LITTLER BEATS BIG WINNERS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31163, 13 September 1966, Page 19

LITTLER BEATS BIG WINNERS

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) AKRON (Ohio). G. Littler sank a 22-foot putt for a birdie on the first sudden-death hole on Sunday to capture the 77,500 dollars World Series of golf in a three-way play-off with J. Nicklaus and A. Geiberger.

Littler, who only gained admission to the four-man invitational event as an alternate selection, earned a first prize of 50,000 dollars —the biggest prize of his career. The three golfers were tied at 143 after the regulation two rounds. Littler had scores of 71 and 72, Nicklaus shot 70-73, and Geiberger 71-72. The fourth contestant, United States Open champion B. Casper, finished one stroke back at 70-74—144. Nicklaus and Geiberger, the P.G.A. champion, shared second money, each receiving

- 11,250 dollars, while Casper . collected 5000 dollars. The World Series, inaugur- ' ated in 1962,' is supposed to : bring together the winners of t four major tournaments —the United States and British I Opens, United States Masters i and United States P.G.A. i However, since Nicklaus : took both the Masters and British Open this year, the • promoters needed another . player to complete the four- ■ some. They chose Littler on the basis of his victory in the > 1965 Canadian Open. Nicklaus won the world ser- ; ies in both 1962 and 1963.