Billy Casper, one of professional golf's top players for two decades and winner of three major U.S. tournaments, has died. He was 83.

He died Saturday at his home outside of Salt Lake City, according to a statement from Billy Casper Golf, the course-management firm he co-founded. The cause was a heart attack.

"I think it is fair to say that Billy was probably underrated by those who didn't play against him," 18-time major tournament champion Jack Nicklaus was cited by AP as saying. "Those who did compete against him knew how special he was."