Golf Legend Billy Casper Dies at Age 83

Three-time major champion Billy Casper passed away at the age of 83 on Saturday. According to The Associated Press (via The New York Times), the cause of death was a heart attack.

CBSSports.com's Will Brinson, Golf Channel's Jay Coffin and Gary Williams and current PGA Tour pro Jason Gore were among those to mourn Casper's death:

Jason Sobel of the Golf Channel provided an entertaining anecdote to illustrate Casper's personality:

Casper's son, Bob, sent out an email, per The San Diego Union-Tribune's Tod Leonard, that said his father was in the hospital for a little over a month following Thanksgiving after he had caught pneumonia. His rehabilitation sessions had been going well until last week.

"He went downhill quick," said Bob Casper. "It was quick. But he didn't have any pain. It was peaceful."

Over a career that spanned six decades, Casper won 51 PGA Tour events, which still ranks seventh all-time. He also brought home 10 victories on the Champions Tour. His first and last major titles came 11 years apart, a testament to his longevity.

Casper was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978.