Venturi: Oh my God, I’ve won the U.S. Open

Golfing great and legendary broadcaster Ken Venturi passed away on Friday after being hospitalized for nearly two months from pneumonia and infections in his back and intestines. Venturi, who won the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional, was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame last October and he was not well enough to travel to St. Augustine, Florida, for the induction ceremony on May 6th.

We all have our memories of Mr. Venturi and I’ll share my own.  (continue reading…)

Fred Couples was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Monday night and he gave one hell of a speech. The coolest golfer on the planet even got choked up and cried at the end, saying, “Thanks for taking a kid from Seattle and putting him in the Hall of Fame. This is the coolest night of my life.” (continue reading…)

LOLZ

If it involves Colin Montgomerie, chances are there’s drama involved or a row brewing between him and another player or the American fans. Well, Monty, who dominated the European Tour in the ’90s and was one of the most winning players in the Ryder Cup with a record of 20–9–7, will join Fred Couples, Willie Park Jr., Ken Venturi and Ken Schofield, as inductees of the World Golf Hall of Fame’s class of 2013.

The results of the International ballots were revealed on Tuesday morning by the WGHOF. Similar to the U.S. ballot, no player received the minimum 65% of the vote, so the criteria is lowered to 50%.

Montgomerie earned 51% of the vote–the bare minimum–just like Couples on the U.S. ticket. Schofield, the former First Secretary and Executive Director of The European Tour, was selected in the Lifetime Achievement Category. (continue reading…)

Two thumbs-up!

Fred Couples doesn’t consider himself a “great player,” but he called himself a “good player.” He said it several times in his press conference on Wednesday, following the announcement that Couples got the World Golf Hall of Fame nod. Just barely, though.

The ’92 Masters champ received 51% of the vote in the 2013 PGA Tour ballots  (which included 15 names) — the lowest percentage in the WGHOF history — cast by members of the media, historians and other prominent names. The WGHOF requires that a player earn 65% of the vote. When nobody did, the standards are modified, and the player who got the highest percentage of votes, provided that he earned at least 50% of the ballots, clinches a place among the greatest figures in golf. (continue reading…)

Old timers hold forth on matters Woods. (c/o G. Shackelford)

Octogenarian inductees Dan Jenkins and Peter Alliss gave a provocative press conference in advance of yesterday evening’s Word Golf Hall of Fame ceremony.

Segueing between half-jokes, half-truths and familiar anecdotes like a well-rehearsed vaudeville duo, the pair riffed on everything from the Ryder Cup to belly putters, never once losing momentum.

The strongest words of the event, however, were reserved for a brief discussion of former world No1 Tiger Woods. (continue reading…)

Peter Alliss: "It's a funny old game..."

The World Golf Hall of Fame has announced the inclusion of two-time major champion Sandy Lyle and legenday golf commentator Peter Alliss among its 2012 inductees. (continue reading…)

Dan Jenkins: first living writer to be inducted into the WGHOF

Legendary journalist and author Dan Jenkins will (finally) be inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2012, along with four-time major champion Phil Mickelson and LPGA great Hollis Stacy.

If you’ve read any of Jenkins’ articles, books, columns, etc., and in these days, if you follow him on Twitter — well, he talks and someone types what he’s saying and presses “tweet,” but minor details — then you know his amazing command of prose is accompanied by wit and candor. (continue reading…)

Hollis Stacy

Former golfing star Hollis Stacy, 57, hadn’t given much thought to the possibility of being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Despite winning 18 LPGA tournaments, four of which were majors, Stacy didn’t meet the stringent criteria of the LPGA Hall of Fame points system, but qualified for the Veterans Category that was created in 2000 for players who might have been overlooked.

Stacy wasn’t sure if she’d ever get the phone call, but last week LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan phoned Stacy with the good news — which makes for a terrific story. (continue reading…)

Thank you, thank you very much

Phil Mickelson has been announced as the newest member of the World Golf Hall of Fame during his press conference at the European Tour’s Singapore Open (which the Times-Union‘s Garry Smits scooped yesterday). It’s no surprise the four-time major champion received enough votes in the first time his name appeared on the ballot. (continue reading…)

Phil: head of the class

Phil Mickelson is one of the biggest names leading the class of 2012 in the World Golf Hall of Fame Ballot (which isn’t too shabby). The four-time major winner was added to the newest edition of PGA Tour’s list, along with Jim Furyk and Loren Roberts, while Miguel Angel Jimenez was included in the International Ballot.

The ballots have been distributed to the voters, “comprised of Hall of Fame members, golf journalists, historians and dignitaries from around the globe.” Voting closes in October and the inductees will be announced later this year.

What qualifications must a player meet for consideration? (continue reading…)