American golfing great Billy Casper, who has the seventh most wins ever on the PGA Tour, died of a heart attack on Saturday at the age of 83.

Casper was a two-time US Open winner, including an impressive come-from-behind triumph in 1966 when he rallied from a seven-shot deficit to take the trophy.

He also won the US Open in 1959 at Winged Foot and the 1970 Masters.

He had a total of 51 PGA Tour wins to his name, but the “Big Three” – Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player – often dominated headlines and basked in golf glory.

From 1964 to 1970, Casper won 27 US events, six more than Palmer and Player combined and in 1978 he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

ESPN says he had suffered a series of health setbacks in recent months, including a fainting episode and a bout of pneumonia last year.