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Kenneth Paul Venturi (May 15, 1931May 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.
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 Korean War 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.
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. 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- heat and humidity of the 36-hole final day. (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 and PGA Player 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, 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. Venturi's condition improved and he won a tour event in January 1966 at the very familiar Harding Park in his hometown, but he soon relapsed; after additional surgeries, he could not regain his form.
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.
Venturi described the actor and singer Frank Sinatra as his best friend and former roommate.
PGA Tour playoff record (0–3)
Professional
LA = Low amateur
Sources: Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship, 1955 British Amateur
Professional
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.
Awards and honors
In popular culture
Personal life
Venturi had two sons, Matthew and Tim and four adult grandchildren Peter, Andrew, Sara and Gianna.
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 Vertebral column infection, pneumonia, and an intestine 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)
Professional wins (15)
PGA Tour wins (14)
Major championships (1) Other PGA Tour (13) Bob Rosburg Al Balding, Sam Snead Jimmy Demaret, Gene Littler Walter Burkemo, Jay Hebert Lionel Hebert, Arnold Palmer Julius Boros, Jack Burke Jr. Art Wall Jr. Johnny Pott Julius Boros, Tommy Jacobs Billy Casper Tommy Jacobs Al Besselink, Paul Bondeson
Sam Carmichael, Jim GrantMason Rudolph Frank Beard 1 1957 Thunderbird Invitational Jimmy Demaret, Mike Souchak Demaret won 18-hole playoff;
Demaret: −4 (67),
Souchak: +4 (75),
Venturi: +5 (76)2 1958 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational Billy Casper Lost to eagle on second extra hole 3 1961 Houston Classic Jay Hebert Lost to birdie on first extra hole after 18 hole playoff;
Hebert: −1 (69),
Venturi: −1 (69)
Other wins (1)
Major championships
Wins (1)
Tommy Jacobs
Results timeline
Amateur
Masters Tournament T16 2 LA U.S. Open CUT 8 LA The Open Championship The Amateur Championship R64 Masters Tournament T13 T4 CUT U.S. Open T6 T35 T38 The Open Championship PGA Championship T20 T5 Masters Tournament 2 T11 T9 34 CUT 16 T21 T50 CUT U.S. Open T23 1 CUT T17 T28 CUT CUT The Open Championship PGA Championship 9 T37 T51 T5 T15 T11 T48 Masters Tournament U.S. Open CUT The Open Championship CUT PGA Championship
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
Summary
11 8 0 9
U.S. national team appearances
Amateur
External links
Categories: American Male Golfers, San Jose State Spartans Men's Golfers, Pga Tour Golfers, Ryder Cup Competitors For The United States, Winners Of Men's Major Golf Championships, World Golf Hall Of Fame Inductees, American Golf Commentators, Golfers From San Francisco, American People Of Italian Descent, Sportspeople From Rancho Mirage, California, Deaths From Pneumonia In California, Burials At Forest Lawn Cemetery, 1931 Births, 2013 Deaths, 20th-century American Sportsmen
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