I remember watching Johnny vs Jack back in ‘97 in a Shell’s WWOG match. I think the match was being held at the Olympic Club in SanFran.
I recall it being quite the humiliating experience for Miller, as he was 3-putting every other hole. If memory serves, he didn’t break 40 on the opening 9 holes. Jack, classy as ever, was encouraging him and also tried to distract him from his horrible playing by engaging him in random conversation. I could easily sense that Jack felt very badly for him.
After yet another 3-putt, Johnny sighed with deep frustration... “That’s ultimately what drove me out of the game,” he said.
Jack said something along the lines of, “you and everybody else, John. You’re in good company.”
Miller had won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am just three years earlier.