June 12, 2007
GoRedbirds.com: Coming off a season in which you and your brother (former Illinois State standout Matt Miller) both led ISU to a Missouri Valley Conference Championship and were named to the all-conference team, what goals have you set for yourself heading into your sophomore campaign?
Drew Miller: Same type of stuff...win as a team and all-conference is fine, but mainly to win as a team. Maybe get out of regionals and go to nationals this time.
GR: What was it like having your older brother on the same team?
DM: It was really cool having my brother there, someone that knows me better than anyone. So if stuff started going wrong, he would know how to deal with it. It was also cool because he's obviously really good too, so it helped having him there from a golf standpoint.
GR: Have you always been competitive playing with each other as youngsters?
DM: Yeah, we've always been competitive. I didn't play golf when I was younger as much as Matt did, but we've been competitive in all sports that we have played. But, we're brothers so I guess that's what brothers do.
GR: Growing up, what was your favorite TV show?
DM: Probably Saved By the Bell. That's a good one.
GR: What was your first lunch box?
DM: a paper bag probably. (laughs) I don't think I had a lunch box.
GR: Why did you choose to stay and play golf at your hometown college?
DM: A lot of reasons...Having a brother on the team helped, the coaches are obviously good, and just being around the ISU Golf Course. I played for U-High (University High School), so I played out here all the time. It was just kind of like a comfort thing I guess too, to go along with that.
GR: What's the best thing about going to college in your hometown?
DM: (Smiles) Having your mom do your laundry. Having that and just being by your family so you can go home and see them. You don't have to travel two or three hours to see them. It's nice to have them around.
GR: What's playing in your cd player/ipod right now?
DM: Kenny Chesney
GR: What's your favorite sport besides golf?
DM: Basketball. I used to play in high school and I like watching college basketball. I'm a huge Duke fan.
GR: Avanti's or Beningo's?
DM: Beningo's.
GR: Cubs or Cardinals?
DM: I would have to say the Cubs, but I like the Dodgers. But, I would take the Cubs over the Cardinals.
GR: What would your perfect meal consist of?
DM: Teriyaki steak from Alexander's, salad with blue cheese and a cherry coke. For dessert, I would probably take a chocolate milkshake.
GR: What things do you do to get ready to compete at a tournament?
DM: If I know the course that I'm going to, I kind of try to think of things that could cause me trouble, like tee shots or shots around the green. Usually I just try to focus on hitting the ball well, and that I'm chipping and putting well. Then whatever happens, just happens.
GR: What is the craziest thing that has happened to you while you were playing at a tournament?
DM: I was playing when I was a junior in high school and it was the summer. One of the kid's Dad in my group got hit in the head by a ball. So they had to delay the tournament a little bit and take him to the emergency room. Other than that, nothing really too crazy.
GR: If you could put together your dream four-man playing group, who would you pick?
DM: My brother, my dad and (PGA Tour Professional) Sergio Garcia.
GR: How much has your swing changed (if it has changed at all) since you have been working with head coach Ray Kralis?
DM: It's changed a lot. I don't know how much you know about golf, but it changed completely from one plane to two planes, from the fall to the spring. It's just getting better. A lot of it has to do with Ray and a lot of it has to do with (former ISU golfer) Craig Onsrud, who works out at Ironwood Golf Course. It has just gotten a lot better.
GR: Who is your prediction to win the upcoming U.S. Open?
DM: I got to take my favorite player Sergio (Garcia). I would either say Sergio or Phil (Mickelson), if he's healthy.
GR: Happy Gilmore or Caddy Shack?
DM: Happy Gilmore
GR: Have you ever hit a hole-in-one?
DM: I have one, number five at Prairie Vista. It's the same hole that my brother made a hole-in-one on, so it's kind of cool. Mine was my junior summer and I think his was during his junior summer too. It's pretty coincidental, same flag and everything. It is pretty cool.
GR: Describe the greatest golf shot you have ever hit
DM: It would probably have to be a shot I hit this year at regionals. I was on a down slope of a bunker, but I was buried. It was a pretty severe down slope, and the green was about 10 yards wide and it was running away from me. I hit it out and it hit the lip of the bunker and popped up and rolled to a couple feet away from the cup.
It would be that shot or during that tournament, on the same hole, I hit it right behind a tree in really long rough. I hit an eight iron somehow over the tree and onto the green. Other than that, I don't know ... (pauses) or maybe it was that hole-in-one.
