Billy Casper

PGA Tour Playoff record: 8-8
Joined Champions Tour: 1981
Champions Tour Playoff record: 2-3
PGA Tour victories: 51 - 1956 Labatt, 1957 Phoenix, Kentucky Derby, 1958 Bing Crosby, New Orleans, Buick, 1959 U.S. Open, Portland, Lafayette, Mobile, 1960 Portland, Hesperia, Orange County, 1961 Portland, 1962 Doral, Greater Greensboro, "500" Festival, Bakersfield, 1963 Bing Crosby, Insurance City Open, 1964 Doral Open, Colonial National Invitational, Seattle, Almaden Open, 1965 Bob Hope Classic, Western Open, Insurance City Open, Sahara Open, 1966 San Diego Open, U.S. Open, Western Open, "500" Festival, 1967 Canadian Open, Carling Open, 1968 Los Angeles Open, Greater Greensboro Open, Colonial National Invitational, "500" Festival, Greater Hartford Open, Lucky International, 1969 Alcan Open, Bob Hope Classic, Western Open, 1970 Los Angeles Open, Masters, IVB-Philadelphia Open, Avco Open, 1971 Kaiser Open, 1973 Western Open, Greater Hartford Classic, 1975 New Orleans.
Champions Tour Wins: 9 - 1982 Shootout at Jeremy Ranch, Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-am, 1983 U.S. Senior Open, 1984 Senior PGA Tour Roundup, 1987 Arizona Classic, Greater Grand Rapids Open, 1988 Vantage at the Dominion, Senior TPC, 1989 Transamerica Senior Golf Championship.
Also won the 1958 Havana Invitational, 1959 and '60 Brazilian Open, 1975 Italian Open, 1977 Mexican Open, 1985 Union Mutual Seniors, 1984 Legends of Golf (with Gay Brewer) and 1985 Doug Sanders Invitational.
Player Notes: Began playing golf at age 5 on a makeshift ?course? built in the family?s cow pasture in Silver City, N.M.
* PGA Player of the Year in 1966 and '70.
* Member of the 1961, '63, '65, '67, '69, '71, '73 and '75 Ryder Cup team. Captain of the 1979 U.S. team.
* Winner of the Vardon Trophy in 1960, '62, '66 and '68.
* Ranks seventh on the PGA Tour's all-time victory list with 51 wins.
The last official event he played in was the 2005 Masters, where he withdrew in first round.
Had a unique diet of exotic meat (bear, elk, hippopotamus and buffalo) because of serious allergy issues that affected his sinuses, vision, muscles and sleep patterns. Earned the nickname ?Buffalo Bill? in part because of his diet.
Casper has designed many golf courses, including The Highlands, The Palm and Eagle Crest in Sun City, Summerlin, Nevada. His management company is the second-largest operator of golf courses in the United States, with more than 125 facilities.
Casper is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He and his wife Shirley have 11 children, six of whom are adopted.
Casper was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978. In 2010, received the PGA of America?s Distinguished Service Award. Authored the book "The Big Three and Me," published in 2012.