The U.S. Open returns to Oakmont in Pittsburgh this week, scene of what might be the most incredible 18 holes ever played in a major championship. That would be Johnny Miller’s final round 63 in 1973 that propelled him to victory. Golf magazines, newspapers and television are full of stories about Miller’s round, especially because he returns to Oakmont as the lead analyst for NBC-TV, which will broadcast the tournament. So how good was Miller’s round? First, it remains the lowest final round score in a U.S. Open. Miller started his Sunday round six shots behind the leaders. Second, Miller, who was 26, unbelievably hit all 18 greens in regulation and his average distance from the hole was nine feet. Third, his round could have been even lower as he lipped out two putts and had one three-putt. Miller had a reputation of going low and making birdies in bunches. At Oakmont, he birdied the first four holes from distances of five feet, six inches, 18 feet and two inches. Pretty good start. He shot 32 on the front side and then birdied Nos. 11, 12 and 13. His last birdie came on No. 15. One interesting anecdote was that the USGA prevented players from using their tour caddies so Miller and others paced off their own yardages. On Sunday, Miller arrived at the course only to find that he left his yardage book back at the house he was renting for a week. His wife went back to retrieve it and didn’t get it to him until the back nine. The USGA extracted its revenge for Miller’s low round the following year at Winged Foot where Hale Irwin won with a score of +7.
Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to John Schlee.
