Billy Casper


William Earl Casper Jr. was an American professional golfer. He was one of the most prolific tournament winners on the PGA Tour from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s.
In his youth, Casper started as a caddie and emerged from the junior golf hotbed of San Diego, where golf could be played year-round, to rank seventh all-time in career Tour wins with 51, across a 20-year period between 1956 and 1975. Fellow San Diegan great Gene Littler was a friend and rival from teenager to senior. Casper won three major championships, represented the United States on a then-record eight Ryder Cup teams, and holds the U.S. record for career Ryder Cup points won. After reaching age 50, Casper regularly played the Senior PGA Tour and was a winner there until 1989. In his later years, Casper successfully developed businesses in golf course design and management of golf facilities.
Casper served as Ryder Cup captain in 1979, was twice PGA Player of the Year, was twice leading money winner, and won five Vardon Trophy awards for the lowest seasonal scoring average on the Tour.
Respected for his extraordinary putting and short-game skills, Casper was a superior strategist who overcame his distance disadvantages against longer-hitting competitors such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus with moxie, creative shot-making, and clever golf-course management abilities. Never a flashy gallery favorite, Casper developed his own self-contained style, relying on solid technique, determination, concentration, and perseverance.
He converted to the LDS Church in 1966. Casper was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978.

Early years

Casper was born in San Diego, California. His father started him in golf at age five. Casper caddied during his youth at San Diego Country Club to earn money for golf, and spent one semester at the University of Notre Dame on a golf scholarship, after graduating from high school. He returned to San Diego to marry his wife Shirley in 1952. Casper competed frequently as an amateur against fellow San Diegan Gene Littler. He turned professional in 1954.

Professional career

Casper had 51 PGA Tour wins in his career, with his first coming in 1956. This total places him seventh on the all-time list. His victories helped him finish third in McCormack's World Golf Rankings in 1968, 1969 and 1970, the first three years they were published. He won three major championships: the 1959 and 1966 U.S. Opens, and the 1970 Masters Tournament.
He was the PGA Tour Money Winner in 1966 and 1968. He was PGA Player of the Year in 1966 and 1970. Casper won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average five times: 1960, 1963, 1965, 1966, and 1968.
Casper was a member of the United States team in the Ryder Cup eight times: 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, and a non-playing captain in 1979. Casper has scored the most points in the Ryder Cup by an American player.
Casper won at least one PGA Tour event for 16 straight seasons, from 1956 to 1971, the third-longest streak, trailing only Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, who each won on Tour in 17 straight years.
On the senior circuit, Casper earned nine Senior PGA Tour wins from 1982 to 1989, including two senior majors.

Legacy

Much has been written in the annals of golf that Casper was the most underrated star in golf history, and the best modern golfer who never received the accolades he deserved. He was not considered one of the "Big Three" — Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player — who are widely credited with popularizing and bringing enormous commercial success to the sport around the world; however, between 1964 and 1970, Casper won 27 tournaments on the PGA Tour, two more than Nicklaus and six more than Palmer and Player combined, during that time period. He is considered by many to have been the best putter of his era.
Casper's 20-year period of winning on the PGA Tour—between 1956 and 1975—was an era of extraordinary growth in tournament purses, television coverage and depth of competition. Casper faced legends such as Palmer, Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Cary Middlecoff, Gary Player and Lee Trevino when they were all at or near their peaks.
Casper was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978. In 2000, he was ranked as the 15th greatest golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine.
Casper's grandson, Mason Casper, played for the Utah Valley University golf team. Mason qualified for NCAA post-season play in 2012.

Personal life

Casper was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joining in early 1966 at age 34, at the height of his playing career.
Casper died at age 83 in 2015 of a heart attack at his home in Springville, Utah. He was survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Shirley Franklin Casper, 11 children, six of whom are adopted, 71 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Other ventures

Golf course design and management

After his professional career, Casper was a designer for many golf courses, such as The Highlands, The Palm and Eagle Crest in Sun City Summerlin, Nevada. As of 2017, Billy Casper Golf is one of the largest privately owned golf course management companies in the United States, with roughly 150 owned or managed courses in their portfolio. Billy Casper Golf annually hosts the "World's Largest Golf Outing" – a national golf outing fundraiser benefiting military charities.

Acting

Casper had a cameo appearance in the movie, Now You See Him, Now You Don't.

Billy's Kids

Casper was active in charitable work for children and hosted fundraisers, including an annual tournament at San Diego Country Club for "Billy's Kids".

Books

Professional wins (71)

PGA Tour wins (51)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Jul 15, 1956Labatt Open−14 2 strokes Jimmy Demaret
2Feb 3, 1957Phoenix Open Invitational−9 3 strokes Cary Middlecoff, Mike Souchak
3Apr 28, 1957Kentucky Derby Open Invitational−7 1 stroke Peter Thomson
4Jan 12, 1958Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Golf Championship−11 4 strokes Dave Marr
5Mar 12, 1958Greater New Orleans Open Invitational−10 Playoff Ken Venturi
6Jun 23, 1958Buick Open Invitational−3 1 stroke Ted Kroll, Arnold Palmer
7Jun 14, 1959U.S. Open+2 1 stroke Bob Rosburg
8Oct 4, 1959Portland Centennial Open Invitational−19 3 strokes Bob Duden, Dave Ragan
9Nov 15, 1959Lafayette Open Invitational−11 4 strokes George Bayer
10Nov 22, 1959Mobile Sertoma Open Invitational−8 2 strokes Wes Ellis, Dave Ragan
11Sep 25, 1960Portland Open Invitational −22 2 strokes Paul Harney
12Oct 3, 1960Hesperia Open Invitational−13 5 strokes Bob Rosburg
13Oct 16, 1960Orange County Open Invitational−8 1 stroke Charlie Sifford
14Sep 24, 1961Portland Open Invitational −15 1 stroke Dave Hill
15Mar 26, 1962Doral C.C. Open Invitational−5 1 stroke Pete Bondeson
16Apr 15, 1962Greater Greensboro Open−9 1 stroke Mike Souchak
17May 27, 1962500 Festival Open Invitation−20 1 stroke George Bayer, Jerry Steelsmith
18Oct 14, 1962Bakersfield Open Invitational−16 4 strokes Tony Lema
19Jan 20, 1963Bing Crosby National Pro-Am −3 1 stroke Dave Hill, Jack Nicklaus,
Gary Player, Bob Rosburg,
Art Wall Jr.
20Aug 18, 1963Insurance City Open Invitational−13 1 stroke George Bayer
21Mar 22, 1964Doral Open Invitational −11 1 stroke Jack Nicklaus
22May 10, 1964Colonial National Invitation−1 4 strokes Tommy Jacobs
23Sep 27, 1964Greater Seattle Open Invitational−15 2 strokes Mason Rudolph
24Nov 3, 1964Almaden Open Invitational−9 Playoff Pete Brown, Jerry Steelsmith
25Feb 7, 1965Bob Hope Desert Classic−12 1 stroke Tommy Aaron, Arnold Palmer
26Jul 4, 1965Western Open−14 2 strokes Jack McGowan, Chi-Chi Rodríguez
27Jul 25, 1965Insurance City Open Invitational −10 Playoff Johnny Pott
28Oct 23, 1965Sahara Invitational−15 3 strokes Billy Martindale
29Jan 16, 1966San Diego Open Invitational−16 4 strokes Tommy Aaron, Tom Weiskopf
30Jun 20, 1966U.S. Open −2 Playoff Arnold Palmer
31Jun 26, 1966Western Open −1 3 strokes Gay Brewer
32Jul 31, 1966500 Festival Open Invitation −11 3 strokes R. H. Sikes
33Jul 3, 1967Canadian Open−5 Playoff Art Wall Jr.
34Sep 4, 1967Carling World Open−3 Playoff Al Geiberger
35Jan 28, 1968Los Angeles Open−10 3 strokes Arnold Palmer
36Apr 8, 1968Greater Greensboro Open −17 4 strokes George Archer, Gene Littler,
Bobby Nichols
37May 19, 1968Colonial National Invitation −5 5 strokes Gene Littler
38Jun 9, 1968500 Festival Open Invitation −8 1 stroke Frank Beard, Mike Hill
39Sep 8, 1968Greater Hartford Open Invitational −18 3 strokes Bruce Crampton
40Nov 3, 1968Lucky International Open−15 4 strokes Raymond Floyd, Don Massengale
41Feb 9, 1969Bob Hope Desert Classic −15 3 strokes Dave Hill
42Jun 8, 1969Western Open −8 4 strokes Rocky Thompson
43Sep 28, 1969Alcan Open−14 1 stroke Lee Trevino
44Jan 11, 1970Los Angeles Open −8 Playoff Hale Irwin
45Apr 13, 1970Masters Tournament−9 Playoff Gene Littler
46Jul 19, 1970IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic−14 3 strokes Terry Wilcox
47Aug 24, 1970AVCO Golf Classic−11 1 stroke Rod Funseth, Tom Weiskopf
48Oct 24, 1971Kaiser International Open Invitational−19 4 strokes Fred Marti
49Jul 1, 1973Western Open −12 1 stroke Larry Hinson, Hale Irwin
50Sep 3, 1973Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open −20 1 stroke Bruce Devlin
51May 18, 1975First NBC New Orleans Open −17 2 strokes Peter Oosterhuis

Source:
PGA Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11958Greater New Orleans Open Invitational Ken VenturiWon with eagle on second extra hole
21961Buick Open Jack Burke Jr., Johnny PottBurke won 18-hole playoff;
Burke: −1,
Casper: +2,
Pott: +2
31964Almaden Open Invitational Pete Brown, Jerry SteelsmithWon with birdie on third extra hole after 18 hole playoff;
Casper: −4,
Brown: −4,
Steelsmith: +1
41965San Diego Open Invitational Wes EllisLost to birdie on first extra hole
51965Insurance City Open Invitational Johnny PottWon with birdie on first extra hole
61966U.S. Open Arnold PalmerWon 18-hole playoff;
Casper: −1,
Palmer: +1
71967Canadian Open Art Wall Jr.Won 18-hole playoff;
Casper: −6,
Wall: −2
81967Carling World Open Al GeibergerWon with par on first extra hole
91967Hawaiian Open Dudley WysongLost to par on first extra hole
101968Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Bruce Devlin, Johnny PottPott won with birdie on first extra hole
111969Kaiser International Open Invitational George Archer, Don January,
Jack Nicklaus		Nicklaus won with birdie on second extra hole
January eliminated with birdie on first hole
121970Los Angeles Open Hale IrwinWon with birdie on first extra hole
131970Masters Tournament Gene LittlerWon 18-hole playoff;
Casper: −3,
Littler: +2
141971Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open Bob LunnLost to birdie on fourth extra hole
151972Byron Nelson Golf Classic Chi-Chi RodríguezLost to birdie on first extra hole
161975World Open Golf Championship Jack NicklausLost to par on first extra hole

European Tour wins (1)

Other wins (9)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Aug 28, 1982Shootout at Jeremy Ranch−9 1 stroke Miller Barber, Don January
2Sep 19, 1982Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am−10 Playoff Bob Toski
3Jul 25, 1983U.S. Senior Open+4 Playoff Rod Funseth
4Apr 22, 1984Senior PGA Tour Roundup−14 2 strokes Bob Stone
5Mar 15, 1987Del E. Webb Arizona Classic−15 5 strokes Bob Charles, Dale Douglass
6Jun 28, 1987Greater Grand Rapids Open−13 3 strokes Miller Barber
7May 8, 1988Vantage at The Dominion−14 1 stroke Chi-Chi Rodríguez
8Jun 12, 1988Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship−10 2 strokes Al Geiberger
9Oct 22, 1989Transamerica Senior Golf Championship−9 3 strokes Al Geiberger

Senior PGA Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11981U.S. Senior Open Arnold Palmer, Bob StonePalmer won 18-hole playoff;
Palmer: E,
Stone: +4,
Casper: +7
21982Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am Bob ToskiWon with birdie on fourth extra hole
31983Gatlin Brothers Seniors Golf Classic Don JanuaryLost to par on fifth extra hole
41983U.S. Senior Open Rod FunsethWon with birdie on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Casper: +4,
Funseth: +4
51988United Hospitals Classic Bruce CramptonLost to birdie on first extra hole

Other senior wins (1)

Wins (3)

1 Defeated Palmer in an 18-hole playoff: Casper 69, Palmer 73.

2 Defeated Littler in an 18-hole playoff: Casper 69, Littler 74.

Results timeline

CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied

Summary

Wins (2)

1 18-hole playoff finished in a tie, Casper to Funseth, Casper won with a birdie on the first sudden-death hole.

U.S. national team appearances

Professional