Kenneth Paul Venturi (May 15, 1931 – May 17, 2013) was an American professional golfer and golf broadcaster. In a career shortened by injuries, he won 14 events on the PGA Tour including a major, the U.S. Open in 1964. Shortly before his death in 2013, Venturi was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.[5]
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.[9] Through 2024, 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.[10]
After suffering minor injuries in an automobile accident in 1961, Venturi's swing, and thus his career, began to slide.[11] This slump lasted until 1964 when, for no reason even Venturi could fathom, he began playing well again.[4] After a couple of high finishes, Venturi reached the pinnacle of his comeback by winning the U.S. Open in 1964 at Congressional Country Club, after nearly collapsing in the near-100 °F (38 °C) heat and humidity of the 36-hole final day.[12][13][14][15] (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.
After 1964,[19] 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,[20] he received treatment at the Mayo Clinic in May.[21] Defending his title at the U.S. Open in June, Venturi continued to have difficulty with his hands and entered the championship with plans to have surgery the following week.[22] He missed the cut by ten strokes,[23][24] had the surgery on both wrists, and was sidelined until the Ryder Cup in October in England.[11] Venturi's condition improved and he won a tour event in January 1966 at the very familiar Harding Park in his hometown,[25][26] but he soon relapsed; after additional surgeries, he could not regain his form.[27]
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,[9] 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,[8][28] succeeded as CBS' lead analyst by Lanny Wadkins, then Nick Faldo in 2007.[29]
Other ventures
Acting
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."
Venturi described the actor and singer Frank Sinatra as his best friend and former roommate.[9][28]
Course design and instruction
In 1990, Venturi redesigned and renovated the Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club course near Naples, Florida.[30] He also lent his name to a series of instructional schools.[9]
Honors
In 2004, after some controversy,[31] a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to Venturi.[32] In 2013, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in the lifetime achievement category.
^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: "Palm Springs Walk of Stars Under Dispute."AP Online. Press Association, Inc. 2004.
† indicates the event was won in a playoff; ‡ indicates the event was won wire-to-wire; # indicates the event was won by an amateur; 1942–1945 cancelled due to World War II
