John Daly

Mister Sifter

Never a dull moment with this guy around....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/7776907.stm

Raging Daly hurls camera at tree

Clegg (left) eventually found his camera and continued watching Daly
John Daly smashed a spectator's camera into a tree during a frustrating first-round 78 at the Australian Open.

Following a wayward stroke on the ninth the two-time major winner was preparing to take his next shot from some trees when Brad Clegg started taking photos.

Daly reportedly grabbed the camera and threw it at a tree, shouting: "You want it back, I'll buy you a new one."

"My eyes are still burning from the flash," Daly said. "I feel it was very rude to put a camera that close."

Daly took a penalty drop and bogeyed the ninth hole - the last of his round - before finishing with a six-over-par 78 and storming off the course after signing his card on Thursday.

Clegg, who had to search for his camera after the incident, said: "I was bold, but I wasn't unreasonable," adding he would not be seeking compensation.

"I don't think I'll be chasing him for the money. He's a big bloke!" he said.

In a statement after the round, Daly said: "I was looking to take a drop and a camera was six inches away from my face. If I was 10 under, I would have felt the same."

It has not been a happy visit to Australia for Daly, who is being paid an appearance fee for his three-tournament trip, but has missed the cut at both the Australian Masters and the PGA in the past two weeks.

Tournament director Trevor Herden described it "an unfortunate incident", but added that Daly would not face sanctions and would tee off in the second round on Friday.
Crowds gather around Daly on the ninth at the Royal Sydney Golf club

Herden said he had spoken to Clegg and that the spectator realised he should not have been using the camera without proper accreditation.

Organisers offered Clegg tickets for the weekend, but he declined.

Ben Sellenger, PGA of Australia tour commissioner, said they would review the incident to see if it was appropriate to take any action.

It is not the first incident involving Daly, the 1995 Open and 1991 UPSGA champion, and photographic equipment.

He required surgery earlier this year to fix a torn stomach muscle after sustaining an injury at the Honda Classic in 2007 when he tried to stop his swing after hearing the click of a fan's camera.

It is also not the first time Daly has been in trouble in Australia as he was fined in 2002 after throwing his putter and ball into a greenside pond and failing to sign his scorecard at the Australian PGA.

Daly's world ranking has plummeted to 737, with his career beset by drink and gambling problems, although he intends to play regularly on the European Tour next year.

Kingser

In fairness to him ..have you ever gotten flashed close up and a white dot stays in your vison for few moments... Then imaging you've to tee off after that.. The fella was lucky not to be thrown out really but daly made too much of a big deal everone is looking at his actions. Still was one of the big hitters in he's days.. a sad story.

f22

I think JD is a legend and I love watching him play. Fact of the matter is he's nuts. If he had the mind to go with the talent he has I've no doubt he'd be in the worlds top 10.

You never know what's coming next and that's why I like him.

kagni

And here's the other side of Daly...

A Daly occurrence? How Long John inspired boy.

JOHN DALY'S life is catalogued in sensational headlines - strong drink, four marriages, a recent spell in a police lock-up and so many more - but an incident 13 years ago that made a huge impact on a youngster went unreported.

It showed the other side of Daly, the redneck from Arkansas who won the 1991 US PGA championship and the 1995 British Open - a side that reveals Daly simply as a nice bloke behind all those damaging headlines.

Damon Welsford was 12 when his father Paul took him and brother Justin to the Australian Masters at Huntingdale in 1995. They followed Daly in the pro-am and, early on, he took a shine to Damon.

On practically every hole, Daly signed a golf ball and handed it to the kid. Then, at the par-five 14th with a water carry off the tee of around 150 metres, Daly handed Damon his driver and said: "Hit it over and I'll give you 50 bucks."

The little fellow did, and Daly signed a $50 note and handed it over. The kid then tagged along behind his new hero for all 72 holes of the tournament.

Fast forward to this week. Daly is playing at Coolum in the Australian PGA Championship, which starts today - and so too is 25-year-old professional golfer Damon Welsford.

"Get out of it, you're kidding," Daly exclaimed when the Herald reintroduced them on the practice putting green at Coolum yesterday. "You're a professional golfer. Maybe you need a caddie. If you need a looper, I'll caddie for you."

Daly didn't specifically recall that day, probably because similar scenarios have been enacted the world over. "Wow, I don't even remember yesterday. That's great, you're a pro now. And, I gave you the 50 bucks."

Welsford asked: "How have you been going?" Daly replied: "Well, you know …"

Well, everyone knows.

Welsford still has the $50. It's framed and hanging on the wall of the family home on the NSW South Coast. And, he still has several of the balls.

Welsford, whose father was the 1970 Victorian country champion, is entering his third and final year as a trainee professional at Royal Canberra. Last week, he won the National Futures Championship at Catalina on the NSW South Coast, and he successfully pre-qualified for the PGA title, on Monday.

"Yes, John did inspire me. I was an 18 to 20 marker at the time. It was pretty cool what happened that day," Welsford said.

"He must have done a lot of things like that around the world. I'll always remember it."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/golf/a-daly-occurrence-how-long-john-inspired-boy/2008/12/03/1228257139304.html

ThunderCat

Daly's the man. I remember reading one time that he steped up onto a tee box on a par 4 hole and his caddy says to him that this hole should be a drive then a 9 iron. Daly hits the 9 iron off the tee and then hits driver off the fairway and puts it on the green. Legend.:D

WHIP IT!

ThunderCat wrote: »

Daly's the man. I remember reading one time that he steped up onto a tee box on a par 4 hole and his caddy says to him that this hole should be a drive then a 9 iron. Daly hits the 9 iron off the tee and then hits driver off the fairway and puts it on the green. Legend.:D

He also pretty much sponsored two sisters (I think) from early in his career and eventually put em through college etc.

He's a good guy, just got some issues I guess!

stevire

WHIP IT! wrote: »

He also pretty much sponsored two sisters (I think) from early in his career and eventually put em through college etc.

He's a good guy, just got some issues I guess!

On first read I thought you meant nuns!! Then i realised it was his sisters!!

Jaysoose

JD is a legend, read his autobiography and get an insight into the madness.

kagni

He's just been given a 6 month suspension from the PGA Tour...
http://sports.myway.com/news/12312008/v1921.html

He was probably going to play mostly on the European Tour anyway but maybe this will get him to make an effort to sort himself out.

WHIP IT!

kagni wrote: »

He's just been given a 6 month suspension from the PGA Tour...
http://sports.myway.com/news/12312008/v1921.html

He was probably going to play mostly on the European Tour anyway but maybe this will get him to make an effort to sort himself out.

Hope so, was always a big fan of his and gave him the benefit of the doubt as he seemed to have so many issues... But these days he just seems like he aint arsed and is becoming a complete sideshow.

xword

He is a complete tosser.

Par72

Alcoholism is a terrible disease.

Marshy

The story about that Australian kid was nice to hear. I've always had a soft spot for JD, he's a great player to watch when he's playing well. His troubles are obviously well-documented and its a shame he's struggled so badly in recent years. I just hope he can return to some form eventually so we can see him in full swing again.

kagni

Now that he's off the tour it looks like he is trying to raise some drinking money.
Some of his cars are for sale on Ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hummer-H1-Turbo-Diesel-2002-Hummer-H1-Wagon-Very-Low-Miles-John-Daly_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a570Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1308Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem230316641573QQitemZ230316641573QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-SL65-AMG-2006-Mercedes-SL65-AMG-V12-BiTurbo-600HP-John-Daly_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a570Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1308Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem230316652897QQitemZ230316652897QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

Eireannach

Don't forget the time he passed out in front of Hooters in North Carolina. It's known when JD passes out sometimes, he sleeps with his eyes open. Some people were walking past and saw him passed out with his eyes open and thought he was dead. They called the police. Here's the mug shot

lostexpectation

thats such a harsh penalty.