Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Jeff Schley on February 02, 2019, 12:06:49 AM
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I enjoyed his critiques mostly and style, for the players are so good compared to regular golfers it was refreshing you had a guy say, “Bad shot there, he maybe 20 feet but he is on the wrong side of this hole.” I remember him critiquing Jim Furyk during his 2003 US Open win at Olympia Fields on one of his approaches into one of the par 4’s and he hit it to about 25. He said something to the affect, “I don’t care US Open or whatever, your a pro golfer with a 9 iron in your hand you got to get it inside of 15 feet if you want to win golf tournaments.”
He was brash and yes Gary Koch, Dan Hicks and others glorified him for his 63 at Oakmont almost every broadcast, but he probably said what the golfer himself was thinking after maybe just not executing well enough after a shot. For someone to actually say it as a critique on air rubbed the players the wrong way, for the game is hard, but in his prime it wasn’t very hard for him.
He also dabbled in golf course design and Silverado one that stands out to me.
He is a member of LDS and has been very generous with his time for charities I know, which is always an enduring quality is my eyes.
So legacy of Johnny Miller?
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I enjoyed his commentary enormously; he was frank and without a personal agenda of any sort. While I grew ambivalent about his constant references to his era and Oakmont, I recognize my own reaction as an acuumulation of 30 years of his pre-eminence on air.
And one thing about that too is that the era he now concludes has been the tech explosion era, the envelope-pushing-Mike-Davis-is-CitzenOne era, and the era with acute debate about championships artificially managing their winning scores... so...Miller's 63 (forever argued as a reason for WFs Massacre) has been constantly relevant as a symbol of that power struggle...his experiences, colleague references, and so forth was/has been constantly worthy of on-air mention.
I re-state, I thought he was frank, and I think in the end he did strike the proper note of reporting and translating of the action to the audience with an empathy that lay golfers can appreciate.
cheers vk
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I am a big fan. He talked about the 63 (or the iron play when 'on') in the same way he did the bad putting and the chokes, and every other tour pro's strength & weaknesses too.
His legacy? Tony Romo.
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His greatest contribution will always be with his clubs.
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Probably actions rather than words so most likely the 63 in ‘73, the Phoenix/Tucson hot-streak in ‘75 and Birkdale in ‘76.
Atb
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Generally, I enjoyed him and his willingness to state his opinion regardless of what others thought.
With all the data gathering on Tour now, I think some of Miller's statements are proving to be a little too critical - re: distance to the hole for certain shots, etc. I think it would have been fascinating to shift Miller's announcing career to now with all of the data coming in. He seems like someone who would have really used that in his commentary.
Miller's ego was outsized for sure. In the end, my problem with that wasn't him, but with the others on the broadcast. Their deference to him was worse than his ego. Johnny stated his opinion. The rest of them seemed afraid to do so because it might be different than Johnny's.
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Incredible iron player.Many rounds where he putted poorly and shot 67.
2 Majors-63 at Oakmont and epic battle with 19 year old Seve.
Desert Fox
Stepped out of booth to win 1994 Pebble Beach Invitational-the only event he played that year-at 46!
Family man.
Outspoken announcer(who used to drive me crazy) who always did his homework who harnessed his talents and mellowed into a great announcer over the past 5-10 years despite the ego driven proclamations mentioned.
Going out at the top of his game.
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I was always a fan of Johnny regardless of his ego and actually felt cheated if he didn’t reference the 63 somewhere during the telecast. ;) Nobody has ever been as candid and to me that’s what made him stand out. I can’t say I’m a fan of Azinger at least what I have experienced so far. He’s great at stating the obvious which to me is the most common problem for golf commentators. Less is more.
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Members wanting to have stimpmeter readings at their own club.
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https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2019/1/31/roundup-farewells-to-johnny-miller-as-he-gets-ready-for-his-final-broadcast
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On a personal note I brought my then 13 year old son Jack to the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage. We bumped into Johnny Miller at the Wednesday practice round and he was gracious enough to take a picture with Jack as well as add a few words of encouragement. George Marucci was not quite as willing as Jack was wearing a New York Giants tee shirt. It was like asking Superman to take s picture with a guy wearing a kryptonite tee shirt.
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In 1997 and 1997, his son Andy made it to the final match of the Western Amateur at Point O' Woods. In one of those years – maybe both – Johnny sat in on one of the two live radio broadcasts on a Benton Harbor station, WHMS 1400, during the morning semifinal match. He was as good on radio in explaining what could and usually would happen as he was on NBC. He wouldn't do it in the final match because he said he was too nervous, but what a treat for those listening.
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He was arguably the best golfer ever when he was hot. That’s really something.
He was the best golfer turned full time announcer.
He has left us quite a few courses. Most are very fun, a few are pretty good.
He owns the worst putting performance ever shown on TV from Shells WWOG at Olympic.
And he pioneered the golf announcer model where the announcers are “personalities” and become part of the story.
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I will be the contrarian...
He was a great golfer, and I'm sure hes' a great family man and gracious in person... but safe to say i will not miss his pompous and holier than thou commentary from the tower. Good riddance!
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I think his broadcasting will be, by far, his lasting legacy. It not only lasted longer but it reached far, far, FAR more people.
It's not a knock on who he was as a player, just a testament to how many people you're able to reach via TV.
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Unfortunately I expect we'll neve see another analyst as willing to put his real thoughts out there. (Unless Brandel somehow ends up in a booth)
As a player who loves to compete in "real" tournaments, where your score with your ball is going to end up in calligraphy as a certain midwesterner here like to say, I found Miller's frank commentary refreshing.
Too many broadcasters, especially retired pros, worry too much about remaining chummy with the players, IMHO.
His willingness to talk about nerves, tension and even OMG!, choking, really struck a chord with me. The essence or tournament golf is controlling your nerves so you can achieve the goal.
It doesn't matter whether you're a double-digit handicapper like me, or a seasoned pro.
And as far as the bitching about him talking about his 63, I've paid close attention over the years, and he almost never brought it up.
Just like when I was at GCSAA and a lot of members thought he was why their members complained about grain. So I started listening carefully. Miller always mentioned grain as something the player needed to take into account. Not something the super needed to eliminate.
FWIW, my boss asked me what I thought about inviting Johnny to talk at the annual conference. He was reluctant, but I thought he'd captivate the members, and I think he did.
And if you've never seen him swing a driver one-handed at full speed, you've missed something amazing.
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Did anyone know that Johnny had a cheese whiz habit? Emotionally I am drained and there is another hour left in the broadcast. Old Yeller has nothing on Johnny’s swan song
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I will be the contrarian...
He was a great golfer, and I'm sure hes' a great family man and gracious in person... but safe to say i will not miss his pompous and holier than thou commentary from the tower. Good riddance!
Unfortunately he's being replaced by Paul Azinger, who is so much worse. I've never been a big fan of Johnny Miller's commentary, but I'd rather listen to him for 4 hours than have to listen to Azinger bloviate for 5 minutes.
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Did anyone know that Johnny had a cheese whiz habit? Emotionally I am drained and there is another hour left in the broadcast. Old Yeller has nothing on Johnny’s swan song
Yea and he just said he thinks Trump is a great guy and will MAGA.
Holy hurl....
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I will be the contrarian...
He was a great golfer, and I'm sure hes' a great family man and gracious in person... but safe to say i will not miss his pompous and holier than thou commentary from the tower. Good riddance!
Unfortunately he's being replaced by Paul Azinger, who is so much worse. I've never been a big fan of Johnny Miller's commentary, but I'd rather listen to him for 4 hours than have to listen to Azinger bloviate for 5 minutes.
Ed-Azinger could make an onion cry.
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I liked Johnny and I'll miss him. No he wasn't perfect but when he called a golf tournament it just felt bigger.
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He’ll be remembered as a great golfer and an incisive commentator who possesses one of the biggest egos in an egocentric “industry.”
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I mentioned on the Tweet that it was the introduction of golfers-turned-announcers that allowed Miller the talking head to come into existence. Venturi began this on the US side; guys like Longhurst and Alliss were too restrained (and educated) to belch the brimstone that made Miller famous.
Televised golf takes steps backwards (Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins, and I'm a Wake Forest guy!) but the next great broadcaster is out there. The question is, will she/he want to take on the travel schedule that is demanded by the trade?
Finding your voice, with writers and public speakers, is arduous. Miller settled into a voice; my guess is that he said 60% of what he wanted to say. How often did they use the Kill switch on him?
On the "current data" supposition, I disagree. I think that Johnny was a feel player, and a feel commentator. I don't believe that he would ever warm to data; it would discredit the notions that necessarily popped into his head.
I'm intrigued by his sh!t record in the PGA. Never finished top 10, lots of missed cuts, three WDs toward the end.
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I will miss him. He made the tournament more interesting. I enjoyed his rapartee with Roger Maltbie. And he could really play. When he was on the top of his game few could beat him.
I only have played one of his courses, Entrada in St George. It was pretty good, and the terrain on and through the lava was pretty fun.
I will miss him.
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I will be the contrarian...
He was a great golfer, and I'm sure hes' a great family man and gracious in person... but safe to say i will not miss his pompous and holier than thou commentary from the tower. Good riddance!
Ditto
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I was a huge fan of Johnny's during his playing career. Followed him for much of the 1989 U.S. Open at Oak Hill. During the final round, he finally hit a terrific drive on the 18th. Came over to the ropes, near where I was standing and said "I spoiled my no-hitter". Priceless. He earned the reputation for speaking his mind during his career as a TV analyst, but I began to lose my great regard for him because so much of his commentary seemed pompous, and often, not particularly insightful. I did not tune in to TV golf broadcasts because Johnny was announcing, but did, occasionally, turn off a TV broadcast because his commentary was annoying. He was a great player, with a beautiful swing.
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Fix me egg.
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In an era of overused superalitives, we may forget just how great Miller was as a player. There are exactly two active players who have won more PGA events than Miller. Tiger and Phil.
I will bet even money that no active player will get to 25 wins. And it is not about fields. Go back to watch the 1975 Masters.
I remember the 63 like it was yesterday because it was magical.
We really do take too much for granted today.
Ira
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I was a huge fan of Johnny's during his playing career. Followed him for much of the 1989 U.S. Open at Oak Hill. During the final round, he finally hit a terrific drive on the 18th. Came over to the ropes, near where I was standing and said "I spoiled my no-hitter". Priceless. He earned the reputation for speaking his mind during his career as a TV analyst, but I began to lose my great regard for him because so much of his commentary seemed pompous, and often, not particularly insightful. I did not tune in to TV golf broadcasts because Johnny was announcing, but did, occasionally, turn off a TV broadcast because his commentary was annoying. He was a great player, with a beautiful swing.
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I hate to let facts get in the way of a good story but Miller wasn't in the field for the 1989 US Open at Oak Hill. I'm guessing that you are probably confusing that US Open with the 1980 PGA @ OH in which Miller was a contestant.
In regards to Miller, has there ever been anyone who has referred to themselves in the third person more than good old Johnny? I won't miss that or references to the "fall line" :)
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https://www.golfchannel.com/video/2019-peter-jacobson-sings-johnny-miller-tribute-song
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Miller was a welcome change from the standard golf announcer pablum. His background as one of the game’s greats gave his commentary weight. A welcome relief from the standard “How good is that shot?” comment.
I got the privilege of meeting and playing with him at an outing at Champions in Houston. I still use the driving tip he gave me on the range.
He seems to look a lot older in the past year. I hope he is well.
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Wonderful tribute from Roger Maltbie to be found here:
https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2019/2/4/behind-the-scenes-of-johnny-millers-broadcast-farewell (https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2019/2/4/behind-the-scenes-of-johnny-millers-broadcast-farewell)
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I will be the contrarian...
He was a great golfer, and I'm sure hes' a great family man and gracious in person... but safe to say i will not miss his pompous and holier than thou commentary from the tower. Good riddance!
Unfortunately he's being replaced by Paul Azinger, who is so much worse. I've never been a big fan of Johnny Miller's commentary, but I'd rather listen to him for 4 hours than have to listen to Azinger bloviate for 5 minutes.
AAArrrggghhh! That's he best NBC could do? Zinger is terrible in this role.
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In an era of overused superalitives, we may forget just how great Miller was as a player. There are exactly two active players who have won more PGA events than Miller. Tiger and Phil.
I will bet even money that no active player will get to 25 wins. And it is not about fields. Go back to watch the 1975 Masters.
I remember the 63 like it was yesterday because it was magical.
We really do take too much for granted today.
Ira
Bumping my own thread to raise odds to 3-1 that no active player will get to 25 wins.
Ira
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In an era of overused superalitives, we may forget just how great Miller was as a player. There are exactly two active players who have won more PGA events than Miller. Tiger and Phil.
I will bet even money that no active player will get to 25 wins. And it is not about fields. Go back to watch the 1975 Masters.
I remember the 63 like it was yesterday because it was magical.
We really do take too much for granted today.
Ira
Bumping my own thread to raise odds to 3-1 that no active player will get to 25 wins.
Ira
I'll take that
How about 10-1 that it happens in next 6 years?
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Bumping my own thread to raise odds to 3-1 that no active player will get to 25 wins.
Winning is much tougher now.
And… Dustin Johnson has 19. He could get to 25.
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Jeff,
I will take the bet.
Erik,
Disagree that tougher to win now.
Ira
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Bumping my own thread to raise odds to 3-1 that no active player will get to 25 wins.
Winning is much tougher now.
And… Dustin Johnson has 19. He could get to 25.
McIlroy has 14. I think he'll make it to 25.
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Jeff,
I will take the bet.
Erik,
Disagree that tougher to win now.
Ira
Dj has 19- surely he can get 6 more-could happen this year
you can't be serious that it's not tougher to win now.
Half the winter field was club pros in the 60's and 70's-look at the back end of the field vs. the front end in the 1970's vs now.
There are 50 players on the web,com tour that could win next week.
That and modern equipment brings parity to the fields making it harder for the best to separate.
Somebody's going to be on with their driver, wedge it well and make a few putts to go super low, every week.
Back in the day a great like Jack(or even Tiger pre ProV1) could separate himself with length and towering long irons-and amass multiple wins.
People trot out the argument that there were more great players 40 years ago-based on all the players with multiple majors.
Look at any club pro section-there are many players who win multiple championships because the fields are thin(the winner is 15 under but the cut is 6 over)-just like the PGA Tour 40-50 years ago-the 150th guy could never beat the 1st. If only 30 guys can win(as opposed to 150), you're destined to have multiple players win multiple majors due to a smaller amount actually able to collect wins.
But even if I concede there were more greats then, there are far more who can and do win now, thus splitting the win pie much more (Tiger blew this theory up for quite a few years ;)
If we're talking about Johnny Miller he was a genius with a golf club, but his putter betrayed him too often
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The only three that I would add to the list are Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau.
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::) ???
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Broadcasting career ...outspoken, irreverent
but his legacy is those iron shots to 5-10 feet when he got hot , white hot
ball striker supreme ....even gave the Golden Bear pause to wonder if ?
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Jeff,
I will take the bet.
Erik,
Disagree that tougher to win now.
Ira
Dj has 19- surely he can get 6 more-could happen this year
you can't be serious that it's not tougher to win now.
Half the winter field was club pros in the 60's and 70's-look at the back end of the field vs. the front end in the 1970's vs now.
There are 50 players on the web,com tour that could win next week.
That and modern equipment brings parity to the fields making it harder for the best to separate.
Somebody's going to be on with their driver, wedge it well and make a few putts to go super low, every week.
Back in the day a great like Jack(or even Tiger pre ProV1) could separate himself with length and towering long irons-and amass multiple wins.
People trot out the argument that there were more great players 40 years ago-based on all the players with multiple majors.
Look at any club pro section-there are many players who win multiple championships because the fields are thin(the winner is 15 under but the cut is 6 over)-just like the PGA Tour 40-50 years ago-the 150th guy could never beat the 1st. If only 30 guys can win(as opposed to 150), you're destined to have multiple players win multiple majors due to a smaller amount actually able to collect wins.
But even if I concede there were more greats then, there are far more who can and do win now, thus splitting the win pie much more (Tiger blew this theory up for quite a few years ;)
If we're talking about Johnny Miller he was a genius with a golf club, but his putter betrayed him too often
Jeff,
I will concede that I have a high level of nostalgia for the athletes of my youth. MJ, Ali, Pele, and Gretzky will always be the GOATs of their respective sports, the 1985 Bears will always be the best defense, and I will never witness a better baseball player than Willie Mays. But I am not dead yet, and I do appreciate the transcendent achievements of Tiger and Tom Brady. I also will concede that top to bottom, the fields are better now. However, if you look at the quality at the top of the fields, a good argument can be made that they were better then. If I define my "youth" as the period from the first tournament I really remember--the 1971 US Open--until I graduated Law School and entered the real world in 1982, the following players won on Tour: Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Littler, Trevino, Green, Seve, Casper, Irwin, Weiskopf, Stockton, Jacklin, Wadkins, Floyd, Watson, Lietzke, Haas, Elder, Nelson, Morgan, Zoeller, Peete, Bean, Strange, Stadler, Barber, the Grahams, Crenshaw, Sanders, Goalby, Charles, and Chi Chi. Now, I do not disagree that with thinner fields trading victories among them probably was easier, but it was far from easy to win when Miller won. If you took the comparable period from Tiger's last Major until today, I do not think the list would be as impressive, and it would not be as impressive if you picked the period from Tiger's first Major until his last Major. Some of the names that we do not think about as much such as Littler (RIP), Peete, Wadkins, Nelson, and Floyd for example were stone cold killers.
Ira
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Disagree that tougher to win now.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Jeff's post was a good response.
I will concede that I have a high level of nostalgia for the athletes of my youth.
It's clouding your ability to perceive reality.
MJ, Ali, Pele, and Gretzky will always be the GOATs of their respective sports
Lemieux was a better hockey player than Gretzky.
But I am not dead yet, and I do appreciate the transcendent achievements of Tiger and Tom Brady.
Tiger > Jack, and 14 > 18 when weighted for strength/depth of field.
I also will concede that top to bottom, the fields are better now. However, if you look at the quality at the top of the fields, a good argument can be made that they were better then.
It really can't be.
I'm about a +1. If me and a few buddies from +2 to 2 handicaps play against a field of 100 8-18 handicappers, we're gonna win a lot of events. Doesn't mean we're better than Tiger Woods, playing against a field of full-on PGA Tour players.
Gary Player won a major - the 1959 British Open - at a time when American golf was absolutely dominant. The field featured only four Americans, two of whom were amateurs, and none of whom even made the cut.
As Jeff said, half of the fields in Jack's day were club pros. The PGA Tour hadn't even split from the PGA of America until 1968, and they still maintained a lot of control for a decade after that. The "top" of the fields had inflated win totals because they were passing the trophies around a limited number of people.
If I define my "youth" as the period from the first tournament I really remember--the 1971 US Open--until I graduated Law School and entered the real world in 1982, the following players won on Tour: Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Littler, Trevino, Green, Seve, Casper, Irwin, Weiskopf, Stockton, Jacklin, Wadkins, Floyd, Watson, Lietzke, Haas, Elder, Nelson, Morgan, Zoeller, Peete, Bean, Strange, Stadler, Barber, the Grahams, Crenshaw, Sanders, Goalby, Charles, and Chi Chi.
You'd have never heard of some of those guys were they playing these days.
Now, I do not disagree that with thinner fields trading victories among them probably was easier, but it was far from easy to win when Miller won.
It was easier to win in the 70s than it is now, 40+ years later.
If you took the comparable period from Tiger's last Major until today, I do not think the list would be as impressive, and it would not be as impressive if you picked the period from Tiger's first Major until his last Major.
Because you're unable to see reality.
Nicklaus himself said - in 1996 or so, pre-Tiger - that the "good players" of that era would have been absolute stars in his day. And that was over 20 years ago.
What team is likely to have the best five basketball players: a team from a school of 100 students, or a team from a school of 500 students? It's a simple numbers game, Ira: the modern player faces multiple times the strength/depth of field as Miller faced.
To bring it back on topic, this is why I think Miller's true legacy is easily his broadcasting. Though I wasn't old enough to see him play, I can appreciate the stories about when Johnny Miller was "on."
But he.- BY FAR - influenced and reached many, many more people with his 29-year broadcasting career than his relatively brief playing career. He is a top five broadcaster in golf for his career while being nowhere near even the top five American born players.
His broadcasting career is his legacy. Not only because he did it last, but because he did it longer, it reached more people, and he did it better.
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Current Wins by player who have a reasonable chance.
DJ - 19
Mcilroy - 14
Jason Day - 12
Spieth - 11
Justin Thomas - 9
Outside shot
Bryson - 5
Fowler - 5
Pat Reed - 6
John Rahm - 2
Notables who didn't get there: (PGA Tour wins only)
Gary Player, Ray Floyd, DL3, Hale Irwin, Greg Norman, Ben Crenshaw, Ernie Els, Tom Kite, Nick Price, Furyk, Couples, Pavin
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All of that said, I loved and still love one watching Miller rip it and come out of his shoes.
Far better ball striker than announcer but he was really growing on me the last 5 years, and could actually (along with always interesting insights) poke a little fun at himself.
Coming out of the booth to beat Watson in the battle of the balky putters at Pebble was impressive.
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20 down...5 to go
3-1
What was the bet again?
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20 down...5 to go
3-1
What was the bet again?
"Bumping my own thread to raise odds to 3-1 that no active player will get to 25 wins."
That's the line. Bet 10 to win 30.
Ira, I'll get in on that action for DJ. How much would you like to lose? :D
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kalen-I know the odds given.
What's the unit?
The nice thing about this bet is I don't have to pay off until EVERY current active player is no longer active so I'd say that's at least 30 years out whereas DJ could close this deal by year end :)
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Jeff,
Your point about longevity is a good one. I am 61 so let’s limit it to me turning 75 (with luck). Charity of one’s choice. I will PM you with the unit.
Ira
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Ira doubling down...he must know something...
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I'm about a +1.
Teacher speak. If this is a gambling thread...
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Ira doubling down...he must know something...
Nah, I just have found that a bold statement can keep folks interested in a topic.
Ira
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Exactly what a guy who knows something would say!
You may never venture out of doors except to play golf and maybe if it wasn't for your wife you wouldn't have any friends -- but you sure didn't just fall out of a turnip truck either.
No country bumpkin you.
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In an era of overused superalitives, we may forget just how great Miller was as a player. There are exactly two active players who have won more PGA events than Miller. Tiger and Phil.
I will bet even money that no active player will get to 25 wins. And it is not about fields. Go back to watch the 1975 Masters.
I remember the 63 like it was yesterday because it was magical.
We really do take too much for granted today.
Ira
Ira, I figured I'd pull up your original post for context. There are only 3 players who have been active more or less for the last 30 years... that have 25 wins or more. Tiger, Phil, and Vijay.
Is your position that the Tour is too competitive now for anyone to reach 25? Or that golf produces fewer special players who can dominate enough to reach 25?
P.S. Jeff, given Ira didn't post a limit on the amount, I guess there is none. I'd be willing to put down a few Benjamins on DJ or Rory give the stipulated timelines
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Jeff,
Your point about longevity is a good one. I am 61 so let’s limit it to me turning 75 (with luck). Charity of one’s choice. I will PM you with the unit.
Ira
you're cutting off three top players before they reach 40?
Bryson D (5 wins)
and Justin Thomas(10 wins)
and Jordan Spieth (11 wins)
all of whom are now the age Miller was when he had his most productive win year
seems the rules are changing.....
esp with 40 being the new 30.
they'll all be active after you're 75 in 14 years
In your case I'm sure you'll be around to see 90 :) I'm not far behind you so you gotta stick around so I can gloat.
rather than 3-1 you can just donate the unit each time one hits 25 wins :)
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Peter,
If I could predict the future, I would have been able to retire long ago.
Kalen,
I am just making the point that it is really difficult to win 25 times whatever era. We do not always appreciate how great these guys really are.
Jeff,
I am glad that you have confidence in my longevity. I accept your amendment and will make a contribution to your favorite charity every time a Pro reaches 25 so long as in my infirmity, you remind me.
Ira
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This thread will be his legacy!
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All I can say is that Johnny Miller was my inspiration and reason for getting involved in the sport of golf. First as a caddie and then as a player. I loved his swing, look and the demeanor which he carried on the golf course. I was never a Jack fan growing up and always rooted against him if Miller was in the hunt. The '75 masters was the pinnacle for me. The battle royale, if you will between Miller, Weiskopf and Nicklaus. It's the first golf tournament I watched intently from beginning to end and I was not even 10 at the time. I just remember being on pins and needles when Miller addressed his putt on 18 praying he'd make it to force a playoff. Unfortunately, it didn't happen, but I was hooked on the sport following that tournament and really ever since.
Had Miller maintained his practice ethos and drive after the '75 season he could have easily dominated the sport into the 80's. Yeah, he won a couple of PGA tournaments in '76 and the open Championship that year, but he wasn't the same player then as he was in after he won the U.S. Open in '73, '74 and '75. He had a mini comeback in the early 80's, but at that point he couldn't putt worth a lick and was winning on pure talent alone. He didn't practice that much, let alone play.
Although his commentating legacy will likely outshine his playing career, I'll always remember the way he would get in a zone and just knock the flagstick out of the hole. There's been no purer iron player before or since, IMHO. He had all the shots and could work the ball left to right, right to left, low, high, knock-down you name it. I still go to the Masters Youtube channel at least once or twice a year and watch the final round of the '75 Masters hoping for a different outcome. But alas, the Golden Bear always triumphs in the end. I learned to appreciate Jack later in life. Really, after the '86 Masters. I didn't like him because he always used to beat my guy. The same reason Arnie fans didn't care for him either when he first came on the scene.
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Has Johnny also retired from his design business? Played one of his courses and starter mentioned a different srchoitect has a proposal for work on the course. Thought that they would have stayed with the original architect, if available.
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Had Miller maintained his practice ethos and drive after the '75 season he could have easily dominated the sport into the 80's. Yeah, he won a couple of PGA tournaments in '76 and the open Championship that year, but he wasn't the same player then as he was in after he won the U.S. Open in '73, '74 and '75. He had a mini comeback in the early 80's, but at that point he couldn't putt worth a lick and was winning on pure talent alone. He didn't practice that much, let alone play.
I was big admirier of Johnny and the '75 Masters-my first as a golfer. In fact he hit a ball that landed in my crotch on the par 3 course (#8)and after failing to apologize or evn acknowledge the crowd at all, he chipped it in. An unknown woman berated him and told him it had hit me and that he should apologize;his terse reply was "on the bounce right?" she said no "ON THE FLY" which was true in at least 2 ways-LOL. he flipped me the ball which was pretty cool
as far as your comments on "easily dominated if he had practiced"-well if that was easy he would've practiced.
We'll never know but that really means nothing.
Potential and talent don't win tournaments-the PGA and mini tours are loaded with wasted talent.
Johnny was brilliant for a few years, and always a brilliant ballstriker, but putting is part of the game too.
He had a "slump" later in the 70's from working on his land and developing the wrong muscles (his words) and was a devoted family man-every player faces these choices, but you don't get to add more wins or majors just because of potential or lack of desire and priorities.
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Had Miller maintained his practice ethos and drive after the '75 season he could have easily dominated the sport into the 80's. Yeah, he won a couple of PGA tournaments in '76 and the open Championship that year, but he wasn't the same player then as he was in after he won the U.S. Open in '73, '74 and '75. He had a mini comeback in the early 80's, but at that point he couldn't putt worth a lick and was winning on pure talent alone. He didn't practice that much, let alone play.
I was big admirier of Johnny and the '75 Masters-my first as a golfer. In fact he hit a ball that landed in my crotch on the par 3 course (#8)and after failing to apologize or evn acknowledge the crowd at all, he chipped it in. An unknown woman berated him and told him it had hit me and that he should apologize;his terse reply was "on the bounce right?" she said no "ON THE FLY" which was true in at least 2 ways-LOL. he flipped me the ball which was pretty cool
as far as your comments on "easily dominated if he had practiced"-well if that was easy he would've practiced.
We'll never know but that really means nothing.
Potential and talent don't win tournaments-the PGA and mini tours are loaded with wasted talent.
Johnny was brilliant for a few years, and always a brilliant ballstriker, but putting is part of the game too.
He had a "slump" later in the 70's from working on his land and developing the wrong muscles (his words) and was a devoted family man-every player faces these choices, but you don't get to add more wins or majors just because of potential or lack of desire and priorities.
Hilarious story of your encounter with JM at the Master's! ;D ;D [size=78%] I agree with your closing comments, but I also like to think what could have been had Miller placed a little more emphasis on golf than he did following the '76 season. Jack, I believe, had as many kids or close to as Johnny and played approximately the same number of tournaments he did in subsequent years, yet his skills remained sharp while Johnny's languished over that same period. [/size]
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Had Miller maintained his practice ethos and drive after the '75 season he could have easily dominated the sport into the 80's. Yeah, he won a couple of PGA tournaments in '76 and the open Championship that year, but he wasn't the same player then as he was in after he won the U.S. Open in '73, '74 and '75. He had a mini comeback in the early 80's, but at that point he couldn't putt worth a lick and was winning on pure talent alone. He didn't practice that much, let alone play.
I was big admirier of Johnny and the '75 Masters-my first as a golfer. In fact he hit a ball that landed in my crotch on the par 3 course (#8)and after failing to apologize or evn acknowledge the crowd at all, he chipped it in. An unknown woman berated him and told him it had hit me and that he should apologize;his terse reply was "on the bounce right?" she said no "ON THE FLY" which was true in at least 2 ways-LOL. he flipped me the ball which was pretty cool
as far as your comments on "easily dominated if he had practiced"-well if that was easy he would've practiced.
We'll never know but that really means nothing.
Potential and talent don't win tournaments-the PGA and mini tours are loaded with wasted talent.
Johnny was brilliant for a few years, and always a brilliant ballstriker, but putting is part of the game too.
He had a "slump" later in the 70's from working on his land and developing the wrong muscles (his words) and was a devoted family man-every player faces these choices, but you don't get to add more wins or majors just because of potential or lack of desire and priorities.
Hilarious story of your encounter with JM at the Master's! ;D ;D [size=78%] I agree with your closing comments, but I also like to think what could have been had Miller placed a little more emphasis on golf than he did following the '76 season. Jack, I believe, had as many kids or close to as Johnny and played approximately the same number of tournaments he did in subsequent years, yet his skills remained sharp while Johnny's languished over that same period. [/size]
Jack had power to fall back on and still be long enough as he aged....to go with a strong and strategic mind.....and might've been the best in contention putter of his generation
Yes jack was the original legend in his spare time
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There was a period of a few years when he always seemed to be in contention at The Open. Johnny Millers bunker at Carnoustie for example.
Atb