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 nameMiller Westford Barber, Jr.
NicknameMr. X
Born(1931-03-31)March 31, 1931
Shreveport, Louisiana
DiedJune 11, 2013(2013-06-11) (aged 82)
Scottsdale, Arizona
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg; 14 st)
Nationality United States
Career
CollegeUniversity of Arkansas
Turned professional1958
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins43
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour11
PGA Tour Champions24 (6th all time)
Other1 (regular)
7 (senior)
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament7th: 1969
PGA ChampionshipT4: 1971
U.S. Open6th/T6: 1969, 1970
The Open Championship10th: 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 Gay Brewer, Jack Nicklaus
2 May 28, 1967 Oklahoma City Open Invitational −10 (70-72-68-68=278) Playoff Gary Player
3 Apr 28, 1968 Byron Nelson Golf Classic −10 (67-68-65-70=270) 1 stroke Kermit Zarley
4 Jan 20, 1969 Kaiser International Open Invitational −9 (68-67=135)* 1 stroke Bruce Devlin
5 Apr 20, 1970 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational −10 (68-71-69-70=278) Playoff Bob Charles, Howie Johnson
6 Jan 24, 1971 Phoenix Open Invitational −23 (65-64-67-65=261) 2 strokes Billy Casper, Dan Sikes
7 Jan 24, 1972 Dean Martin Tucson Open −15 (68-73-67-65=273) Playoff George Archer
8 Nov 17, 1973 World Open Golf Championship +2 (68-74-73-74-
67-73-72-69=570)		 3 strokes Ben Crenshaw
9 Sep 22, 1974 Ohio Kings Island Open −7 (68-68-69-72=277) 3 strokes George Johnson
10 Oct 2, 1977 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic −16 (71-66-70-65=272) 2 strokes George Archer
11 Jan 15, 1978 Phoenix Open (2) −12 (68-69-70-65=272) 1 stroke Jerry Pate, Lee Trevino

*Note: The 1969 Kaiser International Open Invitational was shortened to 36 holes due to weather.

PGA Tour playoff record (3–4)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1964 Pensacola Open Arnold Palmer, Gary Player Player won 18-hole playoff;
Player: −1 (71),
Palmer: E (72),
Barber: +2 (74)
2 1967 Oklahoma City Open Gary Player Won with birdie on third extra hole
3 1970 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational Bob Charles, Howie Johnson Won with birdie on second extra hole
4 1972 Dean Martin Tucson Open George Archer Won with birdie on third extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Archer: E (72),
Barber: E (72)
5 1973 Greater New Orleans Open Jack Nicklaus Lost to birdie on second extra hole
6 1973 Liggett & Myers Open Bert Greene Lost to birdie on fifth extra hole
7 1976 San Antonio Texas Open Butch Baird Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (1)

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 Gene Littler
2 Oct 18, 1981 Suntree Seniors Classic −12 (68-71-65=204) 4 strokes Bob Goalby
3 Dec 6, 1981 PGA Seniors' Championship −7 (68-72-68-73=281) 2 strokes Arnold Palmer
4 Jul 11, 1982 U.S. Senior Open −2 (72-74-71-65=282) 4 strokes Gene Littler, Dan Sikes
5 Oct 17, 1982 Suntree Classic (2) −24 (66-66-66-66=264) 5 strokes Don January
6 Oct 24, 1982 Hilton Head Seniors International −6 (69-69=138)* Shared title with Dan Sikes
7 Jun 12, 1983 Senior Tournament Players Championship −10 (71-69-70-68=278) 1 stroke Gene Littler
8 Jul 17, 1983 Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am −16 (65-66-69=200) 5 strokes Gay Brewer
9 Oct 2, 1983 United Virginia Bank Seniors −5 (68-71-72=211) 1 stroke Roberto De Vicenzo, Rod Funseth,
Don January
10 Oct 23, 1983 Hilton Head Seniors International (2) −7 (72-69-71-69=281) 3 strokes Gay Brewer, Jim Ferree,
Gene Littler
11 Jun 17, 1984 Roy Clark Senior Challenge −1 (71-73-68=212) 1 stroke Don January, Peter Thomson
12 Jul 1, 1984 U.S. Senior Open (2) +6 (74-71-70-71=286) 2 strokes Arnold Palmer
13 Jul 8, 1984 Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Classic −10 (69-70-67=206) 3 strokes Rod Funseth
14 Jul 29, 1984 Denver Post Champions of Golf −8 (68-70-70=208) 3 strokes Gay Brewer
15 Feb 10, 1985 Sunrise Senior Classic −5 (76-66-69=211) 1 stroke Orville Moody
16 Jun 30, 1985 U.S. Senior Open (3) −3 (71-72-71-71=285) 4 strokes Roberto De Vicenzo
17 Sep 22, 1985 PaineWebber World Seniors Invitational −11 (72-67-67-71=277) 2 strokes Gay Brewer
18 Jan 11, 1986 MONY Senior Tournament of Champions −6 (70-70-70-72=282) 5 strokes Arnold Palmer
19 Aug 30, 1987 Showdown Classic −6 (71-67-72=210) 1 stroke Bruce Crampton
20 Sep 27, 1987 Newport Cup −14 (67-70-65=202) 2 strokes Bruce Crampton
21 Ju1 18, 1988 Showdown Classic (2) −9 (70-67-70=207) 2 strokes Orville Moody, Dick Rhyan,
Ben Smith
22 Nov 13, 1988 Fairfield Barnett Classic −19 (64-65-68=197) 5 strokes Homero Blancas
23 Jan 8, 1989 MONY Senior Tournament of Champions (2) −8 (73-67-68-72=280) 1 stroke Dale Douglass
24 Mar 5, 1989 Vintage Chrysler Invitational −7 (70-70-72-69=281) 1 stroke Don Bies, Bob Charles,
Larry Mowry

*Note: The 1982 Hilton Head Seniors International was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather.

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1981 Peter Jackson Champions Gene Littler Won with par on first extra hole
2 1986 Bank One Senior Golf Classic Bob Goalby, Gene Littler 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)

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
  Top 10
  Did not play

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
TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament000016118
U.S. Open0000271913
The Open Championship00001142
PGA Championship0002361512
Totals00027204935
  • 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)
YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up
1981PGA Seniors' Championship−7 (68-72-68-73=281)2 strokes Arnold Palmer
1982U.S. Senior Open−2 (72-74-71-65=282)4 strokes Gene Littler, Dan Sikes
1983Senior Tournament Players Championship−10 (71-69-70-68=278)1 stroke Gene Littler
1984U.S. Senior Open (2)+6 (74-71-70-71=286)2 strokes Arnold Palmer
1985U.S. Senior Open(3)−3 (71-72-71-71=285)4 strokes Roberto De Vicenzo

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

See also

References
  1. "Miller Barber passes away at age 82". PGA Tour. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  2. "Golfer Miller Barber dies at 82". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 13, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  3. http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2013/06/remembering-miller-barber-as-a-great-player-and-a-singular-c.html
  4. http://www.legacy.com/ns/obituary.aspx?n=miller-barber&pid=165294036
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