Ex-champ splish-splashes his way to 14 on 16th hole

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Call it an un-decuple bogey.

Or maybe it’ll simply go down as a “Casper.”

Five watery shots sent Billy Casper to 11-over par on a single hole — a 14 at the par-3 16th — and an inglorious triple crown in Masters annals.

The 73-year-old Hall of Famer recorded the highest score on any hole in the tournament, the highest nine-hole total (57) and highest full round (106).

None of those numbers will go down as official records, though — the 1970 Masters champion didn’t turn in his scorecard.

“I have the card in my pocket,” he said, taking it all in good humor. “I think I’m going to frame it.”

Casper had no plans to tee it up once more today, citing stiffness that forced him to pull all his shots to the left, including those at the pesky 16th hole.

“I couldn’t get off my left side,” Casper said. “I woke up with it Wednesday … . If I could swing at the ball, I’d play. But I can’t swing.”

Suffice it to say, this was not the enduring image Casper hoped to leave in returning for one last Masters appearance.

He already was 8-over-par when he reached No. 16, a hole where players traditionally skip shots across the pond in practice rounds.

Taking out a 9-wood, Casper plunked his tee shot well short of dry land. Four 7-iron attempts from the 155-yard drop zone landed in nearly the same spot.

By that point, Tom Watson and Jim Furyk had left their putts at No. 15 to walk to the edge of the green and call out encouragement.

“I didn’t know what to do,” said caddie Brian Taylor, who co-hosts a syndicated radio show with Casper’s son, Bob. “I didn’t want to say anything, either.”

Casper finally used a 6-iron to clear the water, then three-putted from long distance for his 14.

At the next tee, playing partner Charles Coody stopped after teeing up his ball, looked back at Casper — then walked over to wrap his friend in a huge embrace.

A bogey-bogey finish gave Casper his back-nine 57. Casper, who played the back nine first, added a 49 on the front which matched the previous nine-hole record.