Golf world remembers Billy Casper, winner of 51 PGA Tour events

Billy Casper, a three-time major champion who won 51 PGA Tour titles, was remembered by the golf world as one of the greats of the game, inside the ropes and out.

Casper, playing in the shadow of the “Big Three” -- Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player -- finished his career seventh in all-time tour wins but was relatively unheralded when it comes to accolades heaped on golf’s legends.

“I think it is fair to say that Billy was probably under-rated by those who didn’t play against him,” Nicklaus said in a Facebook post Saturday night after learning Casper had died at the age of 83. “Those who did compete against him, knew how special he was.”

Casper played on eight Ryder Cup teams, compiling 23.5 points, the most of any U.S. player. The Hall of Famer was also a winning captain in 1979 and earned low-scoring honors five times and two Player of the Year awards in 1966 and 1970.

“I have said many times that during my career, when I looked up at a leader board, I wasn’t just looking to see where a Palmer or a Player or Trevino was,” Nicklaus wrote. “I was looking to see where Billy Casper was.”

Sympathies poured in from golfers and pundits as news spread of Casper’s death Saturday night.

Still reeling from the death of golf pioneer Charlie Sifford, who died Tuesday at 92 and whom Farmers Insurance Open players honored by wearing black ribbons during Thursday’s opening round, the tour will remember Casper during Sunday’s finale at Torrey Pines.

Casper, admired by all who knew him as a true family man, died of a heart attack at his Utah home with his wife of 62 years, Shirley, at his bedside.