Marr, 63, Dies of Stomach Cancer

Dave Marr, whose genial personality and quick-witted TV commentary often overshadowed the fact that he won the PGA Championship in 1965, died Sunday after a long bout with stomach cancer in his hometown of Houston.

Marr, 63, was named PGA player of the year after winning the PGA by two strokes over Jack Nicklaus and Billy Casper at the Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa. On the final hole, Marr drove into a fairway bunker, then laid up short of a lake on his second shot. His nine-iron third shot stopped three feet from the cup and he made the putt for what was his last victory in a 14-year career on the tour.

It was his 22 years as a TV golf analyst for ABC from 1970-92 that endeared him to golf fans. He also worked from 1992-94 for the BBC and with NBC this year.

Marr’s repartee on the course was as quick as it was on camera.

In the 1964 Masters, he was paired with Arnold Palmer on the final day and when they came to the 18th green, with Palmer holding a six-shot lead and Arnie’s Army swarming all about them, Palmer asked, “Can I help you?”

“Yeah, take a 12,” Marr shot back.

Marr finished second that day.

For years, he and Palmer were often playing partners in practice rounds.

“He was very clever,” Palmer told the Associated Press. “He had a great thing for golf and he had a great sense of humor. He could keep up with the best of them.”

During one of Bing Crosby’s wind-swept tournaments at Pebble Beach, the torrential weather was at its worst when a marshal approached Marr and asked, “Did you hear about Tom Nieporte? He’s eight over par for six holes!”

Marr snapped back, “Where did he get his birdies?”

In addition to the PGA, he also won the Sam Snead Festival in 1960, the Seattle Open in 1961 and the Azalea Open in 1962. In 1965, he was a member of the winning Ryder Cup team, winning four matches, two partnered with Palmer.

In 1981 he was named captain of the Ryder Cup team that included Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Hale Irwin, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw. They defeated Europe, 18 1/2-9 1/2, in England.

Marr was born to a golfing family in Houston, where he became an assistant club professional before joining the tour. His father was a golf pro and he was a cousin of Jackie Burke Jr., also a PGA champion and a PGA player of the year.

After retiring as a tour player, Marr remained active in corporate outings and served for a number of years as a host at the Dinah Shore LPGA tournament in Rancho Mirage.

He died in his sleep Sunday morning at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, according to his son, Anthony.

“He told everyone that he was doing better, but this has been a slow decent,” the son said. “He was a fighter and had the heart of a champion. He always thought that even if he was down by five on the back side, he was going to come back and beat it.”

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Times staff writer Jim Murray contributed to this story.