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IF I HAD ONE CAREER GOAL, it was to become a U.S. Open champion. In 1973, I had close calls the previous two years (T-5 in 1971; 7th in 1972) and was looking forward to the challenge of Oakmont, which I had heard was the hardest course in America.
I was paired with Arnold Palmer in the first two rounds. With him being a local guy (Palmer grew up in nearby Latrobe), it was not easy playing in front of Arnie’s Army. If he made a birdie and I still had a 10-foot putt, his fans didn’t exactly stick around to watch me.
I was only three shots off the lead through 36 holes, but on Saturday I forgot my yardage book in my hotel room. I started 5 over through six holes and shot a 76. I figured I had played my way out of contention. Not only was I now six strokes back in a tie for 13th, but the players in front of me included Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino.
On Sunday, as I was warming up, a voice came into my head and said, “Open your stance way up.” I tried it and hit my last half-dozen balls dead straight. I wasn’t sure I wanted to bring that to the course, but I figured I had nothing to lose.
Using this new stance, I birdied my first four holes. I ended up hitting 13 of 14 fairways and all 18 greens in regulation. Ten of my approach shots finished within 15 feet of the hole. I lipped out a birdie putt on 18 and tapped in for a 63, the lowest round in major championship history to that point.
It was one of those magical days where everything clicked. The fact that it was at Oakmont with Sunday hole locations in the final round of the championship I wanted to win the most made it that much sweeter.
Johnny Miller: By the Numbers
2: Major championship titles (1973 U.S. Open, 1976 British Open)
50: Years his 63 stood as the record for lowest 18-hole score in the U.S. Open
29: Years as the lead golf analyst for NBC (1990-2019)
3: Players to win the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Open (Miller, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth)
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