Ken Venturi
Name:
Kenneth Paul "Ken" VenturiCountry:
USALived:
[1931-2013]. Born on May 15, 1931 in San Francisco, California. Died on May 17, 2013 in Rancho Mirage, California (aged 82).Original/Home Club:
Harding Park GC, San Francisco.Occupation:
Professional golfer; golf broadcaster & commentator; founder Ken Venturi Golf Academies.Turned Pro:
1956MAJORS (1): US Open (1964). Walker Cup player (1953). Ryder Cup player (1965). Presidents Cup captain (2000). Total professional wins (15), including PGA Tour (14). Old Tom Morris Award (1998, GCSAA). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2013).
Venturi, who was a pupil of Byron Nelson and was also much influenced by Ben Hogan, first caught the golfing world's attention at the 1956 Masters Tournament. Aged 24, and still an amateur, he led after each of the first three rounds. A final round 80 put paid to his chances of becoming the only amateur to win The Masters; he finished in second-place, just one shot behind Jack Burke Jr. Venturi retired from the Tour in 1967 with a total of 14 wins, and started a 35-year career as a much admired golf commentator and analyst on television. In addition to his television work, Venturi also became involved in course design and golf instruction schools.
America
Lucky Lager
Played as the Lucky International Open (Jan 28-31). Second-placed Frank Beard (USA) finished 1 shot behind 34-year-old Venturi (USA), who recorded the last of his 14 PGA Tour wins ... on the course where he learned the game. [Harding Park GC, San Francisco, Calif. Now known as TPC Harding Park].
America
x
Played as the Insurance City Open (July 23-26). Second-placed Jim Grant (USA), Al Besselink (USA), Paul Bondeson (USA) and Sam Carmichael (USA) finished 1 shot behind Ken Venturi (USA). [Wethersfield CC, nr Hartford, CT].
Awards
PGA of America
Venturi (USA) won the PGA of America Player of the Year Award (based on points allocated for PGA Tour wins, money-list position and scoring average).
Majors
USGA
The US Open (64th) (Jun 18-20). Second-placed Tommy Jacobs (USA) finished 4 shots behind Venturi (USA). Venturi only got into this US Open after playing in local and sectional qualifying events. [Blue course, Congressional CC, Bethesda, Maryland].
America
x
Played as the American Golf Classic (Aug 20-23). Second-placed Mason Rudolph (USA) finished 5 shots behind Ken Venturi (USA). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].
America
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Played as the Milwaukee Open (Aug 25-28). Second-placed Billy Casper (USA) finished 2 shots behind Ken Venturi (USA), who recorded his second win in this event, and tenth PGA Tour win overall. [North Hills CC, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin].
America
Bing Crosby
Played as the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (Jan 21-24). Second-placed Julius Boros (USA) and Tommy Jacobs (USA) finished 3 shots behind Venturi (USA). [Pebble Beach Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Cypress Point Club and Monterey Peninsula CC].
America
x
Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 2-5). Second-placed Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 2 shots behind Venturi (USA). [Rancho Park GC, Los Angeles, CA].
America
x
Played as the Almaden Open (Nov 19-22; non-PGA Tour event, predominantly played by pros based on the West Coast). Second-placed Bob Rosburg (USA), George Bruno (USA), Jimmy Clark (USA) and Ken Still (USA) finished 6 shots behind Ken Venturi (USA). [Almaden CC, San Jose, CA; now called Almaden G&CC].
America
x
Played as the Chicago Open (June 25-28). Second-placed Johnny Pott (USA) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Ken Venturi (USA). [Gleneagles CC, Lemont, Illinois].
America
x
Played as the Chicago Open (Aug 1-4; last played in 1948). Second-placed Julius Boros (USA) and Jack Burke Jr (USA) finished 1 shot behind Ken Venturi (USA), whose 60-foot birdie putt on the 69th hole turned the tide in his favour. [Gleneagles CC, Lemont, Illinois].
America
x
Played as the Thunderbird Invitational. Second-placed Jimmy Demaret (USA) and Gene Littler (USA) finished 4 shots behind Venturi (USA). [Thunderbird CC, Rancho Mirage, CA].
America
x
Played as the Phoenix Open Invitational (Jan 30-Feb 2). Second-placed Jay Hebert (USA) and Walter Burkemo (USA) finished 1 shot behind Venturi (USA). [Phoenix CC, Phoenix, AZ].
America
Miller Brewing Co.
Played as the Milwaukee (Miller) Open (Aug 22-25). Second-placed Sam Snead (USA) and Al Balding (Can) finished 5 shots behind Ken Venturi (USA), who recorded his second PGA Tour win, having landed his first in the St Paul Open a week earlier. [Tripoli CC, Brown Deer, nr Milwaukee, Wisconsin; from 2016 called the University Club of Milwaukee].
The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.
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Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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