In what became one of the wettest and most blustery of Golf Tournaments went into its final round. And on hand to catch it was ABC Television on January 24, 1960.
Kenneth Paul Venturi waged a successful battle against horrendous weather and his founding brother pros to win the 19th annual Bing Crosby Invitational golf Tournament to win an uncommonly high total of two-under-par 286 for 72 holes. Using a human walkie-talkie to bring him to his lead, Venturi ran into plenty of trouble during the 18 hole finale and backed into the title with a five over par 77.
When he did hole out for a par five on the 18th, however, the issue was decisive enough for Crosby to hand Venturi the trophy while the TV program was still running. From the seventh hole on Venturi was fully cognizant of the fact that such stars as Gene Littler, Don January, Porky Oliver, Dow Finsterwald and Tommy Jacobs could catch him and it forced the usually careful Ken to play several holes more recklessly than planned, thus creating a small bouquet of bogies. Driving wind and rain sent the scores soaring and Venturi, who won by a margin of three strokes, turned in the highest card to take down a top PGA event in this country since Jackie Burke, Jr., won the 1956 Masters with 289. Venturi’s best friend in the gallery was a buddy “I completely trusted” who would backtrack to check on the progress of Ken’s chief threats. “He’d disappear for awhile then show up and let me know just how Finsterwald or Littler were doing.
His information sometimes decided how I’d play the next hole, whether conservatively or go for broke,” Ken said. The win “in front of so many of my friends from San Francisco” was tabbed by Venturi “the most satisfying victory I’ve had since I took up the game. Now I’m going after the U.S. Open, the Masters and the PGA. Those are my three targets for the future.”
Venturi also did okay moneywise. The first place check was $4000, he earned a bonus of $3000 from U.S. Royal, whose golf balls he uses, and $1350 for finishing in a tie for second in the pro-am best ball division with partner Harvie Ward Jr. That’s a total of $8350 and it was the 28-year-old Venturi’s biggest payday since he took home $12,000 for winning the Chicago Open June 1959.
Here is the complete broadcast of that final day of the Tournament.
