Miller Finds Time Has Not Yet Passed

Johnny Miller, the 46-year-old golfer-turned-announcer-turned-golfer, won his third--and most unexpected--title in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, a one-stroke victory over Tom Watson on Sunday that was a throwback to another decade.

“Down the stretch, we both putted like old folks,” Miller said. “It was a round that gave hope to everybody who’s older.”

In the end, Watson, 44, lost his putting touch. On the last three holes he missed putts of four, three and six feet. Had he made any one of them, a playoff would have been in order.

“In my younger career, I lived by the putter,” Watson said. “Today, I died by the putter.”

Miller, a television commentator who was playing in only his sixth tour event since 1989, and Watson, captain of the last American Ryder Cup team and a Hall of Famer, struggled to rounds of two-over-par 74 in cold, wind and occasional rain.

But Watson’s late lapses made Miller a winner at seven-under 281. He earned $225,000, a figure he has exceeded in only one season since 1976.

It was his first victory since 1987--which also came in this unique event sponsored by AT&T--and; only his second since 1983.

And it might signal a change in lifestyle for the man who all but abandoned tournament golf five years ago to become a golf commentator for NBC. He still has a full schedule with the network, but he now will try to squeeze in a few more playing appearances.

“This kind of changes my plans,” said Miller, who hadn’t expected to play competitively again this year. “I’ve guess I’ll play in the Masters and the Tournament of Champions.”

The former U.S. and British Open winner let Watson make the mistakes and brought home a victory with a decisive string of five consecutive pars.

“It was like it wasn’t really happening to me, like it was a dream,” Miller said.

More like a nightmare for Watson, who has not won since 1987.

He had a two-shot lead and five holes to go, but failed to get up and down from a bunker on the 14th, missing an eight-foot putt. That cut the lead to one and the winner of the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach three-putted for bogey from nearly 15 feet on the 16th, missing a four-foot second putt.

That pulled them even. Watson three-putted again on the 17th, grazing the cup from 35 feet, then failing on a three-footer.

On the 18th, Watson missed a six-footer for birdie and a tie.