PRESTO, Pa. --J.T. Miller competed in an initial round of local qualifying for the 2023 U.S. Open Golf Championship on Monday.
But really, the Vancouver Canucks forward took to the course to have a good time with his father, and caddie, Dennis.
"It's awesome," the younger Miller said. "We've played a ton of golf together over the years. But for it to be taken a little more seriously for one day, I think one day is a good amount of days for us, for sure. It's relaxed. It's fun.
"We keep it pretty light. We try to talk about other stuff, other than what the heck's going on."
Miller was among 77 golfers competing in the one-day, 18-hole event at The Club at Nevillewood, located eight miles southwest of Pittsburgh. The top four finishers, and two alternates, advanced to the final qualifying stage.
"Any time you can spend time with your kid, and I don't have to swing a club, that's even better yet," Dennis said. "He just likes to compete. I like to be there, try to talk with him. I know the ins and outs of him, so I try to keep him at a level head.
"Hockey's more of an aggressive game. This one, he needs to gear it back a little bit. I just try to help him do that. … I'll keep doing it as long as he asks me to, until he needs someone with more knowledge."
It was a promising start on the track for Miller, who was tied for seventh at even-par after his spin on the front nine. Then came five straight bogeys to start the back nine, before two more on the final two holes, ultimately leading him to a finish of 6-over-par 78 and tied for 35th.
"I thought I hit the ball pretty well," J.T. said. "Some mistakes around the green, a handful of three-putts. But I'm happy with it overall. … I made a couple [of] putts early, I think, that kind of kept me moving along."
Miller drove into a bunker left of the green on the par-4 10th hole. He then chipped it to within 20 feet before barely missing a putt that could have saved par.
On the next hole, the 30-year-old native of East Palestine, Ohio, three-putt his way to another bogey.
Particular trouble came at 12, a 570-foot par-5. After laying up his tee shot to the edge of the rough, Miller sliced an approach shot well left and into the woods. He asked for a drop, got a chip to within 20 feet but left the putt just short.
"The first three holes on the back were just a mistake," Miller said. "It wasn't really the ball striking or anything. I just made three mistakes. I think that kind of set me off on the wrong foot, I guess, on the back-nine."
Miller capped his 18 holes by sinking a drive into a man-made pond. He recovered, avoiding anything more than a bogey, by leaving his second shot just short of the green before chipping the ball within a foot of the cup.
"I think the consensus was, we kind of knew even-par was going to be close," Miller said. "Once I got to 3-over, I knew I had to try to make a couple birdies. The mistake on 12 was kind of a goofy mistake, I think I just hit the wrong club.
"Just made a couple [of] too many bogeys at the end of the day. That's what happens."
Miller competed in a local qualifier for a second straight year. He tied for 40th with a 7-over-par 77 last year at Butler Country Club in Butler, Pennsylvania. A triple-bogey was the difference there, Miller said. The improved consistency left him pleased this time.
"I feel like today was a lot better," Miller said. "I had a lot more control today. Last year, I made a lot of putts in the back-nine to keep me pretty close to even-par in the back. Today, I think I just made a couple mistakes. But ball striking, I felt comfortable today."
Miller has 536 points (201 goals, 335 assists) in 718 NHL games. An arena is where he feels comfortable. And, with more experience, Miller's comfort on the course has improved. It doesn't compare to the rink, and never will, but it's enough that he expects to participate in future qualifiers.
"I wasn't into this expecting to move on or anything," Miller said. "I just wanted to see if I could compete with these guys. … I'm a competitor in all things. It doesn't need to be professional sports; any activity, really, I like to compete.
"See if I can come home with not a lot of practice and stack up with [other local golfers]. It's just a challenge for myself. I enjoy the challenge."
