Casper’s Last Shot Ends Up Being 106 of Them

Billy Casper had lost 60 pounds and felt ready to take on Augusta National one last time. He might have been, but his back wasn’t.

The 73-year-old Hall of Fame member shot a 34-over-par 106 at the Masters, but purposely failed to turn in his scorecard, so his score didn’t count.

Instead, Casper, the 1970 champion, withdrew from the tournament.

His would have been the worst round at the Masters, breaking the 95 by Charles Kunkle in 1956. His back nine score of 57 -- Casper started on the back nine -- would have broken the previous mark by eight shots.

Five of Casper’s children and five grandchildren were on hand to see him play and, despite his problems, including a 14 on the par-three 16th hole, Casper was proud to have played in front of his family.

“We had a lot of fun out there,” he said.

Casper said he had a plan for his scorecard:

“I have the card in my pocket and I’m going to frame it.”

He was one of three players -- Doug Ford and Gay Brewer were the others -- who received letters from Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson several years ago, suggesting they no longer play because of their age.

Casper said he felt all right until he woke up with a back problem Thursday morning and it affected his swing. Even so, after not having played here since 2001, he said he wanted to go out on his terms.

“Well, my kids wanted me to play, just to walk on the fairway and be in the tournament.”

Jack Nicklaus said Casper belonged on the course once more.

“He’s earned the right to play,” Nicklaus said. “It is certainly his choice. When he earned that green jacket, he deserves that, as do all the other guys.”

*

For the third year in a row, there was no honorary starter.

Rest assured, though, someday there will be one.

“We’re going to hold that position until Arnold is ready to go,” Johnson said this week of Arnold Palmer, who played a record 50 tournaments before retiring last year.

Palmer attended pre-tournament festivities this year but planned to watch the tournament from his Orlando, Fla., home.

*

There will be no “par-three” jinx this year, after Jerry Pate, a non-playing invitee, won the par-three event Wednesday at five-under 22. No player who has won it has ever gone on to win the Masters in the same year.

*

Six-time Masters champion Nicklaus says there’s something wrong when the top five players in the world are not among the top 100 on tour in driving accuracy.

“I always thought hitting the ball straight was part of the game,” Nicklaus said.

Nicklaus added, “Maybe I’m an old fuddy-duddy I suppose. I like my game better, but that’s not what it is. That’s not the game today.”

*

Three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo, bothered by a back injury, withdrew after eight holes.

“I warmed up fine, but it got me and it’s been worse and worse and worse so I can’t stand on the up slopes and the down slopes, “ Faldo said. “...This place of all places.”

Asked what he planned to do to help his back, Faldo quipped, “I’m going to hang upside down, like a fruit bat or something.”