An alumnus of San Jose State, Venturi won the 1964 U.S. Open golf tournament launching one of the great career comebacks in PGA history. He burst into golfing prominence at the 1956 Masters, losing by one stroke to miss becoming the tournament’s only amateur champion. Injuries in 1961 threatened to end his pro career, but after three winless years, he won the Open on the final day’s 36 holes, played in 100-degree heat. He retired from competition in 1968 and became a golf analyst with CBS, remaining in that position 35 years to become the longest–working lead analyst in TV sports.

A dogged competitor and eloquent spokesman for golf, Venturi was inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.