Michael Miller thriving at Q School with a little help from his friends

Michael Miller was only able to tee it up at the DP World Tour Qualifying School Final Stage thanks to the generosity of some members at his local club.

On Friday at INFINITUM he had his bunker raked by a two-time Major champion and by next week he could be a DP World Tour member.

The American is used to the trials and tribulations of trying to find a home in the golfing world - this is his fourth trip to the DP World Tour Qualifying School and he has played at many others across the globe.

He has also made it to the U.S. Open twice but has not played a ranking event since losing his Korn Ferry Tour card in 2021.

At last year's Nepa Invitational - a charity event with a limited professional field organised by PGA TOUR professional Brandon Matthews - he even slept in his car before taking home the trophy and some welcome prize money to ease his debts.

Fast forward 12 months and, with a little help from his friends, the 32-year-old was shooting an opening 64 at Final Stage, with Ryder Cup great José María Olazábal watching on.

The two-time Masters winner is caddying this week for his nephew Joseba Torres, with whom Miller was also paired at last week's Second Stage at Golf Las Pinaillas.

"One of my two greens I missed, he raked my bunker, and you don't have too many times where a two-time Major champion is raking your bunker," said Miller.

"He cleaned my ball a couple of times.

"He's been so cordial and so nice to me. He's here with his nephew, he didn't even have to talk to me and he really has been nice. Anything I've asked he's been willing to help. On the 18th we're in front of a few people he's willing to clean my ball."

While Olazábal was helping Miller create happy memories in Tarragona, 12 years ago he was inflicting painful ones on the New York native.

Miller was at Medinah on the Saturday of the 2012 Ryder Cup, where Olazábal's Europe team snatched two late points and then overturned a 10-6 deficit to complete the famous Miracle on Sunday.

"I've wanted to ask him a few times about the Ryder Cup and I haven't done it yet," said Miller. 

"I was there on Saturday at Medinah and it looked like we were running away with the thing. I want to know what he said in the team room and get a little inspiration."

His play was certainly inspired in round one, and Miller was happy to repay his backers at home with some good news.

"The game has been feeling good and I just wanted an opportunity so I said, 'you know what? Let's give it a go'," he said.

"Some members from my club were nice enough to help me out. One of the reasons I'm here is they helped me out cash-wise in order to get here.

"It's been very nice to play well and it almost feels like I'm kind of giving back to them, letting them know that it's not a waste, that I can somewhat play."

To earn his place on the DP World Tour - where Miller has played eight events in his career so far - he will need to be among the top 20 and ties after 108 holes of golf, but that marathon does not faze him.

"I'm a player, I love to play," he said. "I don't love to beat balls so this almost kind of benefits me. When I'm home, I play golf all day.

"Yesterday I played 27 holes, it's just who I am. I love this type of format, I've done Asian Tour QSchool where we played five but never six so I'm going to try my best to not over do it, I have a tendency to do that."

*The Monday Q Info's Ryan French contributed to this article