Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 26, 1990 TAG: 9007260045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Kite and Strange rank No. 1 and 3 on the PGA Tour in career earnings, but neither has won as many tournaments as the guest for this year's clinic and exhibition, Johnny Miller.
Miller will be at Hunting Hills Country Club on Sept. 25 to play nine holes with each of two foursomes consisting of the champions from eight area clubs. The exhibition will start at 11 a.m., followed by a clinic at 5 p.m.
The tournament, which will be held in conjunction with a pro-am involving Virginia club professionals, is presented by Gill Memorial Hospital and will benefit the Virginia Affiliate of the National Society to Prevent Blindness.
Willis, chairman of the board at Hunting Hills, has been the driving force behind the event, which is in its ninth year, and takes much of the responsibility for the selection of the guests.
The first guest was Senator John Warner, but in past years Willis has opted for golf figures, including Ed Sneed and Sam Snead in 1985, followed by Chi Chi Rodriguez, Strange, Bruce Devlin and Kite.
Miller captured the U.S. Open in 1973, when he was 26, and has a total of 23 victories on the PGA Tour, 17 by the time he was 30.
"It looked like he was really on a roll," Willis said, "and then something happened. I read an article on why he wasn't winning and it said three things changed his game. He started chopping wood to become stronger, he went to golf clubs that were one inch longer and he started eating buffalo meat.
"I thought that was a pretty odd combination and would be something out of the ordinary for the people who come to the clinic."
Miller, 42, has had a series of physical problems and has played in only one PGA Tour event this year. However, he has won critical acclaim in his first year as chief golf analyst for NBC.
"Early in the year, we were debating between Johnny Miller and another player who is still on the tour, a good player," Willis said. "When [Miller] showed up doing commentary, that capped it off."
Miller is represented by International Management Group, the same firm that handles Strange's business affairs.
"It wasn't difficult except it was hard getting in touch with his agent," Willis said. "Once we did, we found out he was available at our time and in our price range."
The tournament is being held one week earlier this year to capitalize on the extra daylight.
The Tee Off for Sight sponsors may never be able to get a Jack Nicklaus or Greg Norman, whose reported $40,000 fee might exceed the gross receipts, but the budget still allows for a quality attraction.
"I understand Johnny Miller is very personable and a good instructor," Willis said. "You can't have Curtis Strange and Tom Kite every year, but we feel this has grown into one of the premier golf events in the valley and we want to make sure we don't slip back."
by CNB