Ken Venturi Dies At Age 82

Ken Venturi, golf Hall of Famer and longtime golf broadcaster, died Friday at the age of 82.

A California amateur champion, Venturi as an amateur was the 54-hole leader at the 1956 Masters, eventually finishing second. He turned pro later that year. He also would finish second in 1960.

Venturi won fifteen times as a professional, but is best known for his insanely heroic finish at the 1964 US Open at Congressional. In oppressive Washington heat, Venturi suffered heat exhaustion and dehydration, but literally staggered to a 70 and a win.

After 1964, Venturi’s career declined as he developed a case of carpal tunnel syndrome.  Surgery eventually repaired the problem, but he retired in 1967. Venturi then spent the next 35 years as a broadcaster for CBS Sports. That in itself was an amazing feat, for Venturi had suffered from stuttering. His career at CBS was the longest in sports broadcasting history.

Venturi was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame just eleven days ago. He was unable to make the presentation.