William Lawson Little, Jr.

A great amateur golfer, Lawson Little, as he was known, won both the British Amateur and U.S. Amateur Championships back-to-back in 1934 and 1935, an achievement which remains unparalleled and that has long been referred to as "The Little Slam."  As a member of the U.S. Walker Cup team in 1934, Little was undefeated.  In 1936, he turned professional, winning the Canadian Open the same year.  In 1940, he became U.S.  Open Champion by defeating Gene Sarazen in a playoff.   During his amateur peak years, Little won 32 consecutive matches on both sides of the Atlantic with a powerful game built on booming drives and brooding intensity.  His professional career included seven victories plus the Open title. Little was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1980.