billy casper – Syndication Server

The Masters – Notre Dame’s Tournament Record Holder

What’s the opposite of a Green Jacket?

Welcome to the greatest annual weekend in golf as the 2024 Masters gets underway from Augusta, Georgia. Before you start feasting on Pimento sandwiches this weekend, let’s take a moment to look back at Notre Dame’s record holder at the world’s most famous golf tournament.

When you think of Notre Dame athletics you likely think of football stars like Joe Montana and “Rocket” Ismail, a dynastic women’s basketball team, maybe some solid basketball squads Digger Phelps and Mike Brey put together over the years, or perhaps even the reigning national championship men’s lacrosse team.

Golf is perhaps among the last sports you associate Notre Dame with being great at.

Now the Fighting Irish may not have Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus in their golf record books, but they do have 1970 Masters Champion, Billy Casper.

Casper was one of the best golfers in the world at his prime as he won 51 times on the PGA Tour, the seventh most all-time. 27 of those victories came between 1964 and 1970 which were two more than Nicklaus during that time and six more than Arnold Palmer and Gary Player combined to win in that window.

Casper was also a short-lived Notre Dame athlete, attending the University for one semester on a golf scholarship. He chose to leave college and pursue a career as a professional golfer and as you know by now, that certainly was a wise choice by him.

Casper won that 1970 Masters in a playoff over Gene Littler which led to his record performance at Augusta 35 years later.

How so?

Remember with The Masters, when you win you get a lifelong invitation to keep playing in the tournament regardless of your age or skill set, even if some are encouraged to stop doing so on occasion.

Casper continued to play in the tournament up until 2005 when he played his final round of competitive golf at Augusta.

Casper, who was 73 at that time, was perhaps more than just a little bit past his prime.

USA TODAY Sports – Guide to the 2024 Masters

You won’t find it in any record book because he never actually turned in his first-round scorecard in 2005, but Casper shot what would be a record-high for a single round at The Masters with a score of 106.

His scorecard that round read as follows:
6-5-5-5-6-5-5-6-6-7-7-3-6-4-6-14-5-5=106

If you’re familiar with Augusta you’re aware that the 16th hole is a par 3 and you’ll notice his 14 on that hole alone. As could possibly guess, had it been an official round Casper would also hold the record for the highest score on a single hole. Since it wasn’t three other golfers are tied for the record high by scoring a 13 on various holes over the years.

Casper never turned in his scorecard that April 2005 afternoon however so his Masters record isn’t technically even an official one, but we won’t let technicalities get in the way of a good story.

Now, who said Notre Dame’s golf isn’t loaded in tradition?

Best of the best: Ryder Cup all-time points leaders for Europe, United States

Brush up on your Ryder Cup history with this list of all-time points leaders for Europe and the U.S.

Over its nearly 100-year history the Ryder Cup has featured some impressive performances from the world’s best players, especially since the competition switched to include all of Europe back in 1979.

From Nick Faldo and Arnold Palmer to Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods, a handful of players have stood out with their play and find themselves on the all-time points list in the biennial bash.

Of the top 10, six are European players, but when it comes to the top 20 — which includes a handful of active players — the split is right down the middle at 10 a piece.

As the teams of 12 from both the United States and Europe prepare to square off in the next round of matches at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Italy this week, take a scroll through the all-time points winners in Ryder Cup history from both squads.

MORE: Everything you need to know for the 2023 Ryder Cup

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Did you know one Masters golf champion was buried in his green jacket? Here are 6 facts

How it all started, who makes them, what it means. Those questions are more are answered here.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — The green jacket is the ultimate symbol of success in golf.

A golfer wearing the single-breasted, single-vent garment has achieved something special: a victory at the Masters Tournament.

Augusta National Golf Club members began wearing the jackets in 1937. The idea was to have them be easily identifiable so they could answer questions from patrons.

Brooks Uniform Co. in New York made the original jackets, which featured heavy wool material. Those soon gave way to a lightweight version that could be custom-ordered from the club’s pro shop.

Masters: Leaderboard | Photos | TV info | Sunday tee times

Here’s what to know about the Masters green jacket:

Do Masters champions keep the green jacket?

The green jacket is reserved for Augusta National members and golfers who win the Masters. Jackets are kept on club grounds, and taking them off the premises is forbidden.

The exception is for the winner, who can take it home and return it to the club the following year.

Gary Player reportedly got into a heated exchange in 1962 with Cliff Roberts after he mistakenly took his jacket home to South Africa.

“I didn’t know you were supposed to leave it there,” Player said. “Next thing you know, there was a call from Mr. Roberts.”

According to Player, here’s how the exchange went:

“‘Gary, have you got the jacket?’

“I said, ‘Yes, I do.’

“He said, ‘Well, no one ever takes the jacket away from here.’

“And I said, ‘Well, Mr. Roberts, if you want it, why don’t you come and fetch it?’”

Roberts, who didn’t lose many arguments, agreed to a compromise.

“He kind of chuckled and said don’t wear it in public,” Player said.

So, you can’t take it with you?

Champions can for a year – and some jackets from former members have come up for auction in recent years. And the Augusta National has filed suit to keep jackets off the auction block.

1970 Masters champion Billy Casper receives his green jacket from defending champion winner George Archer at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: The Augusta Chronicle)

But the ultimate taking it with you story belongs to the 1970 Masters champion. Billy Casper never lost his appreciation for the Masters Tournament and Augusta National Golf Club.

The 1970 champion was buried in his green jacket. His wife, Shirley, asked for and received permission from Augusta National.

How it started

Augusta National members began wearing the jackets in 1937.

The original purpose of the green jacket, as envisioned by Cliff Roberts, was to identify club members as “reliable sources of information” to visiting non-members – and to let waiters know who got the check at dinner.

What it means

A golfer wearing the three-button style, single-breasted and center-vented garment has achieved something special: a victory at Augusta National Golf Club.

The first green jacket was awarded to a winner when Sam Snead won the tournament for the first time in 1949, to make him an honorary member. It was then awarded to all past champions retroactively.

Who presents the green jacket to the winner?

Traditionally, the previous year’s winner presents the jacket to the new champion at the tournament’s end. In case of a repeat winner, the Masters chairman presents the jacket to the winner.

Masters Tournament 2020 — 2019 Masters champion Tiger Woods presents Dustin Johnson with the green jacket after winning the 20202 Masters Tournament at Augusta National GC. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

This has happened three times, first in 1966 when Jack Nicklaus became the first repeat champion, then in 1990 when Nick Faldo repeated the feat. The last time was when Tiger Woods repeated as Masters champion in 2002.

Who makes it

For three decades, Cincinnati-based Hamilton Tailoring Co. has made the traditional blazer worn by Masters Tournament winners. It uses wool fabric produced at the Victor Forstmann Inc. mill in the central Georgia town of Dublin. The company takes about a month to produce each blazer, which is fitted with custom brass buttons inscribed with the Augusta National logo. The owner’s name is stitched on a label inside.

What color is the Masters green jacket?

That brilliant rye green is Pantone 342.

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Notre Dame’s unofficial record holder at The Masters

You may not think of Notre Dame as a golf powerhouse but a former Irish golfer is an unofficial record holder at The Masters.

Usually The Masters is reserved for April when spring is upon us and warmer weather is right around the corner.

But because of the COVID-19 pandemic we saw the world’s most famous golf tournament moved to the second weekend of November in a year none of us will quickly forget.

With it being Masters weekend, why not take a minute to learn a bit more about Notre Dame’s holder of multiple records at the famed tournament?

Notre Dame may not have Tiger Woods or Dustin Johnson in their golf record books, but but they do have 1970 Masters Champion, Billy Casper.

Casper was one of the best golfers in the world as he won 51 times on the PGA Tour, the seventh most of any golfer ever. 27 of those victories came between 1964 and 1970 which were two more than Jack Nicklaus during that time and six more than Arnold Palmer and Gary Player combined to win in that window.

Casper won that 1970 Masters in a playoff over Gene Littler which led to his record performance at Augusta 35 years later.

How so?

Remember with The Masters, when you win you get a lifelong invitation to keep playing in the tournament regardless of your age of skill-set, even if some are encouraged to stop doing so on occasion.

Casper continued to play in the tournament up until 2005 when he played his final round of competitive golf at Augusta.

Let’s just say Casper was more than a little bit past his prime.

You won’t find it in any record book because he never actually turned in his first round scorecard in 2005, but Casper shot what would be a record-high for a single round at The Masters with a first round score of 106.

His scorecard that round read as follows:
6-5-5-5-6-5-5-6-6-7-7-3-6-4-6-14-5-5=106

If you’re familiar with Augusta you’re aware that the 16th hole is a par 3 and you’ll notice his 14 on that hole alone and as you could probably guess, had it been an official round Casper would also hold the record for the highest score on a single hole. Since it wasn’t three other golfers are tied for the record high by scoring a 13 on various holes over the years.

Casper never turned in his scorecard on that April afternoon back in 2005 so you won’t find his score recorded in any official Masters record book.

Now who said Notre Dame didn’t have a rich history in golf that’s worthy of celebration?

Remember that when you’re watching the next champion get handed the green jacket on Sunday afternoon.

Masters history: Billy Casper loved Augusta so much he was buried in his green jacket

Billy Casper, who won the event in 1970, was buried in his green jacket. That tidbit comes from an article at Augusta.com.

Winning the Masters can be a defining moment in one’s life. How much so?

Billy Casper, who won the event in 1970, was buried in his green jacket.

That tidbit comes from an article at the Augusta Chronicle’s Masters site — Augusta.com.

Doug Stutsman’s piece caught up with Casper’s wife, Shirley, who indicated that she asked for and received permission from Augusta National for this last act.

A 51-time PGA Tour winner and three-time major champion, Casper died in 2015 at the age of 83.

Billy Casper, left, is congratulated by Gene Littler after Casper won the 18-hole playoff in Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga. on April 13, 1970.

Billy Casper Golf management company rebrands itself as Indigo Golf Partners

The prolific course operator has more than 160 layouts in 29 states under its management umbrella.

Billy Casper Golf, a management company with more than 160 courses in 29 states under its umbrella, has rebranded as Indigo Golf Partners.

Based in Reston, Virginia, Indigo Golf Partners says its goal is to operate golf courses as real, profitable businesses on behalf of course owners while providing a “golf for everyone” experience that drives repeat business.

The company was cofounded in 1989 in partnership with three-time major championship winner Billy Casper, who died in 2015.

Wintonbury Hills in Connecticut (Courtesy of Indigo Golf Partners)

The new Indigo Golf Partners employs nearly 7,000 people at facilities that range from municipal courses to high-end resorts and private clubs. Its management services include the full gamut of course operation such as staffing, food and beverage, golf instruction, tee time services and marketing.

Indigo’s courses under management are sprinkled through the various 2020 Golfweek’s Best lists for top courses. Examples include Wintonbury Hills, which is No. 1 in Connecticut on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list; Giants Ridge, which is No. 1 in Minnesota; English Turn, at No. 4 in Louisiana; and Royal Ka’anapali, at No. 14 in Hawaii.

“We believe golf is for everyone and our goal is to lead the industry with innovations for current and future generations,” Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of Indigo Golf Partners, said in a release announcing the rebranding. “With a rapid pace of cultural, health and economic change all around us, now is the time for our entrepreneurial company to further evolve.

“We are stronger and more courageous than ever building tools and cultivating hard-working, well-trained, caring, collaborative and high-performing talent for our managed properties and the sport of golf at large to thrive.”

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