The squabble between NBC commentator Johnny Miller and brightly dressed Brit Ian Poulter has escalated.
Now we all know Miller doesn’t mince words. Chances are if you tune in for a Miller broadcast sesh, he’ll find a way to remind viewers that he once shot 63 in the closing round of the US Open at Oakmont, like forty years ago (’73 to be precise and it remains the lowest score in major championship history). Last week at the BMW Championship, Miller declared that Ian Poulter was a poor ballstriker.
Well, someone conveyed what was said on the broadcast and a ticked-off Poulter retorted on Twitter, saying, “Johnny Miller saying today I wasn’t a good ballstriker. I guess I do alright for a duffer then. He talks such bollocks at times” and “I will have to try and win a couple of majors like him and see if I can change his mind until then I’m happy being an overrated duffer.” Here now, is Miller’s reply.
Honestly! Poulter tweeted: Johnny miller sent me this hat, hit more greens, 63 oakmont. well done Johnny. your a comedian not..” (with a link to the picture).
I have to give credit to Miller — well played. I mean, that’s so classic, it’s funny. Those crazy golf announcers!
So, what’s the scoreboard looking like? By my count, Miller: 2, Poulter, 0. Faxon wins.
Update: I knew Miller wasn’t cool enough to have a self-deprecating sense of humor!
September 13th, 2010 on 5:03 pm
Johnny Miller is an asshole. Since when does an announcer get to f**k with a players head.
September 13th, 2010 on 5:16 pm
WUPFail, were you and Ian hanging out last weekend because based on your comment it sounds like you’re regular buds.
Maybe Poulter doesn’t care or maybe he think Johnny’s a dickhead. I don’t know, and neither do you.
What Miller did is funny if they’re actually friends, but it’s a dick-move if they aren’t.
Winning two majors is certainly excellent, but Miller talks it up like he’s one of the legends, and he is not.
Get over your 63 Johnny, it was a lifetime ago.
September 13th, 2010 on 5:23 pm
Pretty funny hat, Johnny, but let’s put a lid on that 63.
September 13th, 2010 on 5:40 pm
Yep Miller – 2 Poulter – 0. I hope this has legs to make it to the Ryder Cup broadcasts…
September 13th, 2010 on 6:17 pm
Poulter should understand Miller’s constant need for attention, seeing as how he can’t stop Tweeting about everything…
Hopefully they are both having fun with it, but I’m not sure that’s the case.
Miller has more golf cred to stand on than Poulter for sure, and he’s right. Is there any indication that Poulter isn’t a poor (by PGA Tour Standards) ball striker?
September 13th, 2010 on 6:38 pm
read Ian’s tweets on a regular basis. if he hated Johnny Miller and his gift, I doubt he would’ve tweeted about it.
maybe you’re right, nobody knows either way what Ian feels about it, but WUP still posted about it like she does.
September 13th, 2010 on 7:12 pm
UPDATE
The visor was signed by @bradfaxon good work brad I love the joke.
September 13th, 2010 on 7:23 pm
Poulter is like a peacock. Full of color and flash, makes lodza nois but is totally usless to man or beast. Never won or never will win a major. His logo is in the shape of a nob and a nob he is. He´ll fade into the past like a worthless piece of dust! I´ll change this if (and he won´t) ever wins a major! He´s a pure tosser
September 13th, 2010 on 7:33 pm
I’m usually ok with Miller, but he can be annoying when he describes 75% of putts as “not much too it.” Then again that balances talking heads that make a challenging shot sound like a walk on a bed of hot coals.
Ian is not a guy who I find myself pulling for much. Not sure why. The way I view him did go up a few notches after seeing him with his kids. Just this fan’s opinion. Things seem more testy around here lately.
September 13th, 2010 on 8:09 pm
For awhile in the mid 70′s Miller played the game as good as ANYBODY who’s ever picked up a club … he knows of what he speaks and he’s not afraid to say so …
September 13th, 2010 on 9:04 pm
I like Johnny. Lanny Wadkins was the best, but since that he got tossed for that tall drink of water Faldo, Miller is now best.
September 13th, 2010 on 9:55 pm
Yep, its been a long time since Johnny was the gun – in fact, it was around the same time at Poulter’s dad, Rod Stewart, was a really big star.
September 14th, 2010 on 2:12 am
Marky Mark, it is not proven that Rod Stewart is Poulter’s Dad – please check your facts before posting.
September 14th, 2010 on 10:32 am
Lanny Wadkins was the best? Best at what? Certainly not at providing insight or commentary on golf. Like him or not, JM is and always will be a lightning rod for golf fans. His ability to, at least once a tournament, hear the sound of a golf ball hitting the club and to say “that sounded a little skinny” or something like that continues to amaze. His lack of fear of calling out players is, tho shrill at times, mostly refreshing in an industry where banality generally rules the day.
September 14th, 2010 on 11:36 am
Johnny Miller’s job is to commentate on golf and he does a great job. Ian and some of these other pros appear to be a little sensitive. The Stats backup Johnny’s point that Ian is not a great ball striker relative to Top 30 players on the tour.
Ian talks a lot of trash and if you dish it you have to be able to take it. BTW the hat was done by Faxon not Miller. Ian over-reacted.
September 14th, 2010 on 6:07 pm
Johnny Miller comes from the Sean Penn school of self-deprecation: ‘I know I make it tough to appreciate me.’
September 15th, 2010 on 12:36 am
Johnny Miller is the pits as a commentator- very vain, miserable, tortured, condescending guy. Which network thinks it’s pleasant to put him in people’s living rooms? Oh, yeah, the one with the late night woes and all the #4 prime-time programs….
The BBC-style announcers are great- they know golf, but they’re people you’d wanna have a beer with and it’s a pleasure to listen to them. Not a preachy and pompous.
Wei would be much better than Miller any day of the week. Listening NBC?
September 15th, 2010 on 1:15 pm
It isn’t even close – Johnny Miller is the very best commentator on television. Is he wrong sometimes? Sure. Just as anyone would be who gave his honest opinions. But Miller gives us the insight into the players minds like nobody else.
And don’t sneeze at his HOF career just because you don’t like him. He did win 25 times on Tour before knee injuries ruined his career. In addition to the 2 major wins, he 15 top tens (including 4 seconds) in major championships. And all this was done in the primes of Nicklaus, Trevino and Watson. So, please, a little respect for a man who knows what he’s talking about.
November 19th, 2011 on 1:20 am
Time to go Johnny the negative comments on
your non home country players are ruining the
viewing experience. Gary Koch is fantastic please
please retire Johnny and find something else to
make your arrogant comments about.