Johnny Miller made his broadcast debut back in 1990 at what used to be the Bob Hope Classic.
Miller will call it a career as NBC’s lead golf analyst after the 2018 Phoenix Open, aka The Waste Management.
Through his years in the broadcast booth, Miller has been opinionated but often spot on with his observations over the past three decades. Now he’s ready to spent more time with his family, his grandchildren in particular.
“The call of being there for my grandkids, to teach them how to fish. I felt it was a higher calling,” Miller explained. “The parents are trying to make a living, and grandparents can be there like my father was with my four boys. He was there every day for them. I’m a big believer that there is a time and a season for everything.”
There are early reports that Miller’s seat will be filled by former PGA Champion Paul Azinger, who was also a winning Ryder Cup captain.
Like him or not, Miller has always brought good insight to the NBC telecasts. He was never afraid to criticize poor performances by today’s PGA Tour players.
Miller won just two majors during his playing career — the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont and the 1976 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The main knock on Miller is that he typically had an attitude that made it sound like he won a dozen majors. But at the end of the day, his commentaries could be right on the money.
As for Azinger, it may already be a done deal and if it is, Azinger may be allowed to keep his spot in the Fox broadcast lineup for the U.S. Open as well.
