Johnny Miller - who starred as a junior golfer, as a member of the BYU team and as a golf professional - was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at the World Golf Village here May 18. He and Nick Faldo were the only two inducted at the new hall's opening, joining 71 others, from virtually every golf organization, who had been inducted previously.
In addition to being honored as an inductee into the hall of fame, Miller was pleased that his peers also acknowledged his beliefs about the importance of the family.During the induction ceremonies, a video that featured Miller and Faldo, was shown. Miller was pleased that its producers included his feelings about family, particularly the phrase, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home."
During a telephone interview with the Church News, Brother Miller said: "What was interesting was that they emphasized the fact that family was more important than my golf. When they think of Johnny Miller, they think of family as well as golf."
He and his wife, Linda, are members of the Napa 2nd Ward, Napa California Stake. They have six children and six grandchildren.
Their four sons have followed in their father's footsteps. The oldest, John, is the pro at Thanksgiving Point Golf Course near Lehi, Utah. Scott, just returned from his mission, will join younger brother Andy, who was an all-American and WAC champion his freshman season at BYU, on the Cougars golf team this fall. Youngest son Todd recently won the California state high school golf championship and is also headed to BYU.
Their daughters are Kelly, a University of Utah graduate, and Casi, who is attending the University of Utah.
In November 1996, Miller received the required number of votes to become a member of the hall of fame.
"It was sort of a lifetime achievement award," he said. "You wonder how your records will be looked upon. Apparently they thought that mine were good enough." He has won 29 tournaments during his professional career including the U.S. Open - where he closed with a record score of 63 - in 1973, and the British Open in 1976. His last PGA Tour victory was in 1994, the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He won eight events in 1974, and in 1975 won the Tucson Open with a closing round score of 61.
Currently, he stays busy by occasionally playing on the PGA Senior Tour, working as an analyst on NBC golf tournament television broadcasts and designing golf courses. "It's nice to be able to pick and choose what I do," he said.
With all that has happened, he is happy with his golf career. "I try to be a good example," he concluded.
In the Church, he is stake director of public affairs and high priests group instructor and works in the Young Men program. His wife is in the ward Young Women presidency. He previously served in a bishopric.
His bishop, Mark E. Pickett, spoke of his former counselor, saying: "He lives the gospel both on the course and off the course, and is a tremendous example to the saints because of the courage he has to do that." - Greg Hill