Billy Casper

[Don Wassall]

Billy Casper died in early February, while CF was down. While golf fans remember the "Big Three" from the 1960s of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, Billy Casper was only a notch below them but is hardly remembered today and even while he was playing always received less plaudits than he deserved.

Casper won 51 PGA tour events from 1956 through 1975, seventh best all-time. He won the U.S. Open in 1959 and 1966, and The Masters in 1970. He was the PGA player of the year in '66 and '70, won the Vardon Trophy for best stroke average five times, and was the tour's leading money winner twice. Not bad at all considering he accomplished almost all of that when Nicklaus, Palmer and Player were in their peak years.

Billy Casper was an all-time great golfer. RIP

 

[FootballDad]

Billy Casper, RIP. Although I was just a young lad when Casper was playing, I still remember him. As a youngster with no interest in golf at all, I still knew all of the top golfers of the day. Back in the day, the greats were celebrated. They were on TV regularly, in commercials, on Wheaties boxes, etc. Nowadays the only time you hear about a golfer or a golf tournament in any arena outside of dedicated sports is if he is named Tiger or Tiger is in it. Outside of the outliers, like Gronk, JJ Watt, or certain white QBs it also applies to other sports. No celebration unless they are "of color."

 

[The Hock]

I remember Billy Casper. I would have become aware of golf later in his career. Seventh place in all time wins, and his majors spread out well. This guy was Mr. Consistency.