Casper Forces Play-off

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31091, 21 June 1966, Page 17

Casper Forces Play-off

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SAN FRANCISCO. In one of the most dramatic final rounds of the United States Open, Billy Casper overcame a sevenstroke deficit with nine holes to play on Sunday to tie with Arnold Palmer and force an 18-hole play-off. Palmer went into the final round three strokes ahead of Casper and four ahead of Jack Nicklaus and when Palmer in-

creased his lead to seven after nine holes he looked unbeatable.

However, when Palmer faltered on the homeward nine with several one-overs, Casper, playing with him, scored several brilliant birdies and made up the leeway. Casper returned a memorable two-under-par 68, while Palmer was one over with 71. Both had a 278 aggregate for the four rounds. Casper’s rounds were 69, 68, 73, 68 and Palmer’s 71, 66, 70, 71. The pre-toumament favourite, Jack Nicklaus, finished third with a 74 for 285. The former British Open

champion, Tony Lema and Dave Marr tied for fourth, Lema shooting a 71 for a 286 and Marr a 73 in the final round.

The defending champion, Gary Player, of South Africa, finished far behind the leaders with a 293. However, he rallied on Sunday and turned in his best round of the tournament, shooting a one-under-par 69. Australia’s B. Devlin finished with a 76 for a 296 while K. Nagle and B. Crampton had a 298 and 394 respectively. Lost Four Strokes

Few of the 20,000 spectators in the gallery could believe the finish. Palmer lost four strokes on two holes—the 150-yard fifteenth and the 604-yard sixteenth. He had two one-overs, while Casper had two birdies. As they went to the seventeenth tee they were one stroke apart. Palmer again had a one-over, while Casper sank his putt for a par four. Palmer looked shaken and grim as he walked towards the eighteenth tee. Palmer hooked into the rough on the last, a 337-yard par four hole. Casper’s drive was to the edge of the fairway.

Palmer’s approach shot went 40ft past the cup and Casper hit an iron to within 20ft of the pin. Both took two putts for the pars. “I think the big hole was the fifteenth,” Palmer said afterwards. “I began to wonder what could happen out there.” “I just try to play within myself,” Casper said. “Fortunately, it happened my way out there on the back nine today.” Final Cards:— Palmer, 71, 66, 70, 71—278. Casper, 69. 68. 73, 68—278. Nicklaus, 71, 71, 69, 74—285. Lema, 71, 74, 70, 71—286. Marr, 71, 74, 68. 73—286. Rodger, 70, 70, 73, 74—287. Nichols, 74, 72, 71. 72—289. Sanders, 70, 75, 74, 71—290. Miller, 70, 72, 74, 74—290. Rudolph, 74, 72, 71, 73—290. Ellis, 71, 75, 74, 70—290. HOgan, 72, 73, 76, 70—291. Mcßee, 76, 64, 74, 78—292. Funseth, 75, 75, 69, 73—292. Player. 78, 72, 74. 69—293. Murphy, 73, 72, 75, 73—293. Boros. 74 . 69 . 77 , 74—294. Venturi, 73, 77, 71, 73—294. Beard, 76, 74. 69. 75—294. January. 73. 73, 75, 73—294. Archer, 74, 72. 76, 72—294. Goalby, 71. 73, 71. 80—295. Verwey. 72. 73, 75. 75—295. Burkemo. 76, 72, 70, 77—295.

Hill, 72, 71, 79, 73—295. Devlin, 74, 75, 71, 76—298. Nagle, 70, 73. 81, 74—298. Crampton, 74, 72, 80, 78—304.