Johnny Miller’s pick for the greatest golfer of all-time

LOS ANGELES — Johnny Miller won 25 PGA Tour events, including two majors. His last Tour win was the 1994 Pebble Beach Pro-Am. That day, he used Bobby Jones irons.

This week, Miller, who is the World Golf Hall of Fame, received the 2023 Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honor given in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf and based on character and integrity.

The morning after receiving that award, Miller, 76, honored Jones saying he “might have been” the greatest golfer who ever played. Miller was speaking at the news conference at Los Angeles Country Club, site of this week’s U.S. Open.

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“A lot of people go to other players like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, but when you think of what (Jones) was able to accomplish in his 20s, it was crazy,” Miller said Wednesday. “He was amazing.”

Jones’ career is difficult to compare to those of Nicklaus or Woods or most of the other greats. He is one of the most influential figures in the game and founded Augusta National Golf Club. And he was the most successful amateur golfer of all time, winning the U.S. Amateur five times between 1924 and 1930.

But he did not turn professional until he was 28 and had just nine professional wins. He is credited with seven majors, including four U.S. Opens and three British Opens.

“I was sort of always a fan of Bobby Jones,” said Miller, champion of the 1973 U.S. Open and 1976 British Open. “I thought he was a gentleman’s champion. Really just an amazing person. I was glad to get that award and sort of honor him a little bit by saying yes, I’ll be happy to do it, even though I was sort of not into getting more accolades or do interviews.”

Nicklaus has won a record 18 major titles. He has nearly 120 professional wins, including 73 on the PGA Tour.

Gary Player probably would not argue with Miller, having told the Palm Beach Post in April that Jones “might be the best player that ever lived. He played with a walking stick as a shaft (and) the ball that went 80 yards less.”

But Player also mentioned Nicklaus, Woods and Ben Hogan.

When asked to pick one Player said: “I’d have to say Jack.”