Doug Sanders, who missed one of the most heartbreaking potential winning putts in British Open history, has died of natural causes.
He was 86.
The US PGA Tour Champions website said he died in Houston, Texas. Known as the "Peacock of the Fairways," Sanders was one of the most colourful personalities on golf's US PGA Tour, capturing 20 titles including the 1956 Canadian Open.
He had four close runner-up finishes in majors with the 1970 Open Championship at St Andrews engrained in the memories of most golf fans.
When he reached the 72nd green, he was left with less than three feet for par to beat Jack Nicklaus by one shot.
But Sanders nervously pushed his putt right of the hole, sending the tournament to an 18-hole playoff the next day where Nicklaus prevailed on the final hole.
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"I missed a 30-inch putt on the last green that would have won the 1970 British Open. It's all anybody wants to talk about," Sanders said.
"I won 20 times on the PGA Tour, and if you gave me one birdie, four pars and a bogey wherever I could put them, I'd have five majors.
"But it's that putt that everybody remembers. What can I say? It's what I remember most, too."
Esquire magazine once chose Sanders as one of America's "Ten Best Dressed Jocks."