SIGN UP Golf Digest Logo
SUBSCRIBE
News
Golf News & Tours

Our Favorite Johnny Millerisms

By Alex Myers

A glossary of retiring NBC analyst Johnny Miller's on-air pet phrases

Share story
'Chunk and run'
Background: When a player has a bad lie, but plenty of green to work with, Miller characterizes the shot as a 'chunk-and-run' approximately 97 percent of the time. As is the case with many of these terms, Miller also likes to get confirmation from on-course analyst Roger Maltbie.How he uses it in a sentence: "This is just a chunk-and-run, right, Rog?"
'Trap draw'
Background: Despite the fact that a golfer needs to trap the ball with an iron to hit a draw -- or any good shot for that matter -- Miller likes to emphasize this. Why? Because being overly-technical for no reason is what Johnny likes to do, OK?!How he uses it in a sentence: "I think this shot calls for a low, trap draw."
'Green-light special'
Background: This one is pretty self-explanatory for when a player is in great position to be aggressive and attack a flagstick. Of course, Miller has statedhe invented the phrase, "Green light, yellow light, red light golf." Of course you did, Johnny.How he uses it in a sentence: "This is a green-light special, folks!"
'Flip wedge'
Background: Miller frequently says this after a player has bombed his drive to set up a very short approach shot.How he uses it in a sentence: "This can't be more than a flip wedge to the green, right, Rog?"
'Double cross'
Background: Not an original saying, but it seems to have become Johnny's go-to phrase for when a player hits a terrible shot, especially one that is hard to explain.How he uses it in a sentence: "I don't know what he was doing there. I guess it was a double cross."
'Choke'
Background: Miller certainly didn't invent this term, but he seems to use it more than any other announcer. Since golfers can be a little soft, he's been criticized for saying the word and has cut back on using it in recent years. Sometimes, though, he just can't help himself. . .How he uses it in a sentence: "I'm sorry folks, but that's a choke."
'Skanky'
Background: We're not really sure where this comes from for Miller. Does he not want to say the word 'shank'? Is he referring to 'skanky' beer? Regardless, Miller uses the term to describe a less-than-desirable shot from time to time.How he uses it in a sentence: "He hit that a little skanky, huh, Rog?"
'Hooker'
Background: Not to be confused with 'skanky,' a hooker is simply Miller's pet name for a controlled hook, aka a hard trap draw, aka a hard draw. In theory, though, a player can hit a "skanky hooker."How he uses it in a sentence: "I think this shot calls for a nice, little hooker."
'Fall Line'
Background: This is a technical term that describes a green's true downward direction of the slope. We attach it to Miller since he manages to utter it more than all other golf announcers combined.How he uses it in a sentence: "This putt is going right down the fall line, right, Rog?"
'Grain'
Background: Miller loves talking about the grain of the greens almost as much as he likes talking about his win at Oakmont in 1973.How he uses it in a sentence: "He's really got to worry about the grain on this putt."
'Fairway metals'
Background: Fairway woods used to be made out of actual wood and they aren't anymore. We get it. But Miller is one of the world's few people who insist on calling the clubs fairway metals instead. We don't get it -- but we find it amusing.How he uses it in a sentence: "This might just be a 5-metal for Tiger off the tee."
'Grooves'
Background: Grooves come up from time to time during a broadcast, especially in the aftermath of the USGA's decision to change the rules regarding them prior to the start of the 2010 season. But Johnny puts his own spin when discussing them in relation to ball-striking.How he uses it in a sentence: "That sounded like he hit it a groove low." Sure it did, Johnny.
Share story