Ken Venturi — a lifetime of perserverance

Part 2

Recap: In 1964, Ken Venturi was in a terrible slump as a result of injuries sustained in a serious car accident. He had gone from being one of the premier golfers in the world to a near has-been. He hadn’t won a golf tournament in four years but had earned a spot in the U.S. Open.

In that era, competitors were required to play the final two rounds (36 holes) on the same day. With the intense heat, Venturi’s health had begun to falter in the first round at the 17th hole. He appeared to be disoriented and was showing signs of dehydration. But somehow, he managed to finish the round.

Incredibly, during that first four and a half hours in the blistering, 100-degree heat, Venturi scored a sizzling 66. He was able to close to within two strokes of the tournament lead.

Having willed his body through those last two holes, Venturi was immediately transported to the locker room. In an effort to recover, he quickly took salt tablets and water, but ingested too much of both. He had about 45 minutes before the start of the final round and was in dire distress. Playing in the intense heat had caught up with him.

Dr. John Everett was summoned to examine Venturi. The doctor advised the golfer that to return to the course would post a grave risk to his health, and could possibly result in death. Venturi responded, “I’m already dying. I have no place to go.”

Venturi started the final 18 holes running only on pride and desire. He was just two strokes behind the lead. Physically, he was a mess — his body strength was almost drained. When the body goes, the mind sometimes follows.

Ice packs, wet towels and slow, laboured steps carried him forward. All those years of automatically hitting practice balls were now all that he could rely on.

It became a matter of simply placing one foot in front of the other and slowly marching on. It was as though he was back in his boyhood practice sessions. Each shot became automatic — he was a ball-striking machine.

A birdie at the ninth vaulted Venturi into the lead. By the time he reached the 18th fairway, Venturi knew he could not be beaten. When his final putt dropped, he raised his arms to the sky and uttered, “My God, I’ve won The Open!”

His playing partner, Raymond Floyd, retrieved Venturi’s ball from the hole. Floyd had tears running

It became a matter of simply placing one foot in front of the other, and slowly marching on. It was as though he was back in his boyhood practice sessions. Each shot became automatic — he was a ballstriking machine.”

~ Bob Livingstone

down his cheeks as he handed the ball to Venturi. Floyd later summed up the win as, “One of the most heroic things I have ever seen.”

A long professional career was not in the cards for Venturi, though. His playing career would end because of carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. Surgeries to restore movement were only partially successful. Retirement from competitive golf came in 1967, after only three more victories.

What happened next? CBS television sports came calling. They knew Venturi had studied the game of golf inside out. He became the CBS lead golf analyst.

Golf had taken Venturi from being a young boy with a serious stuttering problem, to a professional athlete, to a golf colour commentator/instructor on television. He remained as CBS’s number 1 golf announcer for 35 years until his retirement in 2002.

Even then, Venturi’s journey was not yet complete. He had been a great ambassador for the game of golf almost his entire life. He had passed through the doldrums and risen again many times. It was time for the golf world to show its appreciation.

Ken Venturi was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at the age of 82 — just 12 days before his death. He passed away on May 17, 2013.

I miss his golf knowledge and wonderful personality.