Pinehurst, N.C. – Johnny Miller considers the men’s U.S. Open to be his first love. But lately he has developed a major crush on the U.S. Women’s Open, played at Cherry Hills Country Club this week.
“If the women don’t get good (TV) ratings in this Women’s Open, it might never happen,” NBC’s lead golf analyst said. “You’ve got some really good stories, with Michelle Wie and, of course, Annika (Sorenstam) playing the best golf of her life. If it went down to the last three holes with Annika and Michelle tied, wouldn’t that be something?”
The World Golf Hall of Famer gives Sorenstam a 30 percent chance of becoming the first golfer to win a calendar Grand Slam since Bobby Jones in 1930. She already has the first two tucked in her back pocket.
“I don’t know who is going to stop her at Cherry Hills,” said Miller, who ranks the women’s Open as his second-favorite event among the tournaments televised by NBC, behind only the men’s Open. He developed a special affection for the event while serving as its color analyst for the first time in 1995 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.
“Annika came out of nowhere to win, a little waif of a gal who hit a rainbow of a draw shot with no power,” Miller recalled. “To see where she has come in the game of golf, it’s been fun following that.”
For the casual fan tuning in to the Open, or going to Cherry Hills, Miller said they can learn more from watching the women than the average PGA Tour player.
“The average woman (on the tour) swings more like the good men’s players,” Miller explained. “They almost have to have better skills than the men. You don’t see too many Chris DiMarco swings on the women’s tour.”
However, when one of the women starts spraying the ball around this week, Miller won’t hesitate to call it as he sees it.
“Johnny says what he thinks, and I respect him for that,” ESPN anchor and golf reporter Scott Van Pelt said. “But it does rub some players the wrong way. He likes to use the word ‘choking’ a lot. I’d never use that word, because I have never stood in the arena. Johnny has stood in the arena. But I know there are some players who don’t like him because of that.”
Retief Goosen has not spoken to Miller since Goosen’s 2001 U.S. Open victory at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla. Goosen missed a 2-foot par putt on the 72nd hole, forcing a playoff, which he won the following day.
Goosen insisted he misjudged the break.
Miller wasn’t about to let that one go.
“Goosen said, ‘It broke right,”‘ Miller recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah, it broke right when you shanked it.’
“I don’t think he liked that comment. It was a little bit strong. Pros do gag a little. I’ve gagged a million times. Just say, ‘I blocked my putt because I was so nervous I couldn’t even breathe.’ What’s wrong with that?”
Miller believes golfers should be criticized just like any other athlete if they mess up.
“I don’t intend to be mean,” he said. “But to me, the choke factor is the most interesting thing about golf.”
John Daly, who must have a master’s degree in meltdowns, said he has no problem with Miller’s biting style. Daly figures if Miller says something negative about him, he probably deserves it.
“He knows what we’re feeling because he’s done that,” Daly said.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
