1969 Masters Champ George Archer dead at 65

He died yesterday after a one-year battle with lymphoma. The tallest player on tour for much of his career, he won a memorable Masters in 1969 defeating Billy Casper, George Knudson and Tom Weiskopf by one shot. RIP George.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nevada - George Archer, the 1969 Masters champion who was one of the best putters in the world during his long professional career, died Sunday after a yearlong battle with Burkitts Lymphoma. He was 65.

Archer died at his home in Incline Village, wife Donna said late Sunday night.

"I was holding him and it was a beautiful experience," Donna Archer said. "He was quite expressive about what a wonderful life he'd had, to be able to have that kind of career. He was on the tour for 40 years."

The 6-foot-5 1/2 Archer cut a memorable figure among professional golfers and stood almost doubled over when he used his trademark putting stroke.

At Augusta National in 1969, the 29-year-old Archer closed with an even-par 72 to beat Billy Casper, George Knudson and Tom Weiskopf by a stroke. He finished with a 7-under 281 total. Archer won 12 times on the PGA Tour and 19 times on the Champions Tour, the last in 2000 in the MasterCard Championship.

He set the PGA Tour record for fewest putts in a four-round tournament with 95 in the 1980 Sea Pines Heritage Classic. The mark was broken by Bob Tway in 1986.

Archer, born in San Francisco, won his first PGA Tour title in his hometown, taking the 1965 Lucky International a year after turning pro.