SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 Sports) - It's the stuff that legends are made of. Billy Casper trailed the great Arnold Palmer by 7 shots with 9 holes to go in the 1966 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club near San Francisco. But Capser rallied to tie Palmer, and then defeated him in an 18-hole playoff the next day. It was one of the greatest comeback in Open history.
"To defeat Palmer at the height of his career, coming from 7 shots down with 9 holes to go, is crazy", said golf analyst and Hall of Famer Johnny Miller. "But that's Billy. He never gives up."
"When I made the putt on 15, and was 3 down with 3 to play, that's when I first thought I could win", said Casper. "And its the first time Palmer thought he could lose."
Miller added, "When people think of Billy Casper, they think of the '66 Open comeback. That's his legacy."
Miller also had his moment in the spotlight at that Open. He took 8th as an amateur, the 2nd highest finish by an amateur at the Open since 1961.
"When I took 8th, I was kind of disappointed", Miller said. "I didn't think anyone was suppose to beat me on my home course!"
Casper and MIller are back at Olympic this week, Billy to celebrate his greatest triumph, Miller to broadcast the Open, an assignment he takes very seriously.
"Doing the Open is like a religious experience for me", he said.
