Ken Venturi

Early life and amateur career

Born in San Francisco, California, Venturi learned to play golf at an early age, and developed his game at Harding Park Golf Course and other public courses in the Bay Area. He attended Lincoln High School and was the San Francisco high school golf champion in 1948 and 1949. Venturi also attended San José State University, where he was a member of the Spartan men's golf team from 1951 through 1953.

In the early 1950s, he was a pupil of Byron Nelson, and was also influenced by playing partner Ben Hogan. Venturi won the California State Amateur Championship in 1951 and 1956, serving in the U.S. Army in Korea and Europe in the interim.

Venturi first gained national attention at age 24; while still an amateur, he finished second in the Masters in 1956, one shot behind Jack Burke Jr., Venturi led after each of the first three rounds in an attempt to become the first-ever amateur to win the Masters, but shot a final round 80 and relinquished a four-shot lead. Through 2025, no amateur has won the Masters.

Professional career

Venturi turned pro at the end of 1956 and was a regular winner during his early years on the PGA Tour. He again came close to winning the Masters in 1958 and 1960, but was edged out both times by Arnold Palmer. On January 24, 1960, Venturi won the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am on the 1960 PGA Tour.

After suffering minor injuries in an automobile accident in 1961, Venturi's swing, and thus his career, began to slide. This slump lasted until 1964 when, for no reason even Venturi could fathom, he began playing well again. (The format was changed the next year in 1965.) Venturi was the first player to win the U.S. Open after conquering a sectional qualifier.

Venturi won again in July and August, tied for fifth in the PGA Championship, and received that year's Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award He played on the Ryder Cup team in 1965.

After 1964, Venturi's career again took a blow when he was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. After missing the cut at the Masters by nine strokes,{{cite news

Broadcasting career

After retiring from the Tour in 1967 with a total of 14 career wins, Venturi spent the next 35 years working as a color commentator and lead analyst for CBS Sports – the longest lead analyst stint in sports broadcasting history, made remarkable by the fact that he had a stutter, which was less manageable early in life. He retired from broadcasting at age 71 in June 2002, succeeded as CBS' lead analyst by Lanny Wadkins, then Nick Faldo in 2007.

In 1990, Venturi redesigned and renovated the Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club course near Naples, Florida. He also lent his name to a series of instructional schools.

Awards and honors

• In 1998, he received the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, GCSAA's highest honor.
• In 2004, after some controversy, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to Venturi.
• In 2013, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in the lifetime achievement category.

In popular culture

• Venturi appeared in the 1996 film Tin Cup, portraying himself as a commentator at the U.S. Open, held at a fictional course in North Carolina. In one scene, Venturi is shown voicing his opinion that the film's protagonist, Roy McAvoy (Kevin Costner), should lay up on a long par-5 rather than try to reach the green in two shots. McAvoy, who decided to go for it, is then shown saying, "This is for Venturi up in the booth thinking I should lay up." His caddy, played by Cheech Marin, sarcastically responds, "Yeah, what does he know? He only won this tournament before you were born."

Personal life

Venturi had two sons, Matthew and Tim and four adult grandchildren Peter, Andrew, Sara and Gianna.

Venturi described the actor and singer Frank Sinatra as his best friend and former roommate.

Death

Venturi died two days after his 82nd birthday, in Rancho Mirage, California, on May 17, 2013. He had been hospitalized for two months for a spinal infection, pneumonia, and an intestinal infection. Venturi is survived by his third wife Kathleen, two sons, Matthew and Tim and four adult grandchildren Peter, Andrew, Sara and Gianna. He was buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cathedral City, California.

Amateur wins (5)

• 1950 San Francisco City Amateur Championship
• 1951 California State Amateur Championship
• 1953 San Francisco City Amateur Championship
• 1956 California State Amateur Championship, San Francisco City Amateur Championship

Professional wins (15)

PGA Tour wins (14)

PGA Tour playoff record (0–3)

Other wins (1)

• 1959 Almaden Open

Major championships

Wins (1)

Results timeline

Amateur

Professional

LA = Low amateur

CUT = missed the half-way cut

WD = withdrew

R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play

"T" = tied

Sources: Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship, 1955 British Amateur

Summary

• Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1959 U.S. Open – 1964 PGA)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (four times)

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

• Walker Cup: 1953 (winners)
• Americas Cup: 1952 (winners), 1956 (winners)

Professional

• Ryder Cup: 1965 (winners)
• Presidents Cup: 2000 Presidents Cup (winners, non-playing captain)

References

References

1. Klein, Gary. (May 17, 2013). "Ken Venturi, golfer and broadcaster, dies at 82". Los Angeles Times.
2. Bamberger, Michael. (June 10, 2002). "So long, Kenny".
3. Bamberger, Michael. (June 9, 1997). "Proud Words".
4. (October 8, 2012). "World Golf Hall of Fame adds Venturi to 2013 class". PGA Tour.
5. CIF San Francisco Section. [https://www.dropbox.com/s/2nue5ei525i7gfy/golf-boyschampions.pdf?dl=0 AAA Golf Boys Annual Champions.] (Retrieved April 26, 2017.)
6. "San Jose State Golf Legend Ken Venturi (1931-2013)". SJSU.
7. Mackin, Tom. (June 13, 2011). "Ken Venturi, the '64 Open champ, says golf was a different game in his era".
8. Kelley, Brent. "Ken Venturi biography". About.com.
9. (July 9, 2008). "1960 winners sorted by age". PGA Tour.
10. Reedy, Thomas A.. (October 5, 1965). "Ken Venturi joins Ryder play team". Gettysburg Times.
11. Wright, Alfred. (June 29, 1964). "'Poor Ken' hits it rich again".
12. Bartlett, Charles. (June 21, 1964). "Exhausted Ken Venturi Open champ". Chicago Tribune.
13. Grimsley, Will. (June 21, 1964). "Heat-dazed Ken Venturi captures Open on near record 278 score". Spokesman-Review.
14. Mizell, Hubert. (August 6, 1976). "The Ken Venturi Open: 1964 golfing classic". St. Petersburg Times.
15. McDonald, Jim. (August 24, 1964). "Venturi makes 1964 a really big year". Toledo Blade.
16. (December 9, 1964). "Venturi draws acclaims as golf's 'player of the year'". Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph.
17. Attner, Paul. (August 15, 1976). "Venturi's 1964 Open victory is a vivid memory". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
18. (January 23, 1965). "Venturi may have to quit golf tour". Lodi News-Sentinel.
19. (December 25, 1965). "Venturi wins Hogan Award". Toledo Blade.
20. (June 15, 1965). "Venturi to attack with bloodless hands". Victoria Advocate.
21. (June 19, 1964). "'Won't play until hand is well' - Venturi". Milwaukee Sentinel.
22. Bartlett, Charles. (June 19, 1965). "Gary Player's 70-70--140 leads Open!". Chicago Tribune.
23. (February 1, 1966). "Venturi fires 5 under 66 to capture 'Lucky' by one". Milwaukee Sentinel.
24. (February 1, 1966). "Venturi's 273 wins Lucky golf title". Chicago Tribune.
25. Grimsley, Will. (May 13, 1971). "Ken Venturi is coming back again". Owosso Argus-Press.
26. Terrill, Joey. (December 2004). "My shot: Ken Venturi".
27. (October 3, 2006). "Faldo to become lead golf analyst for CBS Sports". ESPN.
28. "Course Information". Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club.
29. The controversy arose between Gerhard Frenzel, the founder of the Walk of Stars, and the City of Palm Springs over whether Venturi qualified for a Star under the Palm Springs Walk of Stars Foundation's contract with the city. See: [https://web.archive.org/web/20150115012249/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94589025.html "Palm Springs Walk of Stars Under Dispute."] ''AP Online''. Press Association, Inc. 2004.
30. (2012). "Palm Springs Walk of Stars".
31. Golfstein, Richard. (May 17, 2013). "Ken Venturi, U.S. Open Golf Champion and Broadcaster, Dies at 82". The New York Times.
32. Ferguson, Doug. (May 17, 2013). "Ken Venturi, 1964 U.S. Open champion and CBS golf analyst, dies at age 82". PGA of America.
33. (2016-07-30). "Historical Records and Stats - 2016 Masters Tournament".
34. (2010-12-21). "USGA Championship Database".
35. (2023). "Previous Open Championship Results and Winners".
36. (August 2015). "PGA Championship Media Guide".
37. (June 2, 1955). "Contrast In British And American Players". Glasgow Herald.