AFTON, Wyo. — Hall of Famer Johnny Miller says today Tiger Woods is an ordinary professional golfer because struggles in his personal life have taken away his magic putter.
Miller made the comment during an interview at the grand opening of his signature course, Star Valley View, in Afton, where he has a ranch up nearby Crow Creek Canyon on the south end of the valley.
Miller, who lives in Charleston, is the outspoken NBC golf commentator who is unafraid to paint pro golfers with a heavy brush, said Woods could win a tournament the next week or two and has as good as odds as anyone of winning the final major of the year, the PGA Championship at Whistling Straights.
"But right now, he is a very good average pro golfer, and that's not very complimentary to say about him."
Years before Wood's secret life as a serial adulterer surfaced at the beginning of this year, leading to a pending divorce with his wife Elin and mega-million dollar settlement that will likely spike the GNP of his wife's native Sweden, Miller predicted Tiger Woods would struggle to beat Jack Nicklaus' 18 victories in the majors (U.S. Open, Masters, British Open and PGA).
The reason? In Miller's book, "I Call the Shots," he said Woods would encounter either an injury or problems with his family, and it could take something away from his ability to remain the incredible talent that he has become in the game.
"I didn't know for sure, it was a guess. At the time it looked like it would be a slam dunk for him to pass Jack. Now it's looking kind of prophetic," said Miller.
In the past two years, Woods has suffered a major knee and leg injury, which he endured to miraculously capture the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines just over 13 months ago. He then fell into an emotional black hole when revelations of his infidelities surfaced. The impact has been devastating to his image, and as Miller points out, to his confidence with the putter.
"You have to realize how hard it will be for Tiger to pass Jack. Phil Mickelson is in his 40s and he's won 40 PGA Tour events but only four majors in his sterling career, which is at the top of the world. Tiger has to win five to pass Jack."
Miller won 25 PGA Tour events and won two major championships, including his record-breaking final round of 63 at Oakmont in the early '70s, "The ratio is for every 10 PGA Tour events you win, you get a major. I came close in a few others, but my putter choked when it counted in those majors."
Miller said Woods' challenge with his putter resembles what he personally went through for half his career. "He doesn't have the yips, but all those putts he was magically just making in his impressive career are now lipping out. It is that fine a line between winning and being very ordinary."
The best analogy Miller said he could give of how this effects a professional golfer is to see a 24-year-old off-hand pistol shooter win a gold metal in the Olympics and then at 28, he doesn't even make the Olympic team because he's off a few centimeters.
"The things that are impacting his mind and his stomach with his personal life aren't effecting him tee to green, but it has had an impact on his ability to hit the target on the green. You can still win, but you'd better have a ton of leaners if you miss."
Miller said Tiger will have a second career, and he'll win and he certainly will be successful.
But passing Jack?
It's a bet Miller believes he can confidently win: It's not going to happen.
e-mail: dharmon@desnews.com