Billy Casper

{{For|the fictional character with the same name|A Kestrel for a Knave}}

{{Infobox golfer

| image = Billy Casper (cropped).jpg{{!}}border

| imagesize =

| caption = Casper in 2008

| fullname = William Earl Casper Jr.

| nickname = Buffalo Bill

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|6|24}}

| birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|2015|2|7|1931|6|24}}}}

| death_place = Springville, Utah, U.S.

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}

| weight = {{convert|195|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{flagu|United States|1960}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Shirley Franklin|1952|}}

| children = 11

| college = University of Notre Dame

| yearpro = 1954

| extour = {{ubl|PGA Tour|Champions Tour}}

| prowins = 72

| pgawins = 51 (7th all time)

| eurowins = 1

| champwins = 9

| otherwins = {{ubl|10 (regular)|1 (senior)}}

| majorwins = 3

| masters = Won: 1970

| usopen = Won: 1959, 1966

| open = 4th: 1968

| pga = 2nd/T2: 1958, 1965, 1971

| wghofid = billy-casper

| wghofyear = 1978

| award1 = Vardon Trophy

| year1 = 1960, 1963, 1965,
1966, 1968

| award2 = PGA Tour
money list winner

| year2 = 1966, 1968

| award3 = PGA Player of the Year

| year3 = 1966, 1970

| awardssection =

}}

William Earl Casper Jr. (June 24, 1931 – February 7, 2015) 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,{{Cite magazine |last=Strege |first=John |date=August 5, 2017 |title=San Diego CC recalls Mickey Wright, Billy Casper and a course deserving 'more national acclaim' |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/san-diego-cc-recalls-mickey-wright-billy-casper-and-a-course-deserving-more-national-acclaim |access-date=December 5, 2024 |magazine=Golf Digest}}{{Cite news |last=Benson |first=Lee |date=February 8, 2015 |title=Golf legend Billy Casper dies |url=https://www.deseret.com/2015/2/7/20558187/golf-legend-billy-casper-dies/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |newspaper=Deseret News}} where golf could be played year-round, to rank seventh all-time in career Tour wins with 51, across 20 years 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 (1966 and 1970), was twice the 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 self-contained style, relying on solid technique, determination, concentration, and perseverance.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/us-open/2012-06/billy-casper-profile-diaz |title=Out Of The Darkness |magazine=Golf Digest |date=June 2012 |first=Jaime |last=Diaz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210021008/http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/us-open/2012-06/billy-casper-profile-diaz |archive-date=2015-02-10 }}

He converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1966. Casper was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978.

Early years

Casper was born in San Diego, California.{{cite web |title=PGA Tour profile – Billy Casper |url=http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.01177.html |publisher=PGA Tour |access-date=January 16, 2014}} He grew up in Chula Vista, California.{{Cite web |last=Jennewein |first=Chris |date=2015-02-08 |title=Billy Casper, Golf Legend from Chula Vista, Dies at 83 |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2015/02/08/billy-casper-golf-legend-chula-vista-dies-83/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |newspaper=Times of San Diego}} His father started him in golf at age five.{{cite web |title=PGA Tour Media Guide – Billy Casper |url=http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.01177.billy-casper.html/media-guide/#uber |access-date=January 16, 2014}} Casper caddied during his youth at San Diego Country Club{{Cite news |title=San Diego Country Club - a little history, and some personal stories |newspaper=San Diego Reader |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1998/oct/01/vandal-green/ |access-date=2024-08-27}} 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.{{cite book |title=Billy Casper: Winner |first=Paul D. |last=Peery |publisher=Prentice-Hall |year=1969 |isbn=978-0130762818 |url=https://archive.org/details/billycasperwinne00peer }} After graduating from Notre Dame, he turned professional in 1954.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IkwqAAAAIBAJ&pg=5114,4314580&dq=billy-casper+labatt&hl=en |title=Casper Tops Million Mark |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |date=January 12, 1970 |page=62 |agency=UPI |access-date=January 31, 2012}}

Professional career

File:Billy Casper and Gene Littler 1970.jpg (right) congratulates Casper with winning the 1970 Masters Tournament]]

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 (now the Champions 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 is 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 period. He is considered by many to have been the best putter of his era.{{cite web |title=Billy Casper profile |publisher=World Golf Hall of Fame |url=http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/billy-casper/ |access-date=January 16, 2014}}

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.{{cite magazine |url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_7_51/ai_63015233 |title= 50 Greatest Golfers of All Time: And What They Taught Us |access-date= December 5, 2007 |last= Yocom |first= Guy |date= July 2000 |magazine= Golf Digest}}

Casper's grandson, Mason Casper, played for the Utah Valley University golf team. Mason qualified for NCAA post-season play in 2012.{{cite news |url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/54066620-77/golf-golfer-bid-casper.html.csp |title=Golf: Utah Valley golfer receives NCAA Tournament bid |newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=May 7, 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p-VVAAAAIBAJ&pg=7012%2C4753668 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Hoefflin |first=Walter |title=Billy Casper faces varied conflicts |date=September 22, 1966 |page=2D}}{{cite book |first=J. B. |last=Haws |title=The Mormon Image in the American Mind: Fifty Years of Public Perception |location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |page=30 |isbn=978-0-19-989764-3}}

Casper died at age 83 in 2015 of a heart attack at his home in Springville, Utah.{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/news/2015/02/07/billy-casper-obit.html |title=Billy Casper passes away at age 83 |date=February 8, 2015 |publisher=PGA Tour}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/sports/golf/billy-casper-twice-a-us-open-winner-dies-at-83.html |title=Billy Casper, Overlooked Titan of Golf, Dies at 83 |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Richard |last=Goldstein |date=February 7, 2015}}

Other ventures

=Golf course design and management=

File:Billy Casper 2010.jpg

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. He also designed the Hidden Oaks Golf Course, 9 holes of a beloved Par 3 in a residential neighborhood just north of Santa Barbara, CA. As of 2017. Chula Vista Golf Course, designed by Billy Casper, is a par 73 with three par 5's on the front nine and two on the back.{{Cite web |title=Course Details |url=https://chulavistagc.com/course-details/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |language=en-US}} Billy Casper Golf (BCG) 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.billycaspergolf.com/solutions |title=Providing Solutions for Golf Courses & Golf Course Owners |publisher=Billy Casper Golf |access-date=April 4, 2018}} Billy Casper Golf annually hosts the "World's Largest Golf Outing" – a national golf outing fundraiser benefiting military charities.{{cite web |url=https://www.billycaspergolf.com/ventures/wlgo |title=World's Largest Golf Outing a BCG Venture |publisher=Billy Casper Golf |access-date=April 4, 2018}}

=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=

{{cite book |title=Golf Shotmaking |first1=Billy |last1=Casper |first2=Bob |last2=Toski |author-link2=Bob Toski |publisher=Golf Digest/Doubleday |year=1966 |asin=B0000CN8TV}}
{{cite book |title=The Good Sense of Golf |first1=Billy |last1=Casper |first2=Al |last2=Barkow |author-link2=Al Barkow |year=1980 |publisher=Prentice-Hall |isbn=978-0133605112 |url=https://archive.org/details/goodsenseofgolf00casp }}
{{cite book |title=The Big Three And Me |first1=Billy |last1=Casper |first2=James |last2=Parkinson |first3=Lee |last3=Benson |author-link3=Lee Benson |publisher=Genesis Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-58571-628-9}}

Professional wins (72)

=PGA Tour wins (51)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Legend

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|Major championships (3)

Other PGA Tour (48)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|Jul 15, 1956

|Labatt Open

|−14 (68-68-67-71=274)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jimmy Demaret

align=center|2

|align=right|Feb 3, 1957

|Phoenix Open Invitational

|−9 (68-71-65-67=271)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Cary Middlecoff, {{flagicon|USA}} Mike Souchak

align=center|3

|align=right|Apr 28, 1957

|Kentucky Derby Open Invitational

|−7 (68-68-71-70=277)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Peter Thomson

align=center|4

|align=right|Jan 12, 1958

|Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Golf Championship

|−11 (71-66-69-71=277)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dave Marr

align=center|5

|align=right|Mar 12, 1958

|Greater New Orleans Open Invitational

|−10 (69-70-70-69=278)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ken Venturi

align=center|6

|align=right|Jun 23, 1958

|Buick Open Invitational

|−3 (70-73-71-71=285)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ted Kroll, {{flagicon|USA}} Arnold Palmer

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|7

|align=right|Jun 14, 1959

|U.S. Open

| +2 (71-68-69-74=282)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Rosburg

align=center|8

|align=right|Oct 4, 1959

|Portland Centennial Open Invitational

|−19 (69-64-67-69=269)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Duden, {{flagicon|USA}} Dave Ragan

align=center|9

|align=right|Nov 15, 1959

|Lafayette Open Invitational

|−11 (69-64-71-69=273)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} George Bayer

align=center|10

|align=right|Nov 22, 1959

|Mobile Sertoma Open Invitational

|−8 (71-68-68-73=280)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Wes Ellis, {{flagicon|USA}} Dave Ragan

align=center|11

|align=right|Sep 25, 1960

|Portland Open Invitational (2)

|−22 (68-67-66-65=266)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Paul Harney

align=center|12

|align=right|Oct 3, 1960

|Hesperia Open Invitational

|−13 (70-68-67-70=275)

|5 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Rosburg

align=center|13

|align=right|Oct 16, 1960

|Orange County Open Invitational

|−8 (70-68-69-69=276)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Charlie Sifford

align=center|14

|align=right|Sep 24, 1961

|Portland Open Invitational (3)

|−15 (68-71-67-67=273)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dave Hill

align=center|15

|align=right|Mar 26, 1962

|Doral C.C. Open Invitational

|−5 (70-67-75-71=283)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Pete Bondeson

align=center|16

|align=right|Apr 15, 1962

|Greater Greensboro Open

|−9 (69-70-68-68=275)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Mike Souchak

align=center|17

|align=right|May 27, 1962

|500 Festival Open Invitation

|−20 (66-67-67-64=264)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} George Bayer, {{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Steelsmith

align=center|18

|align=right|Oct 14, 1962

|Bakersfield Open Invitational

|−16 (69-71-65-67=272)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tony Lema

align=center|19

|align=right|Jan 20, 1963

|Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (2)

|−3 (73-65-73-74=285)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dave Hill, {{flagicon|USA}} Jack Nicklaus,
{{Flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Gary Player, {{flagicon|USA}} Bob Rosburg,
{{flagicon|USA}} Art Wall Jr.

align=center|20

|align=right|Aug 18, 1963

|Insurance City Open Invitational

|−13 (67-68-71-65=271)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} George Bayer

align=center|21

|align=right|Mar 22, 1964

|Doral Open Invitational (2)

|−11 (70-70-67-70=277)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Nicklaus

align=center|22

|align=right|May 10, 1964

|Colonial National Invitation

|−1 (72-67-70-70=279)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tommy Jacobs

align=center|23

|align=right|Sep 27, 1964

|Greater Seattle Open Invitational

|−15 (68-67-66-64=265)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Mason Rudolph

align=center|24

|align=right|Nov 3, 1964

|Almaden Open Invitational

|−9 (68-70-73-68=279)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Pete Brown, {{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Steelsmith

align=center|25

|align=right|Feb 7, 1965

|Bob Hope Desert Classic

|−12 (70-70-69-67-72=348)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tommy Aaron, {{flagicon|USA}} Arnold Palmer

align=center|26

|align=right|Jul 4, 1965

|Western Open

|−14 (70-66-70-64=270)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jack McGowan, {{flagicon|USA}} Chi-Chi Rodríguez

align=center|27

|align=right|Jul 25, 1965

|Insurance City Open Invitational (2)

|−10 (70-72-66-66=274)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Pott

align=center|28

|align=right|Oct 23, 1965

|Sahara Invitational

|−15 (66-66-68-69=269)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Billy Martindale

align=center|29

|align=right|Jan 16, 1966

|San Diego Open Invitational

|−16 (70-66-68-64=268)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tommy Aaron, {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Weiskopf

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|30

|align=right|Jun 20, 1966

|U.S. Open (2)

|−2 (69-68-73-68=278)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Arnold Palmer

align=center|31

|align=right|Jun 26, 1966

|Western Open (2)

|−1 (69-72-72-70=283)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Gay Brewer

align=center|32

|align=right|Jul 31, 1966

|500 Festival Open Invitation (2)

|−11 (69-70-68-70=277)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} R. H. Sikes

align=center|33

|align=right|Jul 3, 1967

|Canadian Open

|−5 (69-70-71-69=279)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Art Wall Jr.

align=center|34

|align=right|Sep 4, 1967

|Carling World Open

|−3 (74-68-70-69=281)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Al Geiberger

align=center|35

|align=right|Jan 28, 1968

|Los Angeles Open

|−10 (70-67-68-69=274)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Arnold Palmer

align=center|36

|align=right|Apr 8, 1968

|Greater Greensboro Open (2)

|−17 (65-67-69-66=267)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} George Archer, {{flagicon|USA}} Gene Littler,
{{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Nichols

align=center|37

|align=right|May 19, 1968

|Colonial National Invitation (2)

|−5 (68-71-68-68=275)

|5 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Gene Littler

align=center|38

|align=right|Jun 9, 1968

|500 Festival Open Invitation (3)

|−8 (70-71-69-70=280)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Frank Beard, {{flagicon|USA}} Mike Hill

align=center|39

|align=right|Sep 8, 1968

|Greater Hartford Open Invitational (3)

|−18 (68-65-67-66=266)

|3 strokes

|{{Flagicon|AUS}} Bruce Crampton

align=center|40

|align=right|Nov 3, 1968

|Lucky International Open

|−15 (68-65-70-66=269)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Raymond Floyd, {{flagicon|USA}} Don Massengale

align=center|41

|align=right|Feb 9, 1969

|Bob Hope Desert Classic (2)

|−15 (71-68-71-69-66=345)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dave Hill

align=center|42

|align=right|Jun 8, 1969

|Western Open (3)

|−8 (72-69-68-67=276)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Rocky Thompson

align=center|43

|align=right|Sep 28, 1969

|Alcan Open

|−14 (70-68-70-66=274)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Lee Trevino

align=center|44

|align=right|Jan 11, 1970

|Los Angeles Open (2)

|−8 (68-68-68-72=276)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|45

|align=right|Apr 13, 1970

|Masters Tournament

|−9 (72-68-68-71=279)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Gene Littler

align=center|46

|align=right|Jul 19, 1970

|IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic

|−14 (68-67-71-68=274)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Terry Wilcox

align=center|47

|align=right|Aug 24, 1970

|AVCO Golf Classic

|−11 (68-67-73-69=277)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Rod Funseth, {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Weiskopf

align=center|48

|align=right|Oct 24, 1971

|Kaiser International Open Invitational

|−19 (67-65-69-68=269)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Fred Marti

align=center|49

|align=right|Jul 1, 1973

|Western Open (4)

|−12 (67-69-67-69=272)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Larry Hinson, {{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

align=center|50

|align=right|Sep 3, 1973

|Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open (4)

|−20 (67-65-68-64=264)

|1 stroke

|{{Flagicon|AUS}} Bruce Devlin

align=center|51

|align=right|May 18, 1975

|First NBC New Orleans Open (2)

|−17 (67-68-66-70=271)

|2 strokes

|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Peter Oosterhuis

PGA Tour playoff record (8–8)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1958

|Greater New Orleans Open Invitational

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ken Venturi

|Won with an eagle on the second extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|2

|1961

|Buick Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Burke Jr., {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Pott

|Burke won 18-hole playoff;
Burke: −1 (71),
Casper: +2 (74),
Pott: +2 (74)

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|3

|1964

|Almaden Open Invitational

|{{flagicon|USA}} Pete Brown, {{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Steelsmith

|Won with a birdie on the third extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Casper: −4 (68),
Brown: −4 (68),
Steelsmith: +1 (73)

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|4

|1965

|San Diego Open Invitational

|{{flagicon|USA}} Wes Ellis

|Lost to a birdie on the first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|5

|1965

|Insurance City Open Invitational

|{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Pott

|Won with a birdie on the first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|6

|1966

|U.S. Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Arnold Palmer

|Won 18-hole playoff;
Casper: −1 (69),
Palmer: +3 (73)

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|7

|1967

|Canadian Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Art Wall Jr.

|Won 18-hole playoff;
Casper: −6 (65),
Wall: −2 (69)

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|8

|1967

|Carling World Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Al Geiberger

|Won with a par on the first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|9

|1967

|Hawaiian Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dudley Wysong

|Lost to par on the first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|10

|1968

|Bing Crosby National Pro-Am

|{{Flagicon|AUS}} Bruce Devlin, {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Pott

|Pott won with a birdie on the first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|11

|1969

|Kaiser International Open Invitational

|{{flagicon|USA}} George Archer, {{flagicon|USA}} Don January,
{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Nicklaus

|Nicklaus won with birdie on second extra hole
January eliminated by birdie on first hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|12

|1970

|Los Angeles Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

|Won with a birdie on the first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|13

|1970

|Masters Tournament

|{{flagicon|USA}} Gene Littler

|Won 18-hole playoff;
Casper: −3 (69),
Littler: +2 (74)

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|14

|1971

|Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Lunn

|Lost to a birdie on the fourth extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|15

|1972

|Byron Nelson Golf Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} Chi-Chi Rodríguez

|Lost to a birdie on the first extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|16

|1975

|World Open Golf Championship

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Nicklaus

|Lost to par on the first extra hole

Source:{{Cite book |last=Barkow |first=Al |author-link=Al Barkow |title=The History of the PGA TOUR |publisher=Doubleday |year=1989 |isbn=0-385-26145-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofpgatour00bark/page/262 262–3] |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofpgatour00bark/page/262 }}

=European Tour wins (1)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of
victory!!Runner-up

align=center|1

|Oct 19, 1975

|Italian Open

|−2 (74-69-70-73=286)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Brian Barnes

=Latin American wins (4)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of
victory!!Runner-up

align=center|1

|align=right|Sep 14, 1958

|Brazil Open

|−14 (67-66-67-70=270)

|9 strokes

|{{flagicon|ARG}} Leopoldo Ruiz

align=center|2

|align=right|Nov 30, 1958

|Havana Invitational

|−10 (68-66-76-68=278)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bo Wininger

align=center|3

|align=right|Oct 25, 1958

|Brazil Open (2)

|−4 (67-67-66-68=268)

|6 strokes

|{{flagicon|BRA}} Mário Gonzalez

align=center|4

|align=right|Nov 13, 1977

|Mexican Open

|−6 (68-67-68-71=274)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Gay Brewer

=Other wins (6)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of
victory!!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|Nov 7, 1971

|Miki Gold Cup

|−8 (70-70-68=208)

|colspan=2|Shared title with {{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Masashi Ozaki

align=center|2

|align=right|Dec 9, 1973

|Hassan II Golf Trophy

|−4 (69-70-73-76=288)

|5 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Rod Funseth

align=center|3

|align=right|Oct 6, 1974

|Trophée Lancôme

|−5 (66-74-70-73=283)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hale Irwin

align=center|4

|align=right|Oct 13, 1974

|Lancia d'Oro

|−5 (68-69-72=209)

|5 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Bobby Cole

align=center|5

|align=right|Dec 14, 1975

|Hassan II Golf Trophy (2)

|−8 (72-71-73-68=284)

|11 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tommy Aaron, {{flagicon|USA}} Ron Cerrudo

align=center|6

|align=right|Mar 14, 1976

|Gran Premio Is Molas{{cite book |last1=McCormack |first1=Mark H. |title=The World of Professional Golf 1977 |date=1977 |publisher=Collins |isbn=0002168790 |pages=229–230, 449}}

| +4 (74-71-70-77=292)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Lanny Wadkins

=Senior PGA Tour wins (9)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Legend

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|Senior PGA Tour major championships (2)

Other Senior PGA Tour (7)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|Aug 28, 1982

|Shootout at Jeremy Ranch

|−9 (74-71-69-65=279)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Miller Barber, {{flagicon|USA}} Don January

align=center|2

|align=right|Sep 19, 1982

|Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am

|−10 (68-7-68=206)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Toski

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|3

|align=right|Jul 25, 1983

|U.S. Senior Open

| +4 (73-73-69-73=288)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Rod Funseth

align=center|4

|align=right|Apr 22, 1984

|Senior PGA Tour Roundup

|−14 (68-69-65=202)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Stone

align=center|5

|align=right|Mar 15, 1987

|Del E. Webb Arizona Classic

|−15 (68-65-68=201)

|5 strokes

|{{Flagicon|NZL}} Bob Charles, {{flagicon|USA}} Dale Douglass

align=center|6

|align=right|Jun 28, 1987

|Greater Grand Rapids Open

|−13 (69-68-63=200)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Miller Barber

align=center|7

|align=right|May 8, 1988

|Vantage at The Dominion

|−14 (70-68-67=205)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Chi-Chi Rodríguez

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|8

|align=right|Jun 12, 1988

|Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship

|−10 (69-68-74-67=278)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Al Geiberger

align=center|9

|align=right|Oct 22, 1989

|Transamerica Senior Golf Championship

|−9 (69-70-68=207)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Al Geiberger

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (2–3)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|1981

|U.S. Senior Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Arnold Palmer, {{flagicon|USA}} Bob Stone

|Palmer won 18-hole playoff;
Palmer: E (70),
Stone: +4 (74),
Casper: +7 (77)

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|2

|1982

|Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Toski

|Won with a birdie on the fourth extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|3

|1983

|Gatlin Brothers Seniors Golf Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} Don January

|Lost to par on the fifth extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|4

|1983

|U.S. Senior Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Rod Funseth

|Won with birdie on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Casper: +4 (75),
Funseth: +4 (75)

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|5

|1988

|United Hospitals Classic

|{{Flagicon|AUS}} Bruce Crampton

|Lost to a birdie on the first extra hole

=Other senior wins (1)=

1984 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Gay Brewer)

Major championships

=Wins (3)=

class="wikitable" !Year!!Championship!!54 holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner-up
style="background:#FBCEB1;" \| 1959	U.S. Open	3 shot lead	−2 (71-68-69-74=282)	1 stroke	{{Flagdeco\|USA\|1912\|size=23px}} Bob Rosburg
style="background:#FBCEB1;" \| 1966	U.S. Open (2)	3 shot deficit	−2 (69-68-73-68=278)	Playoff ¹	{{Flagdeco\|USA\|1960\|size=23px}} Arnold Palmer
style="background:#D0F0C0;" \| 1970	Masters Tournament	1 shot lead	−9 (72-68-68-71=279)	Playoff ²	{{Flagdeco\|USA\|1960\|size=23px}} Gene Littler

¹ Defeated Palmer in an 18-hole playoff: Casper 69 (−1), Palmer 73 (+3).

² Defeated Littler in an 18-hole playoff: Casper 69 (−3), Littler 74 (+2).

=Results timeline=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1956

!1957

!1958

!1959

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T16

|T20

|CUT

align=left|U.S. Open

|T14

|CUT

|T13

|style="background:lime;"|1

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|2

|T17

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1960

!1961

!1962

!1963

!1964

!1965

!1966

!1967

!1968

!1969

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:yellow;"|4

|style="background:yellow;"|T7

|T15

|T11

|style="background:yellow;"|T5

|T35

|style="background:yellow;"|T10

|T24

|T16

|style="background:yellow;"|T2

align=left|U.S. Open

|T12

|T17

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|4

|T17

|style="background:lime;"|1

|style="background:yellow;"|4

|style="background:yellow;"|T9

|T40

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|4

|T25

align=left|PGA Championship

|T24

|T15

|T51

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|T9

|style="background:yellow;"|T2

|style="background:yellow;"|T3

|19

|style="background:yellow;"|T6

|T35

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1970

!1971

!1972

!1973

!1974

!1975

!1976

!1977

!1978

!1979

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:lime;"|1

|T13

|T17

|T37

|style="background:yellow;"|6

|style="background:yellow;"|8

|T14

|CUT

|43

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:yellow;"|T8

|CUT

|T11

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T30

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|T17

|style="background:yellow;"|T7

|T40

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|T18

|style="background:yellow;"|2

|style="background:yellow;"|T4

|T35

|T63

|style="background:yellow;"|T5

|T51

|T31

|CUT

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1980

!1981

!1982

!1983

!1984

!1985

!1986

!1987

!1988

!1989

align=left|Masters Tournament

|CUT

|T57

|CUT

|T50

|CUT

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T67

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1990

!1991

!1992

!1993

!1994

!1995

!1996

!1997

!1998

!1999

align=left|Masters Tournament

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|WD

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!2000

!2001

!2002

!2003

!2004

!2005

align=left|Masters Tournament

|WD

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|WD

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

CUT = missed the half-way cut

WD = withdrew

"T" = tied

=Summary=

Totals	3	4	1	15	24	47	94	62
class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Tournament !! Wins !! 2nd !! 3rd !! Top-5 !! Top-10 !! Top-25 !! Events !! Cuts made
align=left\|Masters Tournament	1	1	0	4	8	18	45	23
align=left\|U.S. Open	2	0	0	4	6	12	20	14
align=left\|The Open Championship	0	0	0	1	2	4	5	5
align=left\|PGA Championship	0	3	1	6	8	13	24	20

Most consecutive cuts made – 27 (1962 PGA – 1971 Masters)
Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (twice)

Champions Tour major championships

=Wins (2)=

class="wikitable"

!Year!!Championship!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner-up

style="background:#FBCEB1;"

| 1983

United States Senior Open

+4 (73-69-73-73=288)

Playoff¹

{{Flagdeco|USA|1960|size=23px}} Rod Funseth

style="background:#FFFF99;"

| 1988

Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship

−10 (69-68-74-67=278)

2 strokes

{{Flagdeco|USA|1960|size=23px}} Al Geiberger

¹ The 18-hole playoff finished in a tie, Casper (75) to Funseth (75), Casper won with a birdie on the first sudden-death hole.

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

Ryder Cup: 1961 (winners), 1963 (winners), 1965 (winners), 1967 (winners), 1969 (winners), 1971 (winners), 1973 (winners), 1975 (winners), 1979 (winners, non-playing captain)