Sam Little (golfer) explained

Sam Little
Birth Date:31 August 1975
Birth Place:London, England
Weight:83kg (183lb)
Residence:Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England
Children:4
Yearpro:1997
Extour:European Tour
Challenge Tour
Prowins:5
Chalwins:5 (Tied 7th all time)
Masters:DNP
Usopen:DNP
Open:CUT: 2006
Pga:DNP

Sam Little (born 31 August 1975) is an English professional golfer and sports agent. He won five times on the Challenge Tour.[1]

Early and personal life

Little was born in London, England, and is Jewish and has been a member of Hendon Reform Synagogue.[2] [3] [4]

Career

Little turned professional in 1997, and joined the Challenge Tour in 1999, where he recorded his first win in 2001.[5] In 2004 he won for the second time at that level,[6] and graduated to the European Tour at the end of the season via qualifying school. He became renowned for last-gasp performances to maintain his Tour playing rights, ending narrowly inside the top 115 qualifiers in 2005, 2008 and 2009, and finishing runner-up in the final tournament of 2007 to move up to 76th in the Order of Merit from outside the top 170. This remains his best season-end finish.

After the 2010 season Little lost his playing rights on the European Tour, having finished 182nd, and returned to the Challenge Tour.

In 2011, Little won three events from mid-September to mid-October, the M2M Russian Challenge Cup, the Allianz Golf Open Grand Toulouse, and the Roma Golf Open, to regain his European Tour card for the remainder of 2011 and 2012.[7] [8]

Little served on the Maccabi GB Golf Management Team for the 2013 Maccabiah Games.[9]

In 2014 he became a sports agent.[10] [11]

Family

Little has a wife, Maria, and four children including twin girls. His brother Jamie is also a professional golfer who has played on the European Tour and Challenge Tour.

Professional wins (5)

Challenge Tour wins (5)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
12 Sep 2001Formby Hall Challenge−12 (71-72-64-69=276)1 stroke Grant Hamerton
217 Jul 2004Texbond Open−19 (71-65-67-66=269)3 strokes Henrik Nyström, Massimo Scarpa
318 Sep 2011M2M Russian Challenge Cup−11 (74-69-68-66=277)1 stroke Andrew Johnston
425 Sep 2011Allianz Golf Open Grand Toulouse−16 (66-68-66-68=268)1 stroke Simon Thornton
516 Oct 2011Roma Golf Open−11 (66-68-71-68=273)Playoff Pelle Edberg

Challenge Tour playoff record (1–0)

Results in major championships

Note: Little only played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What's it like being a Tour pro who's not making millions? . Today's Golfer . 13 November 2015 . Rob . McGarr.
  2. Web site: Classic Little marks his card . The Jewish Chronicle . Craig . Silver . 2 November 2017 . PressReader.com.
  3. Web site: Jewish golfer wins tourney . Jewish Post . 17 November 1999 . NAT 3 . Hoosier State Chronicles .
  4. Web site: Ryder Cup stars lead £40K drive for care home . thejc.com.
  5. Web site: 2001 Schedule - Challenge Tour . European Tour.
  6. Web site: 2004 Schedule - Challenge Tour . European Tour.
  7. Web site: 2011 Schedule - Challenge Tour . European Tour.
  8. Web site: Sam Little . European Tour.
  9. Web site: Maccabi GB announce Golf Management Team for the Maccabiah Games . www.maccabigb.org.
  10. News: England's Sam Little believes not all golfers have it as good as Rory McIlroy . Neil . Squires . August 4, 2015 . Express.
  11. Web site: 10Ten Talent launch golf division - 10Ten Talent . www.10tentalent.com.