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Rod Funseth

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Rod Funseth
Personal information
Full nameJames Rodney Funseth
Born(1933-04-03)April 3, 1933
Spokane, Washington
DiedSeptember 9, 1985(1985-09-09)(aged 52)
Napa, California
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Sporting nationalityUnited States
SpouseSandi (Hawkins) Funseth[1]
(m. 1965–1985, his death)
Children1 son, 1 daughter
Career
CollegeUniversity of Idaho
(briefly attended)[2][3]
Turned professional1956
Former tour(s)PGA Tour(1962–79)
Senior PGA Tour(1983–84)
Professional wins9
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour3
PGA Tour Champions1
Other5
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT2:1978
PGA ChampionshipT8:1965
U.S. OpenT10:1977
The Open ChampionshipDNP

James Rodney Funseth(April 3, 1933 – September 9, 1985) was an Americanprofessional golferwho played on thePGA Tourand theSenior PGA Tour(nowPGA Tour Champions).[4][5]

Amiable and low-key but less than confident,[6]Funseth was one of longest hitters and fastest players ofhis era,[2][5]but better known for a pessimistic attitude toward his game,[7][8]He claimed that his "I'll never be able to make that shot" mental attitude of lowered expectations helped motivate him to play better. He was especially self-deprecating on his lack of putting prowess.[9][10]

Early years

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Born and raised inSpokane, Washington,[11]Funseth's father was a men's clothing store operator and salesman, born inSweden.[2][12]Rod competed with his older brother Carl for city junior titles[13]and graduated fromNorth Central High Schoolin 1951.[14]Funseth briefly attended theUniversity of IdahoinMoscow[3][15]to studycivil engineering,but did not graduate.[16]He was a member ofSigma Alpha Epsilonfraternity.[17]

Funseth returned to Spokane after a semester and worked in various jobs in Washington while competing as anamateur.[18]One of these brief jobs was as a civilian draftsman at theBremerton Navy Yard,west ofSeattle.[2]He won the British Columbia Amateur in 1956 and turned pro that fall, first inPalm Springs, California.[19]In 1959, Funseth became an assistant pro underMasterschampionClaude Harmonback east atWinged Foot,[20]north ofNew York Cityand later at Thunderbird in Palm Springs.[21]Funseth entered a handful of tour events in1962,and received sponsorship of $800 per month from Spokane'sAthletic Round Table(ART) in1963to allow him to play full-time. He played out of Esmeralda, a municipal course in east Spokane built in the mid-1950s. It was initially funded by ART (land and clubhouse) and was named for the group's mascot, a grinning cartoonmare.[21][22]Funseth had the smiling horse insignia on his tour bag for several years, which invited frequent inquisitions.[23]Keeping meticulous records of all his earnings, he reimbursed the ART to the last dollar.[24][25]

PGA Tour

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Funseth played full-time on the PGA Tour from1963through1979and won three tour events. The first was thePhoenix Open Invitationalin1965at the Arizona Country Club, which came a week after losing a final round lead at theBob Hope ClassicinPalm Springs.[26]Funseth's second win came eight years later at theGlen Campbell-Los Angeles Open,the season-opener in1973atRiviera.[27]His final PGA Tour win came at age 45 in1978at theSammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open,[11]which paid for his horse barn.[28][29]

His best finish in amajor championshipwas just months earlier, a tie for second at theMasters,one stroke behindGary Player.[30]Funseth was in the last pairing on Sunday and had a three-under 69, but Player carded a record-tying 64 (−8) for his third greenjacket.[31][32]Funseth birdied the par-5 15th hole, but parred the last three, with a putt left on the lip at the 16th and another narrowly missing on the final hole to force a playoff.[33]

Funseth was known on tour as an avidfisherman,[3][15]a passion shared byJohnny Miller,[34]his next-door neighbor inNapa,[1]andJack Nicklaus.[23]The three played in an exhibition golf match in Spokane in 1975,[35]a rarity for Nicklaus at the time.[36]

Senior Tour

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Funseth became eligible to play on theSenior PGA Tourafter reaching age 50 in April1983.He had a great deal of immediate success, winning the unofficialLiberty Mutual Legends of Golf(team event withRoberto De Vicenzo) in early May,[37]and a nine-stroke victory at his tour debut at theHall of Fame Tournamentthree weeks later inNorth CarolinaatPinehurst No. 2.[6][38]Funseth also finished second toBilly Casperin a sudden-death playoff at theU.S. Senior Openin July.[39]

Cancer

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His career on the over-50 tour was cut short by terminal cancer, attributed to exposure toasbestosat the navy yard in Bremerton in his late teens.[11][40]Told by physicians in January1984that he had four months to live, Funseth continued to play well on tour,[41]and returned to defend his team title at the Liberty Mutual Legends in late April.[42]He competed in 17 events in 1984, with three runner-up finishes and nine in the top-10, despite losing weight and strength. Funseth won amatch playevent in October inMaine,bestingBob Toski2-up in the final for a winner's share of $30,000. Although a non-tour event, it included most of the top senior players of the day.[43][44]

Death

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Funseth's condition declined in 1985 as his body weight was reduced to 100 lb (45 kg) by September and his breathingassisted with oxygen.[25]He died at age 52 at his home inNapa, California,beside the 12th hole of theSilverado Country Club,[4]next door to friend Johnny Miller.[1]In 1999, he was inducted posthumously into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame.[45]

Personal

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Funseth was survived by his wife Sandi (néeHawkins), a former competitivewater skierfromRedwood City,[1]and their two children, Lisa and Mark, in their late teens.[7][11]He met Sandi during the rainyCrosbyevent atPebble Beachin January1965,when she was a spectator in a long leg cast (from asnow skiingaccident) and had been offered shelter in a tournament tent;[2]they were married later that year.

Professional wins (8)

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PGA Tour wins (3)

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No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Feb 14,1965 Phoenix Open Invitational 71-68-68-67=274 −14 3 strokes United StatesBert Yancey
2 Jan 7,1973 Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open 73-69-65-69=276 −8 2 strokes United StatesDon Bies,AustraliaDavid Graham,
United StatesTom Weiskopf
3 Jul 30,1978 Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open 65-67-68-64=264 −20 6 strokes United StatesDale Douglass,United StatesLee Elder,
United StatesBilly Kratzert

PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponents Result
1 1971 Greater Greensboro Open United StatesBuddy Allin,United StatesDave Eichelberger Allin won with birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (3)

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Senior PGA Tour wins (1)

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No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory 		Runner-up
1 May 22,1983 Hall of Fame Tournament 66-67-65=198 −18 9 strokes United StatesCharlie Sifford

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 1983 U.S. Senior Open United StatesBilly Casper Lost to birdie on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Casper: +4 (75),
Funseth: +4 (75)

Other senior wins (2)

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References

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  1. ^abcdMcKenzie, Mike (April 10, 1977)."Rod's clods".Tuscaloosa News.Alabama. p. 2B.
  2. ^abcdeBingham, Walter (June 12, 1978)."Look for the man early, not late".Sports Illustrated.p. 51.
  3. ^abcBarrows, Bob (August 22, 1975)."Funseth recalls steelhead fishing".Lewiston Morning Tribune.Idaho. p. 1B.
  4. ^ab"Professional golfer Rod Funseth dies of cancer at his home in Napa at age 52".Los Angeles Times.Associated Press. September 11, 1985.RetrievedJune 15,2016.
  5. ^abBoling, Dave (August 25, 1994)."Funseth gone, but Spokane golfer's spirit lives on".Spokesman-Review.(Spokane, Washington). p. C1.
  6. ^abBrown, Bruce (June 8, 1983)."Rod Funseth: A nice guy once again finishing first".Spokane Chronicle.Washington. p. D2.
  7. ^ab"Funseth loses battle with cancer".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. September 10, 1985. p. B1.
  8. ^"It's Rod Funseth in a breeze".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 8, 1973. p. 8.
  9. ^McKenzie, Mike (April 10, 1977)."Rod's clods".Tuscaloosa News.Alabama. p. 2B.
  10. ^"Johnny Miller Talks Golf".Golf Digest.October 2005. Archived fromthe originalon November 1, 2006.
  11. ^abcd"Rod Funseth, 52, Pro Golfer Earned More Than $600,000".New York Times.September 11, 1985.RetrievedJanuary 7,2013.
  12. ^"Carl L. Funseth taken by death".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. November 9, 1968. p. 5.
  13. ^"Carl Funseth trims brother Rodney, 5 and 4, for city junior title".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. August 16, 1948. p. 9.
  14. ^"Rod Funseth, 1951".North Central High School Alumni Association.RetrievedJanuary 6,2013.
  15. ^ab"Sports celebrities tackle LCC".Lewiston Morning Tribune.Idaho. August 23, 1975. p. 1B.
  16. ^Ashlock, Herb (July 16, 1954)."From the Bench".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. p. 13.
  17. ^"Sigma Alpha Epsilon".Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1952. p. 284.
  18. ^Ashlock, Herb (July 16, 1954)."Young Rod Funseth wants to turn pro this fall".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. p. 13.
  19. ^"Funseth joins pro golf ranks".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. September 30, 1956. p. 3, sports.
  20. ^"Funseth leads Open test in huge Metropolitan field".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. May 19, 1959. p. 14.
  21. ^abMissildine, Harry (January 8, 1963)."ART backs Rod Funseth".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. p. 10.
  22. ^"Round Table donates $75,000 for Esmeralda golf house".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. March 20, 1954. p. 1.
  23. ^abMissildine, Harry (October 13, 1965)."Pair of charmers meet luncheoneers".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. p. 16.
  24. ^"Rod Funseth set for tour".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. December 16, 1963. p. 19.
  25. ^abBoling, Dave (August 25, 1994)."Funseth gone, but Spokane golfer's spirit lives on".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. p. C1.
  26. ^"Funseth winner".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. Associated Press. February 15, 1965. p. 15.
  27. ^"Sandi confident Rod would win".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. Associated Press. January 8, 1973. p. 13.
  28. ^"Win by Funseth pays for barn".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. Associated Press. July 31, 1978. p. 17.
  29. ^Missildine, Harry (August 2, 1978)."While you were out".Spokesman Review.Spokane, Washington. p. 13.
  30. ^"Golf Major Championships".RetrievedJanuary 7,2013.
  31. ^Jenkins, Dan(April 17, 1978)."And then there was one".Sports Illustrated.p. 16.
  32. ^Parascenzo, Marino (April 10, 1978)."3rd win to Player in Masters".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.p. 17.
  33. ^"Player comes through".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. Associated Press. April 10, 1978. p. 21.
  34. ^Missildine, Harry (November 11, 1976)."Miller needs friendly neighbor".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. p. 12.
  35. ^Brown, Bruce (April 30, 1975)."Golf superstars thrill throng at SCC".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. p. 31.
  36. ^Brown, Bruce (April 29, 1975)."Nicklaus limits exhibition golf".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Washington. p. 1.
  37. ^"De Vicenzo, Funseth take Legends title".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. May 2, 1983. p. 13.
  38. ^"Funseth breezes to title".Spokesman Review.Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. May 23, 1983. p. 13.
  39. ^"Funseth loses on 19th".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 26, 1983. p. 17.
  40. ^Blanchette, John (September 11, 1985)."Rod breathed life into golf".Spokane Chronicle.Washington. p. C4.
  41. ^"Funseth battles deadly lung cancer".Wilmington Morning Star.North Carolina. April 24, 1984. p. 2D.
  42. ^"Funseth still playing despite lung cancer".Gadsden Times.Alabama. Associated Press. April 29, 1984. p. 3C.
  43. ^"Funseth holds on to win".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. October 8, 1984. p. 16.
  44. ^Barber, Dave (October 8, 1984)."Rod Funseth beats Toski for Unionmutual crown".Bangor Daily News.Maine. p. 19.
  45. ^"State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame: Golf".RetrievedJanuary 7,2013.
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