MILLER IS CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'.

Byline: DAVE SHELBURNE Golf

Scott Miller's dream season concludes this week amid the eucalyptus-lined fairways, barrancas and overwhelming history of Riviera Country Club - site of the 1948 U.S. Open, 1983 and '95 PGA Championships and 1998 U.S. Senior Open as well as the latest of 80 years of PGA Tour stops in Los Angeles.

Miller will appreciate all that history when he tees it up Thursday in the Nissan Open. But Riviera is likely to linger longer in his memory as the finish to his personal West Coast Swing on the world's best golf tour.

The Moorpark Country Club head professional has been living the dream of hundreds of his club-pro colleagues in the Southern California section of the PGA of America, thanks to winning the SCPGA championship last summer.

As a result of that victory at PGA of Southern California Golf Club in Beaumont, Miller was awarded berths in three PGA Tour events - each one producing greater success or anticipation for him.

After shooting 73-75-73-77 and missing the cut by 17 strokes in a last-place finish at the five-round Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in the Coachella Valley, Miller took his game to the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in San Diego. He opened there with a 4-under-par 68 good for the fourth-best score of the first round, wound up signing autographs afterward and came within two shots of making the 36-hole cut.

Now, it's Riviera and all that evokes: Ben Hogan winning the Open. Hal Sutton edging Jack Nicklaus and Steve Elkington posting a playoff win over Colin Montgomerie in PGA classics. Hale Irwin winning the fourth of his seven senior majors.

``Of the three exemptions I got, I'm really looking forward to Riviera the most,'' Miller said, ``because of all the tradition and history there.''

He doesn't mind looking backward either, to that 68 at Torrey Pines North - a score that left him leading 133 players, including eventual champion Tiger Woods.

``I'm giddy,'' Miller said that day, after caddie and former college roommate Eric Bradley helped the Moorpark head pro during a seven-birdie day both knew they would remember forever.

``I tried real hard when we walked off 17 not to look at the leaderboard,'' Miller said. ``It's pretty special.''

It was special, as well, for Bradley, who was sharing the dream thanks to a pact the two made when both were playing golf for Fort Lewis College in Colorado.

If either ever got to play in a PGA Tour event, they agreed then, the other would caddie. So Bradley - now a PGA section pro in Colorado - flew out from Vail to carry the bag at the Hope and Buick.

``I don't even pull a club out,'' Miller said. ``He pulls the club out, gives it to me and I trust him 100 percent. He's a great player, too. I know it's hard for him to sit here and carry my bag and watch, but he's been fantastic.''

So, too, has been the experience, which began when Miller shot 67 to overcome a five-stroke final-round deficit, then won a four-man playoff at the section championship to earn this opportunity.

``I've enjoyed every single minute of it,'' he said. ``I know at the Bob Hope I got down on myself a little because I know what my potential is and I didn't play to it.

``But it's been great,'' said Miller, who has had his family with him at both previous tour stops and will have them - and probably many other supporters - on hand this week at Riviera.

Fellow area professional Roger Gunn, who instructs at Moorpark's Tierra Rejada Golf Club and has qualified to play in two Nissan Opens, predicted a rewarding, memorable and probably stressful moment when Miller takes his first shot in his hometown PGA Tour debut.

Gunn said it will seem like a Tiger Woods gallery to the Ventura County club pro:

``He's gonna have 100 students out there and club members. It's a nice feeling. It could put extra pressure on you, but it's also nice to know you're not alone. I think he's going to enjoy it.''

No doubt about that, said Miller, who admits to just one concern:

``I don't know if I have enough tickets to go around.''

--Names in the game: Former Pepperdine golfer Michael Putnam came within a shot of a playoff for the final open qualifier spot in the Nissan Open, shooting 68 Monday at the Industry Hills Babe Zaharias course.

Greg Kraft, Richard Johnson, Jason Shultz (all 66) and Eric Axley (67) claimed the four berths in the 90-player competition. Tierra Rejada teaching professional Roger Gunn, bidding for his third Nissan qualifying berth, and former area college golfers Travis Johnson (UCLA) and Jason Allred (Pepperdine) shot even-par 71.

Tournament director Demetri Pagalidis of the West Valley Boys and Girls Club has openings for his Monday fundraiser for the Mid-Valley Fear baseball team. The event will be played at the Lost Canyons Shadow course. Information: [phone].

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ON THE GREEN

BY DAVE SHELBURNE

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