Miller Westford Barber Jr. (March 31, 1931 – June 11, 2013) was an American professional golfer. He enjoyed significant success on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s, and a greater degree of success on the Senior PGA Tour in the 1980s.

Early life Barber was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He spent much of his life in Texarkana, Texas. Barber graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1954.

Professional career In 1958, he turned professional. He 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. Earlier in April 1969, Barber entered the final round of the Masters Tournament two shots out of the lead and was paired in Sunday's final group with Billy Casper but shot a final round 74 (which included a birdie from under a tree on the 72nd hole) and finished in 7th place. 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.

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. Barber was survived by his wife of 43 years, Karen, and sons Larry and Richard and stepsons Casey, Doug, Brad.

Professional wins (43) PGA Tour wins (11) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Nov 22, 1964Cajun Classic Open Invitational−7 (72-70-68-67=277)5 strokes Gay Brewer, Jack Nicklaus2May 28, 1967Oklahoma City Open Invitational−10 (70-72-68-68=278)Playoff Gary Player3Apr 28, 1968Byron Nelson Golf Classic −10 (67-68-65-70=270)1 stroke Kermit Zarley4Jan 20, 1969Kaiser International Open Invitational−9 (68-67=135)1 stroke Bruce Devlin5Apr 20, 1970Greater New Orleans Open Invitational −10 (68-71-69-70=278)Playoff Bob Charles, Howie Johnson6Jan 24, 1971Phoenix Open Invitational−23 (65-64-67-65=261)2 strokes Billy Casper, Dan Sikes7Jan 24, 1972Dean Martin Tucson Open−15 (68-73-67-65=273)Playoff George Archer8Nov 17, 1973World Open Golf Championship +2 (68-74-73-74-67-73-72-69=570)3 strokes Ben Crenshaw9Sep 22, 1974Ohio Kings Island Open−7 (68-68-69-72=277)3 strokes George Johnson 10Oct 2, 1977Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic −16 (71-66-70-65=272)2 strokes George Archer11Jan 15, 1978Phoenix Open (2)−12 (68-69-70-65=272)1 stroke Jerry Pate, Lee Trevino

PGA Tour playoff record (3–4) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11964Pensacola Open Invitational Arnold Palmer, Gary PlayerPlayer won 18-hole playoff;Player: −1 (71),Palmer: E (72),Barber: +2 (74)21967Oklahoma City Open Gary PlayerWon with birdie on third extra hole31970Greater New Orleans Open Invitational Bob Charles, Howie JohnsonWon with birdie on second extra hole41972Dean Martin Tucson Open George ArcherWon with birdie on third extra hole after 18-hole playoff;Archer: E (72),Barber: E (72)51973Greater New Orleans Open Jack NicklausLost to birdie on second extra hole61973Liggett & Myers Open Bert GreeneLost to birdie on fifth extra hole71976San Antonio Texas Open Butch BairdLost to birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (1) 1962 Metropolitan Open

Senior PGA Tour wins (24) LegendSenior PGA Tour major championships (5)Other Senior PGA Tour (19) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Jun 14, 1981Peter Jackson Champions−12 (67-68-69=204)Playoff Gene Littler2Oct 18, 1981Suntree Seniors Classic −12 (68-71-65=204)4 strokes Bob Goalby3Dec 6, 1981PGA Seniors' Championship −7 (68-72-68-73=281)2 strokes Arnold Palmer4Jul 11, 1982U.S. Senior Open−2 (72-74-71-65=282)4 strokes Gene Littler, Dan Sikes5Oct 17, 1982Suntree Classic (2)−24 (66-66-66-66=264)5 strokes Don January6Oct 24, 1982Hilton Head Seniors International−6 (69-69=138)Shared title with Dan Sikes7Jun 12, 1983Senior Tournament Players Championship−10 (71-69-70-68=278)1 stroke Gene Littler8Jul 17, 1983Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am−16 (65-66-69=200)5 strokes Gay Brewer9Oct 2, 1983United Virginia Bank Seniors−5 (68-71-72=211)1 stroke Roberto De Vicenzo, Rod Funseth, Don January10Oct 23, 1983Hilton Head Seniors International (2)−7 (72-69-71-69=281)3 strokes Gay Brewer, Jim Ferree, Gene Littler11Jun 17, 1984Roy Clark Senior Challenge−1 (71-73-68=212)1 stroke Don January, Peter Thomson12Jul 1, 1984U.S. Senior Open (2) +6 (74-71-70-71=286)2 strokes Arnold Palmer 13Jul 8, 1984Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Classic−10 (69-70-67=206)3 strokes Rod Funseth14Jul 29, 1984Denver Post Champions of Golf−8 (68-70-70=208)3 strokes Gay Brewer15Feb 10, 1985Sunrise Senior Classic−5 (76-66-69=211)1 stroke Orville Moody16Jun 30, 1985U.S. Senior Open (3)−3 (71-72-71-71=285)4 strokes Roberto De Vicenzo17Sep 22, 1985PaineWebber World Seniors Invitational−11 (72-67-67-71=277)2 strokes Gay Brewer18Jan 11, 1986MONY Senior Tournament of Champions−6 (70-70-70-72=282)5 strokes Arnold Palmer19Aug 30, 1987Showdown Classic−6 (71-67-72=210)1 stroke Bruce Crampton20Sep 27, 1987Newport Cup−14 (67-70-65=202)2 strokes Bruce Crampton21Ju1 18, 1988Showdown Classic (2)−9 (70-67-70=207)2 strokes Orville Moody, Dick Rhyan, Ben Smith22Nov 13, 1988Fairfield Barnett Classic−19 (64-65-68=197)5 strokes Homero Blancas23Jan 8, 1989MONY Senior Tournament of Champions (2)−8 (73-67-68-72=280)1 stroke Dale Douglass24Mar 5, 1989Vintage Chrysler Invitational−7 (70-70-72-69=281)1 stroke Don Bies, Bob Charles, Larry Mowry

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11981Peter Jackson Champions Gene LittlerWon with par on first extra hole21986Bank One Senior Golf Classic Bob Goalby, Gene LittlerLittler won with par on third extra holeGoalby eliminated by 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 Tournament196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT127U.S. OpenCUT22CUTT32T26T18T24T6The Open Championship10PGA ChampionshipDQT34T8T5

Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentT21CUTCUTT43T15T26T24T12U.S. Open659T29T25T24T38CUTT35CUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTT60CUTPGA ChampionshipCUTT4T16T24T60T51T25T28

Tournament1980198119821983198419851986Masters TournamentCUTU.S. OpenCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT65CUTT34

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 madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 1 6 11 8U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 2 7 19 13The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 2PGA Championship 0 0 0 2 3 6 15 12Totals 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) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up 1981 PGA Seniors' Championship −7 (68-72-68-73=281) 2 strokes Arnold Palmer 1982 U.S. Senior Open −2 (72-74-71-65=282) 4 strokes Gene Littler, Dan Sikes 1983 Senior Tournament Players Championship −10 (71-69-70-68=278) 1 stroke Gene Littler 1984 U.S. Senior Open (2) +6 (74-71-70-71=286) 2 strokes Arnold Palmer 1985 U.S. Senior Open(3) −3 (71-72-71-71=285) 4 strokes Roberto De Vicenzo

U.S. national team appearances Professional Ryder Cup: 1969 (tie, cup retained), 1971 (winners)

See also List of golfers with most PGA Tour Champions wins List of golfers with most Champions Tour major championship wins

Notes

References

External links