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. 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, he received treatment at the Mayo Clinic in May. 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. He missed the cut by ten strokes, had the surgery on both wrists, and was sidelined until the Ryder Cup in October in England. but he soon relapsed; after additional surgeries, he could not regain his form.

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, 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. 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. 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) LegendMajor championships (1)Other PGA Tour (13)

PGA Tour playoff record (0–3)

Other wins (1) 1959 Almaden Open

Major championships

Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1964 U.S. Open 2 shot deficit −2 (72-70-66-70=278) 4 strokes Tommy Jacobs

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)