Johnny Miller’s exit: Golf on TV won’t be the same without SF original

Johnny Miller’s long, incomparable run as golf’s signature voice on television traces directly to his upbringing in San Francisco.

Miller, who announced his retirement Tuesday, recalled playing with his buddies at the Olympic Club as a teenager. They good naturedly gave him grief, so he gave it right back to them.

This friendly verbal sparring shaped Miller as he embarked on what would become a Hall-of-Fame playing career. It also helped him during nearly three decades as NBC’s golf analyst.

“No doubt about it,” he said. “One of the first tournaments I played, (Lee) Trevino started razzing me on the practice tee. He was pretty quick with words, but I sort of gave it back to him. He never bothered me again in front of all those people.