“I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.”
You may or may not be all that familiar with Ken Venturi. He isn’t quite as household a name as Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods, but Venturi was a very successful professional golf player in his own right.
Born in San Francisco, Kenneth Venturi rocketed onto the golf scene in 1956 when he finished second in the Masters tournament after leading from the first round. Keeping in mind that he was still an amateur at the time. He went on to gain 14 victories on the PGA Tour and the crown of PGA Player of Year in 1964, the same year where he was named as the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. After retiring in 1967, Venturi went on to a very successful 35-year career as a color commentator for CBS Sports.
You can take the time to read Getting Up & Down
Yes, professional sports is an inherently competitive endeavor and you will be necessarily comparing yourself to your contemporaries. At the same time, you have to recognize the quandary of comparing yourself to others and transcend it. You don’t necessarily have to be better than all your peers; you just have to be the best you that you can be. Even Kurt Cobain of Nirvana knew that.
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Now get out there and beat your personal best. Again and again.
Ken Venturi was the most professional of players and one of the best announcers in Golf. I really enjoyed listening to him do color for different events. He wasn’t shy, instead he was straight forward. He called it like he saw it, with insight and flair.
I’ve never heard of him but then again I’m not into golf.
I agree with his views. It’s better to be the best we can be rather than become someone we’re not.
I agree with you. He was a good golfer and had a better game than Tiger. You really just need to work hard, believe in yourself and try to exceed your expectations.
what do you mean, “had a better game than Tiger”? I actually watched Venturi as a kid, and he was not even close to Tiger in any part of the game.