Miller Barber
Miller Westford Barber, Jr. (March 31, 1931 – June 11, 2013) was an American professional golfer who enjoyed significant success on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s, and a greater degree of success on the Senior PGA Tour (now the Champions Tour) in the 1980s.
Miller Barber | |
---|---|
Personal information | |
Full name | Miller Westford Barber, Jr. |
Nickname | Mr. X |
Born | Shreveport, Louisiana | March 31, 1931
Died | June 11, 2013 82) Scottsdale, Arizona | (aged
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st) |
Nationality | |
Career | |
College | University of Arkansas |
Turned professional | 1958 |
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
Professional wins | 43 |
Number of wins by tour | |
PGA Tour | 11 |
PGA Tour Champions | 24 |
Other | 1 (regular) 7 (senior) |
Best results in major championships | |
Masters Tournament | 7th: 1969 |
PGA Championship | T4: 1971 |
U.S. Open | 6th/T6: 1969, 1970 |
The Open Championship | 10th: 1969 |
Career
Barber was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.[1] He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1954, turned professional four years later, and won his first PGA Tour event in 1964. He earned 11 career tour wins, but did not win a major championship. The closest he came was in 1969 at the U.S. Open at Houston, where he held a three-shot lead over the field after three rounds, but shot 78 in the last round to finish three shots behind winner Orville Moody. Also in 1969, Barber entered the final round of the Masters Tournament two shots out of the lead and was paired in Sunday's final group but shot a final round 74 to finish 7th. He played on the Ryder Cup team in 1969 and 1971, and in the latter year was ranked sixth on the McCormack rankings.
In 1973, Barber won the longest regulation tournament in PGA Tour history. The World Open Golf Championship played at Pinehurst Country Club was a 144-hole affair. Barber won by three strokes over Ben Crenshaw.
Barber became eligible to play on the Senior PGA Tour around a year after it was founded. He was one of the dominant players on the tour throughout the 1980s, competing on even terms with players who had had much more distinguished earlier careers, such as Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer. His 24 wins on the tour included five senior majors, three of them U.S. Senior Opens.
Barber holds the record for combined PGA Tour and Champions Tour starts at 1,297.[1]
Barber played with an unusual looped backswing/downswing, but squared up very consistently through impact. Several other PGA Tour players, including Jim Furyk, have had success with similar methods.
Death
Barber died June 11, 2013 at the age of 82 of lymphoma in Scottsdale, Arizona.[1][2] Barber was survived by his wife of 43 years, Karen,[3] and sons Larry and Richard and stepsons Casey, Doug, Brad.[3][4]
Professional wins (43)
PGA Tour wins (11)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nov 22, 1964 | Cajun Classic Open Invitational | −7 (72-70-68-67=277) | 5 strokes | |
2 | May 28, 1967 | Oklahoma City Open Invitational | −10 (70-72-68-68=278) | Playoff | |
3 | Apr 28, 1968 | Byron Nelson Golf Classic | −10 (67-68-65-70=270) | 1 stroke | |
4 | Jan 20, 1969 | Kaiser International Open Invitational | −9 (68-67=135)* | 1 stroke | |
5 | Apr 20, 1970 | Greater New Orleans Open Invitational | −10 (68-71-69-70=278) | Playoff | |
6 | Jan 24, 1971 | Phoenix Open Invitational | −23 (65-64-67-65=261) | 2 strokes | |
7 | Jan 24, 1972 | Dean Martin Tucson Open | −15 (68-73-67-65=273) | Playoff | |
8 | Nov 17, 1973 | World Open Golf Championship | +2 (68-74-73-74- 67-73-72-69=570) |
3 strokes | |
9 | Sep 22, 1974 | Ohio Kings Island Open | −7 (68-68-69-72=277) | 3 strokes | |
10 | Oct 2, 1977 | Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic | −16 (71-66-70-65=272) | 2 strokes | |
11 | Jan 15, 1978 | Phoenix Open (2) | −12 (68-69-70-65=272) | 1 stroke |
*Note: The 1969 Kaiser International Open Invitational was shortened to 36 holes due to weather.
PGA Tour playoff record (3–4)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1964 | Pensacola Open | Player won 18-hole playoff; Player: −1 (71), Palmer: E (72), Barber: +2 (74) | |
2 | 1967 | Oklahoma City Open | Won with birdie on third extra hole | |
3 | 1970 | Greater New Orleans Open Invitational | Won with birdie on second extra hole | |
4 | 1972 | Dean Martin Tucson Open | Won with birdie on third extra hole after 18-hole playoff; Archer: E (72), Barber: E (72) | |
5 | 1973 | Greater New Orleans Open | Lost to birdie on second extra hole | |
6 | 1973 | Liggett & Myers Open | Lost to birdie on fifth extra hole | |
7 | 1976 | San Antonio Texas Open | Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
Other wins (1)
- 1962 Metropolitan Open
Senior PGA Tour wins (24)
Legend |
Senior PGA Tour major championships (5) |
Other Senior PGA Tour (19) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jun 14, 1981 | Peter Jackson Champions | −12 (67-68-69=204) | Playoff | |
2 | Oct 18, 1981 | Suntree Seniors Classic | −12 (68-71-65=204) | 4 strokes | |
3 | Dec 6, 1981 | PGA Seniors' Championship | −7 (68-72-68-73=281) | 2 strokes | |
4 | Jul 11, 1982 | U.S. Senior Open | −2 (72-74-71-65=282) | 4 strokes | |
5 | Oct 17, 1982 | Suntree Classic (2) | −24 (66-66-66-66=264) | 5 strokes | |
6 | Oct 24, 1982 | Hilton Head Seniors International | −6 (69-69=138)* | Shared title with | |
7 | Jun 12, 1983 | Senior Tournament Players Championship | −10 (71-69-70-68=278) | 1 stroke | |
8 | Jul 17, 1983 | Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am | −16 (65-66-69=200) | 5 strokes | |
9 | Oct 2, 1983 | United Virginia Bank Seniors | −5 (68-71-72=211) | 1 stroke | |
10 | Oct 23, 1983 | Hilton Head Seniors International (2) | −7 (72-69-71-69=281) | 3 strokes | |
11 | Jun 17, 1984 | Roy Clark Senior Challenge | −1 (71-73-68=212) | 1 stroke | |
12 | Jul 1, 1984 | U.S. Senior Open (2) | +6 (74-71-70-71=286) | 2 strokes | |
13 | Jul 8, 1984 | Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Classic | −10 (69-70-67=206) | 3 strokes | |
14 | Jul 29, 1984 | Denver Post Champions of Golf | −8 (68-70-70=208) | 3 strokes | |
15 | Feb 10, 1985 | Sunrise Senior Classic | −5 (76-66-69=211) | 1 stroke | |
16 | Jun 30, 1985 | U.S. Senior Open (3) | −3 (71-72-71-71=285) | 4 strokes | |
17 | Sep 22, 1985 | PaineWebber World Seniors Invitational | −11 (72-67-67-71=277) | 2 strokes | |
18 | Jan 11, 1986 | MONY Senior Tournament of Champions | −6 (70-70-70-72=282) | 5 strokes | |
19 | Aug 30, 1987 | Showdown Classic | −6 (71-67-72=210) | 1 stroke | |
20 | Sep 27, 1987 | Newport Cup | −14 (67-70-65=202) | 2 strokes | |
21 | Ju1 18, 1988 | Showdown Classic (2) | −9 (70-67-70=207) | 2 strokes | |
22 | Nov 13, 1988 | Fairfield Barnett Classic | −19 (64-65-68=197) | 5 strokes | |
23 | Jan 8, 1989 | MONY Senior Tournament of Champions (2) | −8 (73-67-68-72=280) | 1 stroke | |
24 | Mar 5, 1989 | Vintage Chrysler Invitational | −7 (70-70-72-69=281) | 1 stroke |
*Note: The 1982 Hilton Head Seniors International was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather.
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–1)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1981 | Peter Jackson Champions | Won with par on first extra hole | |
2 | 1986 | Bank One Senior Golf Classic | Littler won with par on third extra hole Goalby eliminated with par on first hole |
Japan Senior wins (2)
- 1985 Coca-Cola Grandslam Championship
- 1991 Fuji Electric Grandslam Championship
Other senior wins (5)
- 1982 Vintage Invitational
- 1985 Shootout at Jeremy Ranch (with Ben Crenshaw)
- 1987 Mazda Champions (with Nancy Lopez)
- 2002 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Jim Ferree)
- 2003 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Jim Ferree)
Results in major championships
Tournament | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T12 | 7 | |||||||
U.S. Open | CUT | 22 | CUT | T32 | T26 | T18 | T24 | T6 | |
The Open Championship | 10 | ||||||||
PGA Championship | DQ | T34 | T8 | T5 |
Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T21 | CUT | CUT | T43 | T15 | T26 | T24 | T12 | ||
U.S. Open | 6 | 59 | T29 | T25 | T24 | T38 | CUT | T35 | CUT | |
The Open Championship | CUT | T60 | CUT | |||||||
PGA Championship | CUT | T4 | T16 | T24 | T60 | T51 | T25 | T28 |
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | ||||||
U.S. Open | CUT | CUT | |||||
The Open Championship | |||||||
PGA Championship | T65 | CUT | T34 |
DQ = disqualified
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1970 and 1974 Open Championships)
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 8 |
U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 13 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 12 |
Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 49 | 35 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1966 U.S. Open – 1970 U.S. Open)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 5 (1968 PGA – 1969 PGA)
Champions Tour major championships
Wins (5)
Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1981 | PGA Seniors' Championship | −7 (68-72-68-73=281) | 2 strokes | |
1982 | U.S. Senior Open | −2 (72-74-71-65=282) | 4 strokes | |
1983 | Senior Tournament Players Championship | −10 (71-69-70-68=278) | 1 stroke | |
1984 | U.S. Senior Open (2) | +6 (74-71-70-71=286) | 2 strokes | |
1985 | U.S. Senior Open(3) | −3 (71-72-71-71=285) | 4 strokes |
U.S. national team appearances
Professional
See also
References
- "Miller Barber passes away at age 82". PGA Tour. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Golfer Miller Barber dies at 82". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 13, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2013/06/remembering-miller-barber-as-a-great-player-and-a-singular-c.html
- http://www.legacy.com/ns/obituary.aspx?n=miller-barber&pid=165294036
External links
- Miller Barber at the PGA Tour official site