Rangers Miller A Hockey Star Who Also Excels At Golf

Excelling at one sport, being talented enough to be a world-class athlete, is a rarity in itself. About 1% of all who play youth sports will one day know what it feels like to play that sport as a professional.

Therefore, being able to compete among the elite in multiple sports is truly a unique achievement. JT Miller is one such athlete who’s proven capable of pulling off this feat.

Since 2012, Miller has been an NHL player. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound center has skated in 871 NHL games with the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s a three-time 30-goal scorer.

Beyond that, Miller is also an elite golfer. His current handicap is 0.2, basically making him a scratch golfer. To that end, he also continues to challenge himself against the best in that sport. Once again this spring, Miller is seeking to qualify for the US Open. 

One of golf’s four majors, the US Open makes qualifying spots open to any player with a handicap of 1.4 or lower. Qualifying events are held throughout April and May. This will be Miller’s 10th attempt to make the grade and play in the US Open. So far, he’s 0-for-9.

“I'm not expecting to move on,” Miller frankly admitted to NHL.com. “It's just a nice day to see what I can do against guys that eat, breathe and sleep golf. It's a good test for me."

Surviving this demanding test takes plenty of skill and resolve. It starts with local qualifying. At these events, as many as 100+ players tee it up, competing for anywhere from 1-5 spots in the next round. A golfer must advance through three rounds of this grueling test just to garner a spot in the US Open.

Miller is among a number of hockey players who also excel on the golf links. In 1970, Dale Tallon won the Canadian Amateur and was selected second overall in the NHL Amateur Draft by the Canucks. New Jersey Devils goalie Jake Allen was a two-time junior champion at Kingswood Park Golf Course in his hometown of Fredericton, New Brunswick. Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Schiefele and Hall of Fame goalie Grant Fuhr played on the Canadian PGA Tour. NHL referee Garrett Rank has played in both the US Amateur and US Open.

"It's a good mental reset to get away from hockey," Miller said. "It's obviously a lot different than hockey, which is probably why I like it. Hockey is such a team-oriented game 90 percent of the year, so to get out and try to do everything myself is very difficult, and I enjoy a good challenge. 

“You don't have a team around you to bail you out with golf, and that's what is attractive to me is how completely different it is and how mentally tough you have to be to be good at it."

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