Rod Funseth

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Rod Funseth

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| fullname = James Rodney Funseth

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|4|3}}

| birth_place = Spokane, Washington

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|1985|9|9|1933|4|3}}}}

| death_place = Napa, California

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}

| weight = {{convert|170|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{USA}}

| spouse = Sandi (Hawkins) Funseth{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DggdAAAAIBAJ&pg=6872%2C1459485 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |last=McKenzie |first=Mike |title=Rod's clods |date=April 10, 1977 |page=2B}}
(m. 1965–1985, his death)

| partner =

| children = 1 son, 1 daughter

| college = University of Idaho
(briefly attended){{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1978/06/12/822729/look-for-the-man-early-not-late-rod-funseth-is-always-showing-up-on-leader-boards-at-important-events-the-problem-is-that-he-never-stays |magazine=Sports Illustrated |title=Look for the man early, not late |last=Bingham |first=Walter |date=June 12, 1978 |page=51}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j4FfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2527%2C6444643 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Funseth recalls steelhead fishing |last=Barrows |first=Bob |date=August 22, 1975 |page=1B}}

| yearpro = 1956

| extour = PGA Tour (1962–79)
Senior PGA Tour (1983–84)

| prowins = 9

| pgawins = 3

| champwins = 1

| otherwins = 5

| majorwins =

| masters = T2: 1978

| usopen = T10: 1977

| open = DNP

| pga = T8: 1965

| wghofid =

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}}

James Rodney Funseth (April 3, 1933 – September 9, 1985) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour (now PGA Tour Champions).{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-11-sp-7294-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |title=Professional golfer Rod Funseth dies of cancer at his home in Napa at age 52 |date=September 11, 1985 |access-date=June 15, 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eXQfAAAAIBAJ&pg=1599%2C4061910 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Boling |first=Dave |title=Funseth gone, but Spokane golfer's spirit lives on |date=August 25, 1994 |page=C1}}

Amiable and low-key but less than confident,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5MQSAAAAIBAJ&pg=7019%2C1918287 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle|location=Washington |last=Brown |first=Bruce |title=Rod Funseth: A nice guy once again finishing first |date=June 8, 1983 |page=D2 }} Funseth was one of longest hitters and fastest players of {{nowrap|his era,}} but better known for a pessimistic attitude toward his game,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=srwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6998%2C5434321 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Funseth loses battle with cancer |date=September 10, 1985 |page=B1}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U9MRAAAAIBAJ&pg=7237%2C2362859 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|agency=Associated Press |title=It's Rod Funseth in a breeze |date=January 8, 1973 |page=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.{{cite news |title=Rod's clods |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |date=April 10, 1977 |page=2B |last=McKenzie |first=Mike |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19770410&id=DggdAAAAIBAJ&pg=6872,1459485}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.golfdigest.com/instruction/index.ssf?/instruction/gd200510miller.html |magazine=Golf Digest |title=Johnny Miller Talks Golf |date=October 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101113726/http://www.golfdigest.com/instruction/index.ssf?%2Finstruction%2Fgd200510miller.html |archivedate=November 1, 2006 |url-status=dead }}

Early years

Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Funseth's father was a men's clothing store operator and salesman, born in Sweden.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mY9YAAAAIBAJ&pg=4562%2C2721590 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington|title=Carl L. Funseth taken by death |date=November 9, 1968 |page=5}} Rod competed with his older brother Carl for city junior titles{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PHtWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6676,232326 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Carl Funseth trims brother Rodney, 5 and 4, for city junior title |date=August 16, 1948 |page=9}} and graduated from North Central High School in 1951.{{cite web |url=http://www.northcentralhsalumniassociationspokane.com/rod-funseth.html |publisher=North Central High School Alumni Association |title=Rod Funseth, 1951 |accessdate=January 6, 2013}} Funseth briefly attended the University of Idaho in Moscow{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kIFfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3996%2C6670608 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Sports celebrities tackle LCC |date=August 23, 1975 |page=1B}} to study civil engineering, but did not graduate.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7vpXAAAAIBAJ&pg=3061,2586870&dq=funseth&hl=en |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Ashlock |first=Herb |title=From the Bench |date=July 16, 1954 |page=13}} He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.{{cite web |url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1952/288 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook |title=Sigma Alpha Epsilon |year=1952 |page=284}}

Funseth returned to Spokane after a semester and worked in various jobs in Washington while competing as an {{nowrap|amateur.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7vpXAAAAIBAJ&pg=3061%2C2586870 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Ashlock |first=Herb |title=Young Rod Funseth wants to turn pro this fall |date=July 16, 1954 |page=13 }}}} One of these brief jobs was as a civilian draftsman at the Bremerton Navy Yard, west of Seattle. He won the British Columbia Amateur in 1956 and turned pro that fall, first in Palm Springs, California.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=opwpAAAAIBAJ&pg=5441%2C6580252 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Funseth joins pro golf ranks |date=September 30, 1956 |page=3, sports }} In 1959, Funseth became an assistant pro under Masters champion Claude Harmon back east at Winged Foot,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8ZoRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6767%2C1433689 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Funseth leads Open test in huge Metropolitan field |date=May 19, 1959 |page=14 }} north of New York City and later at Thunderbird in Palm Springs.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cjlWAAAAIBAJ&pg=7126%2C2085887 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=ART backs Rod Funseth |date=January 8, 1963 |page=10 }} Funseth entered a handful of tour events in 1962, and received sponsorship of $800 per month from Spokane's Athletic Round Table (ART) in 1963 to 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 cartoon mare.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZXgpAAAAIBAJ&pg=3688%2C5135368 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Round Table donates $75,000 for Esmeralda golf house |date=March 20, 1954 |page=1 }} Funseth had the smiling horse insignia on his tour bag for several years, which invited frequent inquisitions.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FbRWAAAAIBAJ&pg=7015%2C3974024 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Pair of charmers meet luncheoneers |date=October 13, 1965 |page=16}} Keeping meticulous records of all his earnings, he reimbursed the ART to the last dollar.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K88zAAAAIBAJ&pg=6121%2C4340367 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=Washington |title=Rod Funseth set for tour |date=December 16, 1963 |page=19 }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eHQfAAAAIBAJ&pg=1615%2C3778011 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Boling |first=Dave |title=Funseth gone, but Spokane golfer's spirit lives on |date=August 25, 1994 |page=C1}}

PGA Tour

Funseth played full-time on the PGA Tour from 1963 through 1979 and won three tour events. The first was the Phoenix Open Invitational in 1965 at the Arizona Country Club, which came a week after losing a final round lead at the Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KVZYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5477%2C3493495 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Funseth winner |date=February 15, 1965 |page=15 }} Funseth's second win came eight years later at the Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open, the season-opener in 1973 at Riviera.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y6dYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5906%2C2229754 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Sandi confident Rod would win |date=January 8, 1973 |page=13 }} His final PGA Tour win came at age 45 in 1978 at the Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open, which paid for his horse barn.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aPtLAAAAIBAJ&pg=5132,3569105 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Win by Funseth pays for barn |agency=Associated Press |date=July 31, 1978 |page=17}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PiJOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5622%2C580126 |newspaper=Spokesman Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=While you were out |last=Missildine |first=Harry |date=August 2, 1978 |page=13}}

His best finish in a major championship was just months earlier, a tie for second at the Masters, one stroke behind Gary Player.{{cite web |title=Golf Major Championships |url=http://golfmajorchampionships.com/players?player=346 |accessdate=January 7, 2013}} 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 green {{nowrap|jacket.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1978/04/17/822563/and-then-there-was-one-and-that-was-gary-player-who-won-his-third-masters-by-shooting-a-splendid-final-round-64-and-then-watched-as-one-by-one-his-challengers-came-up-short |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Jenkins |first=Dan |authorlink=Dan Jenkins |title=And then there was one |date=April 17, 1978|page=16}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_ZxRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6514%2C1421559|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|last=Parascenzo|first=Marino|title=3rd win to Player in Masters |date= April 10, 1978|page=17}}}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SftLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3471%2C2080426 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Player comes through |date=April 10, 1978 |page=21 }}

Funseth was known on tour as an avid fisherman, a passion shared by Johnny Miller,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sjtOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6384%2C3432567 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Miller needs friendly neighbor |date=November 11, 1976 |page=12 }} his next-door neighbor in Napa, and Jack Nicklaus. The three played in an exhibition golf match in Spokane in 1975,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QJJYAAAAIBAJ&pg=7162%2C4072259 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Brown |first=Bruce |title=Golf superstars thrill throng at SCC |date=April 30, 1975 |page=31 }} a rarity for Nicklaus at the time.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P5JYAAAAIBAJ&pg=4129%2C3532379 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Brown |first=Bruce |title=Nicklaus limits exhibition golf |date=April 29, 1975 |page=1}}

Senior Tour

Funseth became eligible to play on the Senior PGA Tour after reaching age 50 in April 1983. He had a great deal of immediate success, winning the unofficial Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (team event with Roberto De Vicenzo) in early May,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6w5IAAAAIBAJ&pg=5437%2C1520531 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=De Vicenzo, Funseth take Legends title |date=May 2, 1983 |page=13}} and a nine-stroke victory at his tour debut at the Hall of Fame Tournament three weeks later in North Carolina at Pinehurst No. 2.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3e0vAAAAIBAJ&pg=6415%2C4407264 |newspaper=Spokesman Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Funseth breezes to title |date=May 23, 1983 |page=13}} Funseth also finished second to Billy Casper in a sudden-death playoff at the U.S. Senior Open in July.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ujExAAAAIBAJ&pg=5222%2C4534091 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Funseth loses on 19th |date=July 26, 1983 |page=17 }}

=Cancer=

His career on the over-50 tour was cut short by terminal cancer, attributed to exposure to asbestos at the navy yard in Bremerton in his late teens.{{cite news |title=Rod Funseth, 52, Pro Golfer Earned More Than $600,000 |newspaper=New York Times |date=September 11, 1985 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/11/sports/rod-funseth-52-pro-golfer-earned-more-than-600000.html |accessdate=January 7, 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K7cSAAAAIBAJ&pg=7063,2198464 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |location=Washington|last=Blanchette |first=John |title=Rod breathed life into golf |date=September 11, 1985 |page=C4}} Told by physicians in January 1984 that he had four months to live, Funseth continued to play well on tour,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2FdOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6599%2C6917729 |newspaper=Wilmington Morning Star |location=North Carolina |title=Funseth battles deadly lung cancer |date=April 24, 1984 |page=2D }} and returned to defend his team title at the Liberty Mutual Legends in late April.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jKkfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3446%2C5580784 |newspaper=Gadsden Times |location=Alabama |agency=Associated Press |title=Funseth still playing despite lung cancer |date=April 29, 1984 |page=3C }} 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 a match play event in October in Maine, besting Bob Toski 2-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.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E4gzAAAAIBAJ&pg=7042%2C4733565 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Funseth holds on to win |date=October 8, 1984 |page=16 }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HOpfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2613%2C3954012 |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |location=Maine |last=Barber |first=Dave |title=Rod Funseth beats Toski for Unionmutual crown |date=October 8, 1984 |page=19 }}

Death

Funseth's condition declined in 1985 as his body weight was reduced to {{convert|100|lb|0|abbr=on}} by September and his breathing assisted with oxygen. He died at age 52 at his home in Napa, California, beside the 12th hole of the Silverado Country Club, next door to friend Johnny Miller. In 1999, he was inducted posthumously into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame: Golf |url=http://www.washingtonsportshof.com/golf.htm |accessdate=January 7, 2013}}

Personal

Funseth was survived by his wife Sandi (née Hawkins), a former competitive water skier from Redwood City, and their two children, Lisa and Mark, in their late teens. He met Sandi during the rainy Crosby event at Pebble Beach in January 1965, when she was a spectator in a long leg cast (from a snow skiing accident) and had been offered shelter in a tournament tent; they were married later that year.