Johnny Miller

 

This article is about the golfer. For the road racer and NASCAR driver, see Johnny Miller (NASCAR).

Johnny Miller

Personal Information
Birth	April 29 1947 (1947--) (age 60) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Nationality	United States
Residence	Napa, California, U.S.
College	Brigham Young University
Career
Turned Pro	1969
Current tour	Champions Tour
Professional wins	30 (PGA Tour: 25, Other: 5)
Best Results in Major Championships Wins: 2
Masters	T2: 1971, 1975, 1981
U.S. Open	Won 1973
British Open	Won 1976
PGA Championship	T11: 1977
Awards
PGA Player of the Year	1974

John Laurence "Johnny" Miller (born April 29, 1947) is a former professional golfer on the PGA Tour who was born and raised in San Francisco. He was one of the top players in the world during the mid-1970s and is currently the lead golf analyst for NBC Sports, a position he has held since January 1990.

Early years

In 1961, a 14-year-old Miller became the first "merit member" at the Olympic Club, the club's term for talented juniors given access to its facilities and became the top player on its junior team. He won the S.F. city junior title in 1963 at age 16, and the following year won the 1964 U.S. Junior Amateur, and enrolled at BYU in 1965.

At the end of his freshman year, Miller qualified for the 1966 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club, his home course in San Francisco. He used his local knowledge to finish in a tie for eighth place, the low amateur by three strokes, and earned an invitation to the 1967 Masters. [1]

Miller was an All-American at BYU [2] and graduated in 1969 with a degree in physical education.[3]

PGA Tour

Johnny Miller joined the PGA Tour in 1969 at age 22, and won his first tournament in 1971. He won two major titles: the 1973 U.S. Open and the 1976 British Open.

1973 U.S. Open

Coming into the U.S. Open at the challenging par-71 Oakmont layout, Miller was a 26-year-old with just two tour victories in four years, but had done well in several majors. He tied for second at the 1971 Masters, and had top ten finishes at the U.S. Open in 1971 and 1972. Miller had yet to win in 1973, but by mid-June he had recorded eight top ten finishes, which included a tie for 6th at the Masters.

Miller played the first two rounds at Oakmont (near Pittsburgh) with Arnold Palmer and his "Army" gallery, at its largest in western Pennsylvania. Miller was two-under par (140) after the second round, but shot a five-over 76 on Saturday to settle at three-over (216) for the championship. (He did not have his yardage book with him until the 8th hole; his wife Linda had to retrieve it from their rented house.)

Miller began the fourth and final round in twelfth place, six shots behind the four co-leaders, which included Palmer. Teeing off at 1:36 pm, about an hour ahead of the final group, Miller shot a scorching eight-under 63, in what is considered one of the most remarkable rounds in U.S. Open history. He passed the leading players of the day, future hall-of-famers Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, and Palmer, who was in the final pairing with John Schlee.[4]

Miller birdied the first four holes and hit all 18 greens in regulation. He got five more birdies with only one bogey (a 3-putt on the 244 yard par-3 #8), and used only 29 putts during the round. [5] Miller wound up at 5-under (279) for the championship, besting the runner-up Schlee by a single stroke, who shot a respectable 1-under 70. Only five players (Miller, Schlee, and three others) shot under-par in that final round, making his 63 even more remarkable. Miller earned $35,000 for the victory.

Johnny Miller's 63: club selection and results - 17-June-1973

• 1. - 469 yards, par 4 - Driver, 3-iron to 5 feet, birdie
• 2. - 343 yards, par 4 - Driver, 9-iron to 1 foot, birdie
• 3. - 425 yards, par 4 - Driver, 5-iron to 25 feet, birdie
• 4. - 549 yards, par 5 - Driver, 3-wood, bunker shot to 6 inches, birdie
• 5. - 379 yards, par 4 - Driver, 6-iron to 25 feet, 2 putts, par
• 6. - 195 yards, par 3 - 3-iron to 25 feet, 2 putts, par
• 7. - 395 yards, par 4 - Driver, 9-iron to 6 feet, 2 putts, par
• 8. - 244 yards, par 3 - 4-wood to 30 feet, 3 putts, bogey
• 9. - 480 yards, par 5 - Driver, 2-iron to 40 feet, 2 putts, birdie

• 10. - 462 yards, par 4 - Driver, 5-iron to 25 feet, 2 putts, par
• 11. - 371 yards, par 4 - Driver, wedge to 14 feet, birdie
• 12. - 603 yards, par 5 - Driver, 7-iron, 4-iron to 15 feet, birdie
• 13. - 185 yards, par 3 - 4-iron to 5 feet, birdie
• 14. - 360 yards, par 4 - Driver, wedge to 12 feet, 2 putts, par
• 15. - 453 yards, par 4 - Driver, 4-iron to 10 feet, birdie
• 16. - 230 yards, par 3 - 2-iron to 45 feet, 2 putts, par
• 17. - 322 yards, par 4 - 1-iron, wedge to 10 feet, 2 putts, par
• 18. - 456 yards, par 4 - Driver, 5-iron to 20 feet, 2 putts, par [6]

A hole-by-hole course map (2007) of Oakmont from GOLF magazine can be viewed here [7] or a course flyover (2007) from the USGA [8]

After Oakmont

Johnny Miller followed that triumph at Oakmont by finishing in a tie for second at the next major, the British Open at Royal Troon a month later, three strokes behind winner Tom Weiskopf. [9][10] This was the first of five consecutive top ten finishes for Miller at the British Open.

In 1974 he was the leading money winner on the PGA Tour by some distance with 8 victories, amassing a then record $353,201 (not exceeded until 1978), unseating Nicklaus as money leader for a season. Miller began 1975 with 3 more victories before finishing second to Nicklaus at the Masters, and third at the British Open at Carnoustie [11], just a single stroke from playoffs in both.

He won his second (and final) major in 1976, a six stroke victory over Nicklaus and a 19-year-old Seve Ballesteros at the British Open at Royal Birkdale. Miller shot a 66 in the final round to tie the course record and earned £7,500 for the victory, about $14,000. [12][13]

Following this win, Miller, never known as a great putter, somehow lost the form that made him a frequent winner in his early career and failed to win for the next 3 years. In 1981 he enjoyed one final spectacular season; his victory at the Million Dollar Challenge in Sun City, South Africa (following an epic 9-hole sudden death play-off with Ballesteros) that made him that year's leading world-wide money-winner in golf after two earlier wins in the U.S.

Miller finished his career with 25 PGA Tour wins and 105 Top 10 finishes. He played on two Ryder Cup teams, 1975 and 1981. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1998.[14][15]

NBC Sports

Although he became eligible for the Champions Tour in 1997, he decided not to play the senior tour on a regular basis, focusing on his role as lead golf analyst for NBC Sports' limited golf schedule and other business ventures. This was despite his victory in the 1994 Pebble Beach Pro-Am, at age 46, after he had semi-retired in 1990 to take up broadcasting. As a commentator he became known for his straightforward and sometimes blunt remarks, which sometimes earned him the enmity of the players being commented upon.

Miller also owns a golf design company and a golf academy and designed the Thanksgiving Point Golf Course in Lehi, Utah, host of Champions Challenge. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Miller and his wife Linda have six children and live in Napa, California and Utah.^[1]

PGA Tour wins (25)

• 1971 (1) Southern Open Invitational
• 1972 (1) Sea Pines Heritage Classic
• 1973 (1) U.S. Open
• 1974 (8) Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, Phoenix Open, Dean Martin Tucson Open, Sea Pines Heritage Classic, Tournament of Champions, Westchester Classic, World Open Golf Championship, Kaiser International Open Invitational
• 1975 (4) Phoenix Open, Dean Martin Tucson Open, Bob Hope Desert Classic, Kaiser International Open Invitational
• 1976 (3) NBC Tucson Open, Bob Hope Desert Classic, British Open
• 1980 (1) Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic
• 1981 (2) Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open, Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open
• 1982 (1) Wickes-Andy Williams San Diego Open
• 1983 (1) Honda Inverrary Classic
• 1987 (1) AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
• 1994 (1) AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

Major championships are shown in bold.

Other wins (5)

This list may be incomplete.

• 1974 Dunlop Phoenix (Japan Golf Tour)
• 1973 Trophée Lancôme (France, not a European Tour event)
• 1979 Trophée Lancôme (European Tour)
• 1981 Million Dollar Challenge (South Africa - unofficial event)
• 1983 Chrysler Team Championship (with Jack Nicklaus)

Results in major championships

Tournament	1966	1967	1968	1969
The Masters	DNP	T53	DNP	DNP
U.S. Open	T8 LA	CUT	DNP	T42
British Open	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
PGA Championship	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP

Tournament	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
The Masters	DNP	T2	CUT	T6	T15	T2	T23	T35	T32	CUT
U.S. Open	T18	T5	7	1	T35	T38	10	T27	T6	CUT
British Open	DNP	T47	T15	T2	10	T3	1	T9	CUT	T57
PGA Championship	T12	T20	T20	T18	T39	CUT	DNP	T11	T38	DNP

Tournament	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
The Masters	T38	T2	CUT	T12	CUT	T25	T28	T42	DNP	DNP
U.S. Open	CUT	T23	T45	CUT	T4	8	T45	CUT	DNP	DNP
British Open	CUT	T39	T22	DNP	T31	DNP	CUT	DNP	T52	T49
PGA Championship	T68	CUT	T32	T30	WD	CUT	WD	WD	DNP	DNP

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
The Masters	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	CUT
U.S. Open	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	CUT
British Open	DNP	CUT	DNP	DNP	DNP
PGA Championship	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP

LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10

See also

• Golfers with most PGA Tour wins
• Most PGA Tour wins in a year
• Longest PGA Tour win streaks

Notes

External links

• World Golf Hall of Fame - Johnny Miller - inducted 1998
• PGA TOUR.com - official site - profile - Johnny Miller
• Int'l Herald Tribune - Johnny Miller remembers magical round - 14-June-2007
• USA TODAY - Miller listens well en route to 63 in '73 - 13-June-2007
• CBS Sportsline.com - Miller's round to remember - (club selection and scores) - 12-June-2007
• Seattle Times - Miller remembers round - reprint from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - June 2007
• Palm Beach Post - Johnny Miller: the man, the mouth, the legend - 10-June-2007
• GOLF Magazine - The Critic - June 2007 - p.112-123
• USA TODAY - NBC's Miller keeps firing away - 13-June-2002
• Golf World - A caddie... and then some! - 24-June-1966
• Golf Digest.com - Johnny Miller archive
• Jim McQueen Art Site - links to pictures
• BYU athletics - John L. Miller
• SFGate.com - obituary for Larry Miller, father of Johnny Miller

U.S. Open champions

1895 Horace Rawlins · 1896 James Foulis · 1897 Joe Lloyd · 1898 Fred Herd · 1899 Willie Smith · 1900 Harry Vardon · 1901 Willie Anderson · 1902 Laurie Auchterlonie · 1903 Willie Anderson · 1904 Willie Anderson · 1905 Willie Anderson · 1906 Alex Smith · 1907 Alec Ross · 1908 Fred McLeod · 1909 George Sargent · 1910 Alex Smith · 1911 John McDermott · 1912 John McDermott · 1913 Francis Ouimet · 1914 Walter Hagen · 1915 Jerome Travers · 1916 Chick Evans · 1917-18 Cancelled due to World War I · 1919 Walter Hagen · 1920 Ted Ray · 1921 Jim Barnes · 1922 Gene Sarazen · 1923 Bobby Jones · 1924 Cyril Walker · 1925 Willie Macfarlane · 1926 Bobby Jones · 1927 Tommy Armour · 1928 Johnny Farrell · 1929 Bobby Jones · 1930 Bobby Jones · 1931 Billy Burke · 1932 Gene Sarazen · 1933 Johnny Goodman · 1934 Olin Dutra · 1935 Sam Parks, Jr. · 1936 Tony Manero · 1937 Ralph Guldahl · 1938 Ralph Guldahl · 1939 Byron Nelson · 1940 Lawson Little · 1941 Craig Wood · 1942-45 Cancelled due to World War II · 1946 Lloyd Mangrum · 1947 Lew Worsham · 1948 Ben Hogan · 1949 Cary Middlecoff · 1950 Ben Hogan · 1951 Ben Hogan · 1952 Julius Boros · 1953 Ben Hogan · 1954 Ed Furgol · 1955 Jack Fleck · 1956 Cary Middlecoff · 1957 Dick Mayer · 1958 Tommy Bolt · 1959 Billy Casper · 1960 Arnold Palmer · 1961 Gene Littler · 1962 Jack Nicklaus · 1963 Julius Boros · 1964 Ken Venturi · 1965 Gary Player · 1966 Billy Casper · 1967 Jack Nicklaus · 1968 Lee Trevino · 1969 Orville Moody · 1970 Tony Jacklin · 1971 Lee Trevino · 1972 Jack Nicklaus · 1973 Johnny Miller · 1974 Hale Irwin · 1975 Lou Graham · 1976 Jerry Pate · 1977 Hubert Green · 1978 Andy North · 1979 Hale Irwin · 1980 Jack Nicklaus · 1981 David Graham · 1982 Tom Watson · 1983 Larry Nelson · 1984 Fuzzy Zoeller · 1985 Andy North · 1986 Raymond Floyd · 1987 Scott Simpson · 1988 Curtis Strange · 1989 Curtis Strange · 1990 Hale Irwin · 1991 Payne Stewart · 1992 Tom Kite · 1993 Lee Janzen · 1994 Ernie Els · 1995 Corey Pavin · 1996 Steve Jones · 1997 Ernie Els · 1998 Lee Janzen · 1999 Payne Stewart · 2000 Tiger Woods · 2001 Retief Goosen · 2002 Tiger Woods · 2003 Jim Furyk · 2004 Retief Goosen · 2005 Michael Campbell · 2006 Geoff Ogilvy · 2007 Ángel Cabrera

The Open champions

1860 Willie Park, Snr. · 1861 Tom Morris, Sr. · 1862 Tom Morris, Sr. · 1863 Willie Park, Snr. · 1864 Tom Morris, Sr. · 1865 Andrew Strath · 1866 Willie Park, Snr. · 1867 Tom Morris, Sr. · 1868 Tom Morris, Jr. · 1869 Tom Morris, Jr. · 1870 Tom Morris, Jr. · 1871 No championship · 1872 Tom Morris, Jr. · 1873 Tom Kidd · 1874 Mungo Park · 1875 Willie Park, Snr. · 1876 Bob Martin · 1877 Jamie Anderson · 1878 Jamie Anderson · 1879 Jamie Anderson · 1880 Bob Ferguson · 1881 Bob Ferguson · 1882 Bob Ferguson · 1883 Willie Fernie · 1884 Jack Simpson · 1885 Bob Martin · 1886 David Brown · 1887 Willie Park, Jnr. · 1888 Jack Burns · 1889 Willie Park, Jnr. · 1890 John Ball · 1891 Hugh Kirkaldy · 1892 Harold Hilton · 1893 William Auchterlonie · 1894 John Henry Taylor · 1895 John Henry Taylor · 1896 Harry Vardon · 1897 Harold Hilton · 1898 Harry Vardon · 1899 Harry Vardon · 1900 John Henry Taylor · 1901 James Braid · 1902 Sandy Herd · 1903 Harry Vardon · 1904 Jack White · 1905 James Braid · 1906 James Braid · 1907 Arnaud Massy · 1908 James Braid · 1909 John Henry Taylor · 1910 James Braid · 1911 Harry Vardon · 1912 Edward Ray · 1913 John Henry Taylor · 1914 Harry Vardon · 1915-19 No Championships due to World War I · 1920 George Duncan · 1921 Jock Hutchison · 1922 Walter Hagen · 1923 Arthur Havers · 1924 Walter Hagen · 1925 Jim Barnes · 1926 Bobby Jones · 1927 Bobby Jones · 1928 Walter Hagen · 1929 Walter Hagen · 1930 Bobby Jones· 1931 Tommy Armour · 1932 Gene Sarazen · 1933 Denny Shute · 1934 Henry Cotton · 1935 Alf Perry · 1936 Alf Padgham · 1937 Henry Cotton · 1939 Richard Burton · 1940-45 No Championships due to World War II · 1946 Sam Snead · 1947 Fred Daly · 1948 Henry Cotton · 1949 Bobby Locke · 1950 Bobby Locke · 1951 Max Faulkner · 1952 Bobby Locke · 1953 Ben Hogan · 1954 Peter Thomson · 1955 Peter Thomson · 1956 Peter Thomson · 1957 Bobby Locke · 1958 Peter Thomson · 1959 Gary Player · 1960 Kel Nagle · 1961 Arnold Palmer · 1962 Arnold Palmer · 1963 Bob Charles · 1964 Tony Lema · 1965 Peter Thomson · 1966 Jack Nicklaus · 1967 Roberto DeVicenzo · 1968 Gary Player · 1969 Tony Jacklin · 1970 Jack Nicklaus · 1971 Lee Trevino · 1972 Lee Trevino · 1973 Tom Weiskopf · 1974 Gary Player · 1975 Tom Watson · 1976 Johnny Miller · 1977 Tom Watson · 1978 Jack Nicklaus · 1979 Severiano Ballesteros · 1980 Tom Watson · 1981 Bill Rogers · 1982 Tom Watson · 1983 Tom Watson · 1984 Severiano Ballesteros · 1985 Sandy Lyle · 1986 Greg Norman · 1987 Nick Faldo · 1988 Severiano Ballesteros · 1989 Mark Calcavecchia · 1990 Nick Faldo · 1991 Ian Baker-Finch · 1992 Nick Faldo · 1993 Greg Norman · 1994 Nick Price · 1995 John Daly · 1996 Tom Lehman · 1997 Justin Leonard · 1998 Mark O'Meara · 1999 Paul Lawrie · 2000 Tiger Woods · 2001 David Duval · 2002 Ernie Els · 2003 Ben Curtis · 2004 Todd Hamilton · 2005 Tiger Woods · 2006 Tiger Woods · 2007 Pádraig Harrington

PGA and PGA Tour Players of the Year

PGA Players of the Year 1948 Ben Hogan · 1949 Sam Snead · 1950 Ben Hogan · 1951 Ben Hogan · 1952 Julius Boros · 1953 Ben Hogan · 1954 Ed Furgol · 1955 Doug Ford · 1956 Jack Burke, Jr · 1957 Dick Mayer · 1958 Dow Finsterwald · 1959 Art Wall, Jr. · 1960 Arnold Palmer · 1961 Jerry Barber · 1962 Arnold Palmer · 1963 Julius Boros · 1964 Ken Venturi · 1965 Dave Marr · 1966 Billy Casper · 1967 Jack Nicklaus · 1968 No award · 1969 Orville Moody · 1970 Billy Casper · 1971 Lee Trevino · 1972 Jack Nicklaus · 1973 Jack Nicklaus · 1974 Johnny Miller · 1975 Jack Nicklaus · 1976 Jack Nicklaus · 1977 Tom Watson · 1978 Tom Watson · 1979 Tom Watson · 1980 Tom Watson · 1981 Bill Rogers · 1982 Tom Watson · 1983 Hal Sutton · 1984 Tom Watson · 1985 Lanny Wadkins · 1986 Bob Tway · 1987 Paul Azinger · 1988 Curtis Strange · 1989 Tom Kite · 1990 Nick Faldo · 1991 Corey Pavin · 1992 Fred Couples · 1993 Nick Price · 1994 Nick Price · 1995 Greg Norman · 1996 Tom Lehman · 1997 Tiger Woods · 1998 Mark O'Meara · 1999 Tiger Woods · 2000 Tiger Woods · 2001 Tiger Woods · 2002 Tiger Woods · 2003 Tiger Woods · 2004 Vijay Singh · 2005 Tiger Woods · 2006 Tiger Woods · 2007 Tiger Woods PGA Tour Players of the Year 1990 Wayne Levi · 1991 Fred Couples · 1992 Fred Couples · 1993 Nick Price · 1994 Nick Price · 1995 Greg Norman · 1996 Tom Lehman · 1997 Tiger Woods · 1998 Mark O'Meara · 1999 Tiger Woods · 2000 Tiger Woods · 2001 Tiger Woods · 2002 Tiger Woods · 2003 Tiger Woods · 2004 Vijay Singh · 2005 Tiger Woods · 2006 Tiger Woods

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