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Los Angeles - Ken Venturi, the 1964 US Open champion who spent 35 years as a US television golf commentator, has died at the age of 82, US media reported on Friday.
The San Francisco Chronicle said Venturi's son, Matt, had informed the newspaper that his father died on Friday afternoon in Rancho Mirage, California, near Palm Springs.
Venturi's death came just two days after his 82nd birthday and 12 days after he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, although he was too ill to attend the ceremony.
"The greatest reward in life is to be remembered, and I thank the World Golf Hall of Fame for remembering me," Venturi said when the Hall announced him as part of its 2013 class. "It's the dream of a lifetime."
Venturi won 14 PGA Tour titles but his enduring feat came in 1964 at Congressional Country Club just outside Washington, where he overcame severe dehydration in sweltering temperatures to claim his only major title.
"Ken Venturi's victory in the 1964 US Open remains one of the greatest moments in the championship's 112-year history," US Golf Association executive director Mike Davis said.
Venturi was forced off the course by carpal tunnel syndrome and in 1968 he joined CBS television and spent 35 years in the commentary booth with a triumphant stint in 2000 as the US Presidents Cup team captain.
The San Francisco Chronicle said Venturi's son, Matt, had informed the newspaper that his father died on Friday afternoon in Rancho Mirage, California, near Palm Springs.
Venturi's death came just two days after his 82nd birthday and 12 days after he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, although he was too ill to attend the ceremony.
"The greatest reward in life is to be remembered, and I thank the World Golf Hall of Fame for remembering me," Venturi said when the Hall announced him as part of its 2013 class. "It's the dream of a lifetime."
Venturi won 14 PGA Tour titles but his enduring feat came in 1964 at Congressional Country Club just outside Washington, where he overcame severe dehydration in sweltering temperatures to claim his only major title.
"Ken Venturi's victory in the 1964 US Open remains one of the greatest moments in the championship's 112-year history," US Golf Association executive director Mike Davis said.
Venturi was forced off the course by carpal tunnel syndrome and in 1968 he joined CBS television and spent 35 years in the commentary booth with a triumphant stint in 2000 as the US Presidents Cup team captain.
