TLDR
Contents
- NHL star J.T. Miller missed qualifying for the U.S. Open golf tournament by four shots
- The New York Rangers forward shot a 4-over 76 at the Pennsylvania qualifying event
- Miller admitted to experiencing severe nerves during the event
- This wasn’t his first attempt at golf qualifying, having played in at least three previous qualifiers
- His sporting crossover briefly affected niche crypto markets with FUNToken seeing a 7% volume increase
J.T. Miller, known for his prowess on the ice as a New York Rangers forward, recently tried his hand at a different sport, competing in a 2025 U.S. Open golf qualifier. The NHL All-Star fell short in his attempt, finishing with a 4-over 76 score at the Pennsylvania qualifying event.
Miller missed advancing to a playoff round by four shots. Had he made it to the playoff, he would have had a chance to be an alternate for the prestigious golf tournament.
This wasn’t Miller’s first venture into golf competition. According to statements he made to 93.7 The Fan, the hockey star has participated in at least three qualifying events in the past.
The crossover athlete openly acknowledged that nerves played a major role in his performance. “Today, on the first green, I couldn’t even hold the putter,” Miller said, as reported by NHL.com.
He added that he tried to talk himself through the nerves, saying, “I talked myself into it that it wouldn’t be like that. But I think the first couple of swings are just like that.”
The Qualifying Round
The effects of those nerves were evident from the start, as Miller bogeyed on the first hole. Despite the shaky beginning, he managed to compose himself enough to finish the round.
Miller maintained a realistic perspective about his golf ambitions. “I had an opportunity to play for one day,” he stated. “I know who I’m playing against out there.”
The competitive nature that has served him well in hockey was evident in his approach to golf. “I’m a competitive guy, so I just kept the expectations realistic. I’m happy with myself,” Miller explained.
Currently in his second stint with the New York Rangers, Miller has established himself as an NHL All-Star. His most recent appearance on the ice was in a game against the Nashville Predators at Madison Square Garden on March 2, 2025.
Unexpected Market Impact
Miller’s golf qualifying attempt had ripple effects beyond the sports world. According to reports, his bid created movement in sports NFTs and fan token crypto markets.
FUNToken experienced a 7% increase in trading volume, reaching $1.2 million on Binance within an hour of the news breaking about Miller’s qualifying attempt. This data was reported by CoinGecko.
Another athlete-based token, Chiliz, saw a smaller 5% volume increase to $8.5 million. These micro-reactions reflect how athlete activities can now influence blockchain-based fan economies.
The market reactions were limited to niche altcoins that follow real-time sports narratives. Traditional stocks like DraftKings Inc. and Penn National Gaming remained unaffected by the news.
Similarly, institutional crypto investors continued to focus on macroeconomic data rather than responding to such micro-events. Bitcoin ETFs maintained steady inflows in line with weekly averages.
Miller’s last statement about his golf experience suggests he has no plans to switch sports permanently. “I had an opportunity to play for one day,” he said, emphasizing that he kept his expectations realistic for the event.
The qualifying tournament took place on Tuesday, May 14, 2025, with the news breaking later that same day.
