keep playing until I can’t compete. I don’t feel as though that’s anytime soon.

“You would think that having practiced so much and having played all those rounds over the years that everything would finally come easy. It doesn’t work that way. I’ve found since I got older I’ve had to work harder. It is harder when you get older to get the muscles ready to do what has to be done.

“I have to work harder to get my body going. I’ve always stayed in shape, but it’s a lot harder to do the things that came naturally when you were younger.

“I took about three weeks off after the hot streak and I had trouble adjusting when I returned. I’m just now starting to feel right again.”

Littler won more than $1.5 million on the regular tour long before they were paying those huge purses. He won his last tournament on that tour in 1977. He is closing in on the $1.5 million figure on the senior tour which he joined in 1981 when there were only five events and purses totaling $750,000.

Don January and Littler were among a group that got together to get the senior tour organized.

“Our idea,” Littler recalled, “was to see if we could get sponsors for eight or 10 tournaments a year. The idea was that if we did that we would be able to get together for some fun and keep active in golf.

“Nobody, in their wildest imagination thought it would mushroom into what it has. Can you believe it? Next year there will be 41 tournaments and purses will total more than $15 million. I can’t believe I’m playing 30 tournaments a year. It defies belief.

“Yet, it doesn’t seem to tire me out. Nowdays there aren’t as many distractions and the money isn’t all that important.

“I side with those who believe everyone who is able should walk. I am a strong supporter of people such as Charlie Owens, who can’t walk. But I don’t believe those in good health should ride in carts.”

Throughout his career, Littler, who is 5-9 and has always kept his weight around 160, has looked frail. Yet, he always was in good shape and with his smooth stroke has shown a surprising ability to stay within distance of the long hitters.

It was in the spring of 1982 that Littler learned he wasn’t well. He underwent surgery for cancer of the lymph system. Miraculously, Littler was back on the tour by late fall. He won his first senior tour event in the first tournament of 1983.

In an accident at home the following February, he shattered his left arm. They had to put a steel plate in it and Littler didn’t return to golf until August that year.

“Actually, the broken arm has been more of a problem than the cancer,” he said. “Until just recently, I had trouble with my short game. All my trouble has been on the left side. That’s where the control is.

“It’s just been recently that it doesn’t hurt when I chip. Then, after taking a few weeks off, my putting, which had been so good, went sour. I went back to an old Zebra (putter) and it seems to be coming around again.”

Littler has won more than $200,000 this year, most of it during his hot streak which began at Tampa, Fla., the weekend of Feb. 17-19 when he finished eighth. The next week at Naples, Fla., he won the tournament. At the Vintage (Mar. 2-5), he was tied for the lead after three rounds only to sky to a 76.

“I really had everything going,” he said. “Even though the other players were younger, I felt I was playing well enough to win every week.”

Littler is the oldest player in the top 20. Only Miller Barber, 58, is close. The rest are 55 or under.

“Somebody said that you age three years as a golfer every year after 50,” Littler said. “I guess I’ve been fooling them.”