Here's Johnny—giving It To You Straight Off The Tee

MILLER : That's the same swing that cost him the Western Open.

GUMBEL : In fairness to Peter, he says to this day he just chose the wrong club.

MILLER : All I know is, the ball went right.

Miller says he's beginning to feel at ease in the booth, though he has much to learn. "When I turn back to the camera after talking to Bryant, I look awkward," he says. "It's all those bright lights glaring in my eyes. I've got to learn to look at the camera as a friend."

He must get the hang of when to jump in with a comment and when not to. "Nothing is worse than two guys talking at once," he says. Friends tell him he needs to project his voice. He agrees. And he still is unnerved at having a producer talking to him through an earphone while he is trying to describe how a 20-foot putt is going to break. These are all skills he thinks he can master.

So it looks as if Miller is launched on a new career, which is fortunate, because his golfing days may be over. His shins constantly ache—he suffers from something called compartment syndrome—and he may have to undergo surgery on them in June. Even if he can still play, the Senior tour is eight long years away. As an announcer, Miller may not be shooting 61s yet, but he's definitely on the leader board.