Chasing Greatness: Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer, and the Miracle at Oakmont (65 page)
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Authors: Adam Lazarus
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235 “Two more 69s”
—Richmond
Times-Dispatch, June 16, 1973, “Giles ‘Numbers’ 2-3-3-3 for a 69.”
—Richmond
Times-Dispatch, June 16, 1973, “Giles ‘Numbers’ 2-3-3-3 for a 69.”
235 “There’s no question”—
Danville (VA) Bee,
(AP), July 5, 1971, “Giles: Wadkins Best- But Not Infallible.”
Danville (VA) Bee,
(AP), July 5, 1971, “Giles: Wadkins Best- But Not Infallible.”
236 “I felt I hit the ball
better”—Richmond Times-Herald,
June 17, 1973, Harold Pearson,
“Giles-Wadkins
Again; The Winner? Oakmont.”
better”—Richmond Times-Herald,
June 17, 1973, Harold Pearson,
“Giles-Wadkins
Again; The Winner? Oakmont.”
236 “Hey, you guys”—ibid.
237 “Tom Weiskopf has more”—
Long Beach (CA) Independent Press-Telegram,
May 31, 1973, Doug Ives, “New Exciting World Opening up for Laura.”
Long Beach (CA) Independent Press-Telegram,
May 31, 1973, Doug Ives, “New Exciting World Opening up for Laura.”
237 “so unhappy with the way”
—Chicago Tribune,
June 18, 1973, Cooper Rollow, “ ‘I’m Not a Flash in the Pan’—Miller.”
—Chicago Tribune,
June 18, 1973, Cooper Rollow, “ ‘I’m Not a Flash in the Pan’—Miller.”
237 “I was really down”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, Marino Parascenzo, “Johnny Replaces Gary; A New Player on Board.”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, Marino Parascenzo, “Johnny Replaces Gary; A New Player on Board.”
237 “Here I had had a
”—Golf Magazine,
September 1973, Johnny Miller, “I’m Not Afraid to Go for the Flagstick.”
”—Golf Magazine,
September 1973, Johnny Miller, “I’m Not Afraid to Go for the Flagstick.”
238 “I remembered earlier in the”—
San Francisco
Chronicle, June 18, 1973, Art Spander, “Miller Wary until End.”
San Francisco
Chronicle, June 18, 1973, Art Spander, “Miller Wary until End.”
238 “Well, I was on the practice”—
Golfweek,
June 9, 2007, “Johnny opens up.”
Golfweek,
June 9, 2007, “Johnny opens up.”
238 “On Friday evening”
—Pittsburgh Press,
July 23, 1978, Ray Kienzl, “Caddie Hopes to Bag Miller Again.”
—Pittsburgh Press,
July 23, 1978, Ray Kienzl, “Caddie Hopes to Bag Miller Again.”
239 “I had forgotten my yardage”
—Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,
June 10, 2007, Mike Dudurich, “Miller’s Dissection of Oakmont Stands the Test of Time.”
—Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,
June 10, 2007, Mike Dudurich, “Miller’s Dissection of Oakmont Stands the Test of Time.”
239 “I played like par”—
Golfweek,
June 9, 2007, “Johnny opens up.”
Golfweek,
June 9, 2007, “Johnny opens up.”
240 “I was just trying to get”—Parascenzo, “Johnny Replaces Gary.”
240 “When I get charged up”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, “Miller Prepped—to Lose.”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, “Miller Prepped—to Lose.”
240 “I was sky-high”—
Latrobe
Bulletin, (UPI), June 18, 1973, Frank Berkopec, “Miller Breaks Record in Open.”
Latrobe
Bulletin, (UPI), June 18, 1973, Frank Berkopec, “Miller Breaks Record in Open.”
241 “I really got pumped”
—Philadelphia Inquirer,
June 18, 1973, Fred Byrod, “Record 63 Carries Miller to Open Title.”
—Philadelphia Inquirer,
June 18, 1973, Fred Byrod, “Record 63 Carries Miller to Open Title.”
241 “I can honestly say I”—Berkopec, “Miller Breaks Record.”
242 “I remembered [how] at Augusta”—Kienzl, “It Was in the Stars.”
243 “Trevino’s putt was”—Wind,
Following Through,
p. 166.
Following Through,
p. 166.
244 “Gary Player told
me”—Chicago Sun Times,
June 18, 1973, Len Ziehm, “Schlee Victim of Arnie’s Army.”
me”—Chicago Sun Times,
June 18, 1973, Len Ziehm, “Schlee Victim of Arnie’s Army.”
244 “the same as wearing”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, Bill Christine, “Schlee Schleppes Around with 3 Drives on No.1.”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, Bill Christine, “Schlee Schleppes Around with 3 Drives on No.1.”
245 “[You] should have seen me”—Bertrand,
The Secret of Hogan’s Swing,
p. 82.
The Secret of Hogan’s Swing,
p. 82.
245 “It was all about Arnold”—Interview with Bob Ford, June 2008.
245 “I couldn’t believe he”—ibid.
246 “So many people were”—Bertrand,
The Secret of Hogan’s Swing,
p. 83.
The Secret of Hogan’s Swing,
p. 83.
246 “[The relief] wouldn’t”—Christine, “Schlee Schleppes.”
247 “It was so strange”—Bertrand, The Secret
of Hogan’s
Swing, p. 84.
of Hogan’s
Swing, p. 84.
247 “That verified the fact”—Interview with Bob Ford, June 2008.
247 “All I could think was
I‘d”—Akron Beacon Journal,
June 20, 1973, Jack Patterson, “Will Schlee Be ‘Star’ in Classic?”
I‘d”—Akron Beacon Journal,
June 20, 1973, Jack Patterson, “Will Schlee Be ‘Star’ in Classic?”
247 “I think everybody chokes”—
New York Times
, June 17, 1973, “Palmer Is ‘Man to Beat.’”
New York Times
, June 17, 1973, “Palmer Is ‘Man to Beat.’”
247 “If I win this one”
—Charleston (WV) Daily Mail,
June 18, 1973, Jerry Izenberg, “Miller’s Manager off to Money Races.”
—Charleston (WV) Daily Mail,
June 18, 1973, Jerry Izenberg, “Miller’s Manager off to Money Races.”
248 “horses, fishing, girls”—
Philadelphia Inquirer,
June 17, 1973, “John Schlee Thanking His Lucky Stars after Gaining Share of Third-round Lead.”
Philadelphia Inquirer,
June 17, 1973, “John Schlee Thanking His Lucky Stars after Gaining Share of Third-round Lead.”
248 “I hope I get paired”—
Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
June 17, 1973, Al Smith, “Four ‘Unlikelys’ Look Good.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
June 17, 1973, Al Smith, “Four ‘Unlikelys’ Look Good.”
249 “Hit that right-hand”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, Bill Christine, “Playing Games.”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, Bill Christine, “Playing Games.”
253 “I don’t suppose it”—Palmer, A
Golfer’s
Life, p. 208.
Golfer’s
Life, p. 208.
253 “I was used to playing”—ibid., pp. 208-09.
255 “hitthe ball two ways”—Gabriel, Mike,
The Professional Golf Association
Tour
: A History (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2001), p. 177.
The Professional Golf Association
Tour
: A History (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2001), p. 177.
256 “an indifferent putter”—United States Golf Association, 1973 U.S. Open:
Miller’s
Miracle
at Oakmont.
Miller’s
Miracle
at Oakmont.
258 “Atthe back of the”
—New York Times
, June 18, 1973, Lincoln A. Werden, “Miller’s Record 63 for 279 Total Wins U.S. Open Golf Title.”
—New York Times
, June 18, 1973, Lincoln A. Werden, “Miller’s Record 63 for 279 Total Wins U.S. Open Golf Title.”
259 “never saw me play”
—Pittsburgh
Press, June 17, 1973, Dan Donovan, “Weiskopf on Winning Track.”
CHAPTER 12—Pittsburgh
Press, June 17, 1973, Dan Donovan, “Weiskopf on Winning Track.”
The Greatest Nine Ever
262 “A shot poorly played”—
Golf Course Management,
May 1983, Ronald E. Whitten, “Mighty Oakmont Rumbles Again.”
Golf Course Management,
May 1983, Ronald E. Whitten, “Mighty Oakmont Rumbles Again.”
262 “We turned on the TV”
—San Francisco
Chronicle, June 19, 1973, Art Spander, “Miller’s Nervous Rooting Section.”
—San Francisco
Chronicle, June 19, 1973, Art Spander, “Miller’s Nervous Rooting Section.”
263 “Break out a package”
—Pittsburgh
Press, July 23, 1978, Ray Kienzl, “Caddie Hopes to Bag Miller Again.”
—Pittsburgh
Press, July 23, 1978, Ray Kienzl, “Caddie Hopes to Bag Miller Again.”
264 “the toughest par-four”—
http://www.worldgolf.com/news/pga/us-open-oakmont-notebook-fred-funk-5555.htm
, June 2007, Brandon Tucker, “U.S. Open Notebook: With Fred Dunk high on the leaderboard, Is Oakmont ‘Funky Town.’”
http://www.worldgolf.com/news/pga/us-open-oakmont-notebook-fred-funk-5555.htm
, June 2007, Brandon Tucker, “U.S. Open Notebook: With Fred Dunk high on the leaderboard, Is Oakmont ‘Funky Town.’”
265 “It was horrible stuff”—
Los Angeles Times,
June 18, 1973, Bill Shirley, “Johnny Miller Wins U.S. Open—Honest!”
Los Angeles Times,
June 18, 1973, Bill Shirley, “Johnny Miller Wins U.S. Open—Honest!”
265 “I should have bogeyed”—ibid.
266 “I’ll never forget twelve”—Interview with Dick Thompson, March 2008.
266 “Number twelve was the whole”—
Pittsburgh Press,
June 18, 1973, Ray Kienzl, “Miller Gobbles up U.S. Open.”
Pittsburgh Press,
June 18, 1973, Ray Kienzl, “Miller Gobbles up U.S. Open.”
266 “I really flagged it”—Shirley, “Johnny Miller Wins.”
266 “I said, ‘Mr. Worsham’”—Interview with Bob Ford, June 2008.
267 “Coming down fourteen, I was”—Kienzl, “Miller Gobbles Up.”
267 “doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke”—
New York Times,
February 13, 1975, Dave Anderson, “The Johnny Miller Market Is Soaring.”
New York Times,
February 13, 1975, Dave Anderson, “The Johnny Miller Market Is Soaring.”
267 “a mammoth bunker”—Sommers, Robert,
U.S. Open: Golfs Ultimate Challenge,
2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996), p. 261.
U.S. Open: Golfs Ultimate Challenge,
2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996), p. 261.
268 “[He] had 187 yards”—Kienzl, “Caddie Hopes to Bag.”
268 “Barber started pulling”—Kienzl, “Miller Gobbles Up.”
269 “We’re not good friends”—
Chicago Tribune,
June 18, 1973, Cooper Rollow, “‘I’m Not a Flash in the Pan’—Miller.”
Chicago Tribune,
June 18, 1973, Cooper Rollow, “‘I’m Not a Flash in the Pan’—Miller.”
269 “Johnny, you’re playing”—Interview with Miller Barber, October 2008.
270 “Barber told me when”—Kienzl, “Miller Gobbles up.”
271 “to stay cool, not to”
—Golf Magazine,
September 1973, Johnny Miller, “I’m Not Afraid to Go for the Flagstick.”
—Golf Magazine,
September 1973, Johnny Miller, “I’m Not Afraid to Go for the Flagstick.”
271 “Standing in the middle”—
Dallas Morning News,
June 18, 1973, Harless Wade, “Miller Blazes Way to Open Title.”
Dallas Morning News,
June 18, 1973, Harless Wade, “Miller Blazes Way to Open Title.”
272 “[I hit] as good a putt”
—Chicago Tribune,
June 18, 1973, Tom Tomashek, “Miller wins U.S. Open on Record 63.”
—Chicago Tribune,
June 18, 1973, Tom Tomashek, “Miller wins U.S. Open on Record 63.”
272 “Even with only about”—ibid.
272 “No, I’m not nervous”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, Marino Parascenzo, “Johnny Replaces Gary; A New Player on Board.”
CHAPTER 13—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
June 18, 1973, Marino Parascenzo, “Johnny Replaces Gary; A New Player on Board.”
Chasing Greatness
275 “[For] about two minutes”—
Richmond Times-Dispatch,
June 18, 1973, Harold Pearson, “Tied Record ‘For 2 Minutes.’”
Richmond Times-Dispatch,
June 18, 1973, Harold Pearson, “Tied Record ‘For 2 Minutes.’”
278 “I won’t do it unless”—
The Atlanta Constitution,
June 15, 1973, Al Smith, “Jack’s Shot Not in Plan Trevino Has.”
The Atlanta Constitution,
June 15, 1973, Al Smith, “Jack’s Shot Not in Plan Trevino Has.”
278 “Trevino had to pitch”—
El Paso Herald Times,
June 18, 1973, Bob Ingram, “‘As I was saying ...”’
El Paso Herald Times,
June 18, 1973, Bob Ingram, “‘As I was saying ...”’
279 “guy with the million-dollar”—
Philadelphia Inquirer,
June 11, 1973, Frank Dolson, “Weiskopf Has Everything ... Well, Almost.”
Philadelphia Inquirer,
June 11, 1973, Frank Dolson, “Weiskopf Has Everything ... Well, Almost.”
280 “I couldn’t believe it”—
The Atlanta Constitution,
June 18, 1973, Al Smith, “Miller’s Scorching 63 Wins.”
The Atlanta Constitution,
June 18, 1973, Al Smith, “Miller’s Scorching 63 Wins.”
280 “Oakmont is not a”—
Pittsburgh Press,
June 19, 1973, Pat Livingston, “U.S.G.A. Better Get Lead Out.”
Pittsburgh Press,
June 19, 1973, Pat Livingston, “U.S.G.A. Better Get Lead Out.”
281 “Johnny Miller?”
—Sports Illustrated,
June 25, 1973, Dan Jenkins, “Battle of the Ages.”
—Sports Illustrated,
June 25, 1973, Dan Jenkins, “Battle of the Ages.”
281 “I really still thought”—
Chicago Tribune,
June 18, 1973, Tom Tomashek, “Miller Wins U.S. Open on Record 63.”
Chicago Tribune,
June 18, 1973, Tom Tomashek, “Miller Wins U.S. Open on Record 63.”
281 “When I made a twelve-footer”—
Pittsburgh Press,
June 18, 1973, Ray Kienzl, “Miller Gobbles up U.S. Open.”
Pittsburgh Press,
June 18, 1973, Ray Kienzl, “Miller Gobbles up U.S. Open.”
281 “[If] Jack can drive
it”—Richmond Times-Dispatch,
June 17, 1973, Chauncey Durden, “The 19th Green.”
it”—Richmond Times-Dispatch,
June 17, 1973, Chauncey Durden, “The 19th Green.”
282 “I felt like I wanted”
—Columbus Evening Dispatch,
June 18, 1973, Paul Hornung,” ‘Heckuva Round’ Beat Weiskopf as Predicted.”
—Columbus Evening Dispatch,
June 18, 1973, Paul Hornung,” ‘Heckuva Round’ Beat Weiskopf as Predicted.”
283 “I couldn’t have felt”—
Los Angeles Times,
June 18, 1973, Bill Shirley, “Johnny Miller Wins U.S. Open—Honest!”
Los Angeles Times,
June 18, 1973, Bill Shirley, “Johnny Miller Wins U.S. Open—Honest!”
284 “[What] do they think”—Hornung, “‘Heckuva Round.’”
284 “I made what I thought”—Palmer, A
Golfer’s
Life, p. 227.
Golfer’s
Life, p. 227.
284 “Where the fuck did”—O’Connor, Ian,
Arnie & Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf’s
Greatest Rivalry
(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008), p. 202.
Arnie & Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf’s
Greatest Rivalry
(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008), p. 202.
284 “I hear he has [nine]”—Shirley, “Johnny Miller Wins.”
285 “It never entered my mind”—
San Francisco Chronicle,
June 18, 1973, Art Spander, “Miller Wary until End.”
San Francisco Chronicle,
June 18, 1973, Art Spander, “Miller Wary until End.”
285 “Sixty-three?”—
Toronto Star,
June 18, 1973, Ken McKee, “Dream Ends for Arnold Palmer.”
Toronto Star,
June 18, 1973, Ken McKee, “Dream Ends for Arnold Palmer.”
285 “Still confident”—Sommers,
U.S. Open,
p. 262.
U.S. Open,
p. 262.
285 “I struck what I was sure”—Palmer,
A Golfer’s Life,
p. 227.
A Golfer’s Life,
p. 227.
286 “What did I have to lose?”
—Pittsburgh Press,
June 18, 1973, Dan Donovan, “‘Sudden Explosion’ Wrecks Arnie in Open.”
—Pittsburgh Press,
June 18, 1973, Dan Donovan, “‘Sudden Explosion’ Wrecks Arnie in Open.”
286 “When Arnold made those”—Shirley, “Johnny Miller Wins.”
286 “I won this tournament”—Spander, “Miller Wary.”
286 “What do they say”—Donovan, “‘Sudden Explosion.’”
287 “As we left the
course”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
(AP), June 18, 1973, Will Grimsley, “Arnie Drive to ‘Office’ Out of Play.”
course”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
(AP), June 18, 1973, Will Grimsley, “Arnie Drive to ‘Office’ Out of Play.”
288 “Your Individual Horoscope”—
Kittanning
(PA)
Leader-Times,
June 16, 1973, Frances Drake, “Your Individual Horoscope: For Sunday, June 17, 1973.”
Kittanning
(PA)
Leader-Times,
June 16, 1973, Frances Drake, “Your Individual Horoscope: For Sunday, June 17, 1973.”
290 “Who wouldn’t love”—Schlee, Maximum Golf, p. 38.
290 “When I’m playing an”—ibid.
291 “What had gone wrong?”—ibid.
291 “I was destined to
do”—Danville (VA) Bee,
(AP), June 18, 1973, George Strode, “Schlee Guessed Wrong.”
do”—Danville (VA) Bee,
(AP), June 18, 1973, George Strode, “Schlee Guessed Wrong.”
292 “afraid I’d throw up”
—Miami Herald,
June 19, 1973, Edwin Pope, “Agent Couldn’t Look as Miller Sank Putts.”
—Miami Herald,
June 19, 1973, Edwin Pope, “Agent Couldn’t Look as Miller Sank Putts.”
293 “No, it’s got to be”—
Washington Post,
June 18, 1973, Bob Addie, “Miller Grabs Open with Record 63.”
Washington Post,
June 18, 1973, Bob Addie, “Miller Grabs Open with Record 63.”
293 “I don’t know much about”
—Pittsburgh Press,
June 18, 1973, Jeff Samuels, “Johnny Takes the Spotlight.”
—Pittsburgh Press,
June 18, 1973, Jeff Samuels, “Johnny Takes the Spotlight.”
293 “I still can’t believe it”—
Columbus Ledger,
June 19, 1973, Cecil Darby, “No Big Surprise.”
Columbus Ledger,
June 19, 1973, Cecil Darby, “No Big Surprise.”
293 “I don’t know if there”—ibid.
293 “Without taking anything
away”—Toronto
Star, June 18, 1973, Ken McKee, “Spectacular Comeback Wins U.S. Open.”
away”—Toronto
Star, June 18, 1973, Ken McKee, “Spectacular Comeback Wins U.S. Open.”
293 “What happened to Oakmont’s”—
New York Times,
June 19, 1973, Arthur Daley, “The Furious Finish of Johnny Miller.”
New York Times,
June 19, 1973, Arthur Daley, “The Furious Finish of Johnny Miller.”
293 “Imagine shooting a 63”—
Los
Angeles Times,
June 18, 1973, Jim Murray, “Open Gets No Respect.”
Los
Angeles Times,
June 18, 1973, Jim Murray, “Open Gets No Respect.”
294 “Everyone else is griping”
—Pittsburgh
Press, June 18, 1973, Jeff Samuels, “Johnny Takes the Spotlight.”
—Pittsburgh
Press, June 18, 1973, Jeff Samuels, “Johnny Takes the Spotlight.”
294 “No, I don’t think I’m”
—Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette
, June 18, 1973, “Miller Propped—To Lose.”
—Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette
, June 18, 1973, “Miller Propped—To Lose.”
294 “I’ve been around and”—Shirley, “Johnny Miller Wins.”
CHAPTER 14Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Lee Trevino
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