(SportsNetwork.com) – World Golf Hall of Fame member Billy Casper passed away
on Saturday at the age of 83.
Casper claimed 51 PGA Tour titles, including three major championships between
1956 and 1975. His 51 tour wins are seventh most all time.
He won his first major at the 1959 U.S. Open and he won that championship
again in 1966. After a runner-up finish at Augusta National in 1969, Casper
won his final major championship title the following year. Casper beat Gene
Little 69-74 in the final 18-hole playoff in Masters history.
Casper appeared on eight Ryder Cup teams, all United States victories, from
1961-75. He also captained the U.S. team to victory in 1979.
Once on the Champions Tour, Casper added two more wins, including one at the
1983 U.S. Senior Open. In all, Casper tallied 69 victories as a professional.
In 2005, Casper returned to Augusta National to play one final Masters
Tournament after a three-year hiatus. He struggled to a 105, which would have
been the highest score in Masters history.
However, Casper officially withdrew without signing his scorecard. He had
three pars, six bogeys, six double-bogeys, two triple-bogeys and a 14 on the
par-3 16th, The 14 would have also been a Masters record if he had turned in
his scorecard. Tom Weiskopf (No. 12) and Tommy Nakajima (No. 13) both carded
13s, and that stands as the worst score on a single hole at the Masters.
After the round, Casper was asked if he had thoughts about quitting. He
responded, “None whatsoever. I came here to play. I had to get it out of my
system and I got it out of my system. I did it for my own satisfaction. And
for my family and my friends.”
