Johnny Miller

John Laurence "Johnny" Miller (born April 29, 1947 in San Francisco , California ) is a former professional golfer on the PGA Tour . In the mid-1970s he was one of the best golfers in the world. He later worked as a golf commentator and currently serves as the senior golf analyst for NBC Sports.

1973 to 1976: at the peak

No player in the modern era of golf has ever experienced such a brief and memorable phase of brilliance as Johnny Miller - this is how the profile in the World Golf Hall of Fame begins . He achieved the majority of his victories between 1973 and 1977. Professional since 1969, he won only two tournaments before the 1973 US Open. However, his final round of 63 strokes at that tournament was remarkable. Having started from twelfth place, he overtook the then leading players such as Jack Nicklaus , Gary Player , Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer .

In 1974 and 1975 Miller won a total of twelve tournaments. His aggressive and precise game with the irons made him the dominant player of these years. Honors as PGA Player of the Year and winner of the money list (1974) were the result.

The manner in which he won his second major in 1976 at the British Open in Royal Birkdale was also impressive . With a lead of six strokes, he won ahead of Jack Nicklaus and the then 19-year-old Seve Ballesteros . His 66 lap at the end meant a course record.

Reasons for the short career

The high point of his career was also the end of his phase at the top of profile golf. There were several reasons for this. Miller lacked the persistent, unconditional will to success that characterized the greats of the game like Nicklaus. He was just bored with being a professional. In addition, the priorities shifted when the first of his six children was born in 1977. In addition, he was attacked by the yips , involuntary jerks when putting, which severely impaired his play on the green. Admittedly, he still won victories on the PGA Tour in other years. However, the prophecies of the mid-1970s that he would be able to permanently replace Nicklaus as the dominant player did not materialize.

PGA Tour wins (25)

• 1971 Southern Open Invitational
• 1972 Sea Pines Heritage Classic
• 1973 US Open
• 1974 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 Phoenix Open , Dean Martin Tucson Open, Bob Hope Desert Classic, Kaiser International Open Invitational
• 1976 Chrysler Classic of Tucson, Bob Hope Desert Classic, British Open
• 1980 Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic
• 1981 Chrysler Classic of Tucson, Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open
• 1982 Wickes-Andy Williams San Diego Open
• 1983 Honda Inverrary Classic
• 1987 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
• 1994 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

Major tournaments

Tournament	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
The Masters	DNP	T53	DNP	DNP	DNP	T2	CUT	T6	T15	T2
US Open	T8 LA	CUT	DNP	T42	T18	T5	7th	1	T35	T38
British Open	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	T47	T15	T2	10	T3
PGA Championship	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	T12	T20	T20	T18	T39	CUT

Tournament	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
The Masters	T23	T35	T32	CUT	T38	T2	CUT	T12	CUT	T25
US Open	10	T27	T6	CUT	CUT	T23	T45	CUT	T4	8th
British Open	1	T9	CUT	T57	CUT	T39	T22	DNP	T31	DNP
PGA Championship	DNP	T11	T38	DNP	T68	CUT	T32	T30	WD	CUT

Tournament	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
The Masters	T28	T42	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	CUT
US Open	T45	CUT	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	CUT
British Open	CUT	DNP	T52	T49	DNP	CUT	DNP	DNP	DNP
PGA Championship	WD	WD	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP

DNP = not started
WD = withdrawn
CUT = failed at the cut
LA = low amateur (best amateur)
"T" = shared rank

Web links

• Johnny Miller at pgatour.com (English)
• Johnny Miller at worldgolfhalloffame.org (English)