At Golfdigest.com, I wrote about how Monday will be a big, and unfortunately, bittersweet night for Jim Nantz.

The voice of golf for CBS is set present both Fred Couples and Ken Venturi during induction ceremonies for the World Golf Hall of Fame tonight (Golf Channel, 9 p.m. ET). Unfortunately, the 82-year-old Venturi is ailing and won’t be able to attend.

Nantz said he is “crushed” about Venturi’s situation.

“He’s going to be terribly missed,” Nantz said.

From my post:

Yet Nantz vows the evening will be special for Venturi’s sons, Matt and Tim, who will accept on his behalf, and his extended golf and CBS family. Nantz knows what the induction means to Venturi, who waited a long time to receive the honor. He even was more thrilled when Venturi asked Nantz to be his presenter.

Couples followed suit, requesting that his old University of Houston classmate also present him during Monday’s ceremonies.

It will be the second time Nantz performs the prestigious daily double on induction night. In 2011, he presented the 41st president, George H. W. Bush, and legendary CBS golf producer Frank Chirkinian. Lanny Wadkins also asked Nantz to do the honors when he was inducted in 2009.

That he has ushered five people into the World Golf Hall of Fame is a number that humbles Nantz.

“When people ask me, ‘What are you most proud of,’ I say it’s that I’ve had five people close enough to ask me to present them at the World Golf Hall of Fame,” Nantz said. “There were any number of people they could have used, but they asked me. It really means a lot to me.”

Nantz and Venturi formed a close bond through the years:

He calls the former CBS golf analyst “one of my father figures.” He taught Nantz about the game of golf and broadcasting golf during their 17 years together.

“Ken, and the players of his generation, are an embodiment of what the game is all about,” Nantz said. “When we were on the air, we found ourselves completing each other’s sentences. You almost forgot you were wearing headsets. It felt like talking at home, watching the tournament on TV with a friend.”

Off the air, Nantz cherishes all the dinners they had together. Venturi’s stories ranged from Ben Hogan to Frank Sinatra.

Venturi would have told plenty of them if he was in St. Augustine Monday night. Nantz says the World Golf Hall of Fame has extended an invitation to Venturi to make his induction speech during the 2014 ceremonies.

“God willing, Kenny will be there,” Nantz said.

The date already is circled on Nantz’s calendar.