Johnny: U.S. Open Has Become "More Like A PGA Tour Event"

Doug Ferguson's AP notes includes this from Johnny Miller, who misses the old U.S. Open of high rough, chipping out and uh, more rough. He should get his wish at Merion.

''I think it lost its identity, personally,'' Miller said. ''I don't agree with that one bit. To me, the U.S. Open is supposed to be the ultimate test. ... I just thought like at Torrey (Pines), they set it up like an old Andy Williams with distance. Not that it wasn't a good Open - it was a great Open. But I like the rough, personally.''

Comments

[Mike U (LA, CA)]

He's such a blowhard, although the couple times I've run into him he was admittedly a nice guy. Jason Sobel and I just had a funny exchange the other day about him saying that Americans always want to win the US Open before any other major (yeah, right). We both chuckled at which network Johnny works for and which American major he himself won...and which one he failed at several times.

[Brad O]

I agree with Johnny on the this. The US Open IS high rough, firm fast greens, that's what has always been about. Congressional 2011 was a joke for a US Open set up. Look at Hogan in 55 at Olympic with the notorious slip on the 18th, from the pics he was only 15 feet off the fairway in almost knee deep rough! That to me IS the US Open, it's golfs ultimate test, its not supposed to be just another Tour event.

[Media maven]

Miller won't say that on NBC especially with the TV contract up for renewal.

[Marker81]

I like the idea of deep rough but not when its paired with ribbon fairways. If they gave the guys some room to play in the short stuff then im all for penalizing greatly for a missed fairway.

[Ryan]

Yes, high rough equals the U.S. Open. Unfortunately high rough doesn't equal golf

[Pepperdine]

@Brad -

Didn't the "Hogan slip" occur while he was on the tee?

[RickABQ]

Based on the headline I think we can guess what Johnny's lines will be if anyone shoots 62 or lower in a US Open to beat his 63,,,

[smails]

didnt Johnny shoot 63 to win at Oakmont?

This would make a great beer pong-type game. drink every time Johnny says "oakmont"

[DTF]

Brad O, that tourney is officially called the Bethesda Beltway Open.... Simply a regular tour event.

Miller's comments of this nature would have zero impact on the TV contract regardless of the channel in which they were proffered.

[Tighthead]

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/johnny-miller-remembers-day-he-shot-63-1973-us-open

Johnny talking about Johnny. It's special to see someone with so little humility. It's not bragging if you can do it, but was anyone ever great for a shorter period of time than JM?

[Major Dad]

The USGA has become sensitive to what tour players like. For the past few years the USGA rules officials have been told to walk along the rope line on each hole and stay away from the players unless they call over the official. Guess this will keep up until a player screws up and gets penalized because the official was too far away to see what happened.

[Mike U (LA, CA)]

great post Major Dad. That is 100% going to happen the way you say, and very soon.

[ol Harv]

It used to be that at USGA events like an OPEN or Amateur or Senior Am, the walking rules official with each group were actually proactive in either helping players or assessing penalties if they saw one. Recently talked with someone that was on the USGA Exec committee a few years back and a top rules guy and it is true that they have been told exactly that, to stay away. I remember being at a US Am back in the day and several players had rules infractions called against them not by their opponent in match play, but by the walking official. Isn't that kind of why he is out there with the group??