Casper Tops Pott in a Dogfight

Billy Casper overcomes intestinal flu to capture 1965 Insurance City Open in playoff

Billy Casper in 1965 (Photo: Leonard Kamslerm Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Come join us on our journey through the past as we flashback to 1965 and the Insurance City Open. This $70,000 tournament occupied an important spot on the schedule between the Canadian Open and the Thunderbird Open and shares DNA with the Travelers Championship being played at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell CT, on the PGA TOUR this week. Scroll down to see how Billy Casper fought off both a flu bug and Johnny Pott to capture the title.

We’ve written about fellow Seattleite Don Bies winning the Sammy Davis, Jr-Hartford Open in 1975, and the 1972 Greater Hartford Open won by Lee Elder. Click on the links for more historical coverage on this tournament that dates back to 1952 when Ted Kroll won the first Insurance City Open.