Former Open champ Weiskopf battling pancreatic cancer

Tom Weiskopf, a 16-time winner on the PGA Tour, has pancreatic cancer and started chemotherapy treatments on Thursday, he revealed to Golfweek.

The winner of The Open Championship in 1973, Weiskopf said he began experiencing stomach pains last month.

"If I hadn't been in enough pain, I might have brushed it off and wasted a bunch of important time," said Weiskopf, now 78.

Weiskopf went through testing at the Miami Cancer Institute that led to the diagnosis, which he received Monday.

"I've got a rough four to six months ahead of me," he said on Thursday. "I had my first chemo today and the treatment lasted seven hours. I get the rest of the cocktail through my portable pump for 46 hours and then I get to rest up for 10 to 12 days before the next round."

Weiskopf won his final PGA tournament in 1982 and later won four more senior events. He also has worked as a television golf analyst and since 1985, he has designed golf courses throughout the world.