Billy Casper leaves behind a lasting legacy

Edited by Anand Datla

February 08, 2015: Billy Casper, one of the most prolific PGA TOUR winners in history and long considered among the sport’s finest putters, suffered a heart attack and died Saturday at his home in Springview, Utah. He was 83.  According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Casper’s son Bob said in an e-mail that his father had spent five weeks after Thanksgiving in the hospital battling pneumonia. He had been able to return home, though, and was undergoing rehabilitation four days a week.

His condition worsened late last week, however. His wife of 62 years, Shirley, and other members of his family were with Casper when he passed away. Between 1956 until 1975, Casper won 51 PGA TOUR titles — including three major championships — and led the money list in 1966 and 1968. His 51 career victories place him seventh on the TOUR’s all-time victories list. He won at least one PGA TOUR title for 16 consecutive years and earned titles in three different decades. He also enjoyed 14 seasons where he won at least two tournaments, the high mark coming in 1968 when he earned six tournament titles.

Born in San Diego, California, on June 24, 1931, Casper learned to play the game on the family farm in New Mexico. He turned professional in 1954 and won his first TOUR title two years later, at the Labatt Open in Canada.  During his career, Casper claimed five Vardon Trophies for low scoring average and was an eight-time U.S. Ryder Cup member. He won his first seven Ryder Cup matches to start his career, and he amassed 23 1/2 total points — still a U.S. Ryder Cup record. Overall, he compiled an all-time 20-10-7 record, including a 6-2-2 mark in singles’ play.

Capser also captained the U.S. squad to victory over Europe in 1979.  In 1959, Casper broke through for his first major championship — winning the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York. He won his second U.S. Open in thrilling fashion at San Francisco’s Olympic Club in 1966. Trailing Arnold Palmer by seven shots with nine holes to play, Casper came from behind to tie Palmer and force a playoff. He then beat Palmer in the 18-hole extra session the following day. The victory is still one of the most unlikely in U.S. Open history.

As recounted in his autobiography “The Big Three and Me,” Casper said he stood on the 10th tee during the final round and said to Palmer, “I’d like to finish second.” Casper said Palmer replied, “I’ll do everything I can to help you.”  Casper wrote further, “[The 1966 U.S. Open] was destined to go down in history as the Open Arnold Palmer blew — a bookend to his seven-stroke come-from-behind charge to win in 1960 — but to my mind, and this is how I suspect Arnold would prefer to view it as well, it will always be the Open I won.”

Casper added a Green Jacket to his closet when he won the 1970 Masters Tournament in the event’s last 18-hole playoff over childhood friend and fellow San Diego native Gene Littler. He defeated Littler by five shots.  Due to severe food-allergy issues, Casper became well known for his interesting diet of exotic meats, including caribou, elk, hippopotamus and buffalo. Because of that, he became known as “Buffalo Bill,” and called his golf-course management and communications company, in a nod to his nickname, Buffalo Communications.

After turning 50, Casper captured eight Champions Tour titles, winning his first in his adopted state of Utah, at the Shootout at Jeremy Ranch in Park City. He won his final tournament, the Transamerica Senior Golf Championship, by three strokes over Al Geiberger.  The World Golf Hall of Fame inducted Casper in 1978, with Hurd Howe, Bing Crosby, Harold Hilton and Clifford Roberts.

Throughout his career, Casper has been active in charity work in both the San Diego area and in Utah, helping youth through his Billy’s Kids initiatives. Casper said of his foundation, “My focus has always been on the youth of America. I believe that these youngsters, the future of our great country, are our most precious commodity. All our benefactors are terrific organizations dedicated to broadening our children’s views and teaching them invaluable life skills necessary to compete in an ever-changing world.”

Casper is survived by his wife, 11 children, six of whom are adopted, and 71 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Source: PGA Tour Website