NBC ‘s Miller Tells it like it is on the Ryder Cup

The reason that I like talking to NBC lead golf analyst Johnny Miller is because he tells you exactly what is on his mind. So, when I spoke to him Tuesday about this weekend’s Ryder Cup he did not hesitate to point his finger at who would have to lead the U.S. in the absence of the rehabbing Tiger Woods: “Phil’s [Mickelson] going to have to step up. Phil’s got to be Phil. Phil has got to just have a hot week. I think it really revolves around Phil and Furyk. If those two don’t lead these younger guys with good camaraderie in the team room, I think the U.S. is really at a tough time.”

Miller is without question the best golf analyst on TV and it is because he is honest. He does not care if the players like him, he cares about telling viewers the true no matter how hard it might be to take.

Here is Miller on the importance on getting off to a good start on Friday: “The Europeans are more aggressive and they tend to have more camaraderie. They come out on Friday like they are in the third or fourth round of a tournament, in other words, they come out on Friday just smoking. If the U.S. wants to win, somehow [Capitan Paul] Azinger has got to get the U.S. around level with them score-wise by Friday afternoon.”

When I asked him about the U.S chances of winning the Ryder Cup Miller did not hesitate in his response: “”I think the U.S. is going to win. Without Tiger there, it surely isn’t going to be easy, but if you’re a gambler, a statistician could say, ‘How can Europe keep making all these putts?’ It’s time, really, for the U.S. If you were just a betting man, the odds are the putting is going to flip flop in the U.S.’s direction. The hunch I have is that the U.S. will come out and probably swing better, and I think if they make a few more putts it’s going to be really close. I think this Ryder Cup will be right down to the wire. That’s my hope. That’s what it’s going to take. The U.S. is going to have to out-putt this mighty Euro team.”

The entire broadcast of the Ryder Cup from Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. Starts with NBC’s production airing on ESPN Friday: Foursome & Four-ball Matches, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Coverage moves over to NBC for Saturday’s: Foursome & Four-ball Matches, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and then Sunday: Singles Matches, Noon-6 p.m.

Joining Miller on the NBC coverage will be Dan Hicks from the tower on the 18th hole and the rest of team. Gary Koch and Bob Murphy; course reporters Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing and Dottie Pepper; and interviewer/essayist Jimmy Roberts.