Breaking News: John Daly Would Rather Get Drunk Than Play Golf

John Daly has priorities. First comes alcohol. Then women. Then gambling. Then... if there's time... golf. Jeremy Scott has the details.

by Jeremy Scott (Analyst)

96

19135 reads

Sports

March 12, 2008

Golf, Men's Golf, John Daly, John Daly , John Daly, PGA

Maybe one of the most shocking pieces of golf news to come out in years has rocked the PGA: John Daly, 300+lb. golfer and winner of two major championships, would rather get drunk than play golf.

I know, I know. It's tough to believe. But we have it straight from a reliable source: Butch Harmon.

Harmon is Daly's swing coach. Well, at least he was. He used to be. Recently, though, he quit.

His reason? And I quote:

“My whole goal for him was he’s got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life,” Harmon said from his golf school in Las Vegas. “And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk.”

Seems that Daly had a minor bit of a meltdown at the recent PODS Championship this past weekend. During a rain delay, Big John spent a lot of time in the Hooters corporate tent, drinking beer and mingling. Then he went out and shot a 77. He followed that up on Friday with an 80. Listen, I am not lying when I tell you that I could shoot an 80.

So Daly missed the cut. But rather than go out and practice the next day—or heck, even going home to mope—Big John says to himself, "Gee, that Hooters corporate tent is probably still hopping." So he heads back for more beer, signs some autographs (signing one on a woman's pants...classy), and just generally hangs out.

Now, for all I know, it's common practice for golfers who miss the cut to stick around an extra day so they can schmooze and booze in the tent of a beer and chicken wing joint. I'm certainly no professional golfer. But somehow I doubt it.

Let's take that superhuman alien robot we know as Tiger Woods as an example. When was the last time you heard a story about him getting drunk or signing autographs in weird places or anything like that?

Yeah...never.

Because the one or two times Tiger has missed the cut, I'm quite sure he was up at 4 am the next day hitting the driving range.

Tiger—the undisputed "winner" in the PGA—cares more about winning golf tournaments than he does about drinking or socializing.

Daly, well...Daly just doesn't seem to care about much at all, eh?

I mean, this is a dude who lights up cigarettes on national television in the middle of a tournament round, for Pete's sake. This is a man who resembles John Goodman, so he's obviously no stranger to cheeseburgers. This is a man with a history of gambling problems, who was married to a woman who got in legal trouble related to a gambling ring.

With Daly it has been scandal after scandal after scandal...all related to one of three things: women, alcohol, or gambling. It's sort of the PGA's equivalent of "sex, drugs, and rock & roll." But does the PGA really need or want a rock star?

It's pretty clear Harmon doesn't think so:

“You don’t see guys who are any good doing that,” he said. “All the guys I work with are working their (tails) off. John didn’t have it. I like the kid, but he’s got to get his head on straight. The partying and other shenanigans, if that’s the way he wants to be, I don’t choose to be a part of it.”

Every day, golfers across this country go out on the links and get drunk while they hack away on their way to an 88. John Daly does that for a living.

He gets paid to be just like that rowdy foursome you see on every course you've ever played. If you forced him to choose, Daly would rather get drunk than play golf, and sometimes he gets drunk BEFORE he plays golf...and yet he's still on the PGA Tour.

For that reason alone, he will always be a hero to many.

After all: if a 300 pound alcoholic gambling addict who smokes can be a professional golfer—without having to score under 80 very often—then there's indeed hope for the rest of us.

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comments (96) write a comment »

  1. who says it has to be either or?

  2. Didn't someone write this story before---in 1992?

  3. John Daly is committing what's called a slow suicide. Overweight, smoking, heavy drinking, he's obviously longing for the day when he suddenly drops dead from a heart attack. Unless he changes his lifestyle, that's where he's headed. May the LORD help him!

    1. Does anyone really care about John Daly. He has had hundreds of chances and opportunities. He is the Britney Spears of golf. Please John, go away!

  4. I think he's definitely a train wreck.

    At the same time, I think he's someone that a lot of amatuer golfers root for--specifically because he's such a mess.

  5. Who cares? Because he's not dedicated to the sport to the point where he obsesses over every detail of the sport does not make him any less entertaining to watch. And that's why we watch TV, isn't it? To be entertained. I like him. Is he my hero? No. But he plays golf well enough to be on tour and subsequently on TV. Sounds to me like the author has a bit of jealousy to deal with.

  6. Excellent piece...

    Missed one tidbit from that day. That after leaving the Hooters tent and resuming his round, Jon Gruden caddied for Daly.

    Daly is kinda the John Candy of golf.

  7. Jeremy, I must have missed it: who made you the judge of his righteousness? If you'd lived his life I doubt you'd be any different. Count yourself fortunate if you don't have his struggles, and stop judging others.

  8. Daly is, has always been, and always will be awesome. Golf needs more John Daly's!

  9. Why are you hating on John Daly? It's his life, and destructive as it may be, it's his choice. For all the negatives this story points out...which by the way is nothing new....JD himself writes about it in his books...you left out some positives: like John Daly always takes time out to sign an autograph or chat with a fan....good luck getting Tiger to do that, or 98% of the PGA pros! How about the fan who got struck by lightning during a tournament a few years back......JD put that fans daughters through college. JD has even given the shoes off his feet for a fan......so c'mon, stop banging on JD.

  10. Why are you hating on John Daly? It's his life, and destructive as it may be, it's his choice. For all the negatives this story points out...which by the way is nothing new....JD himself writes about it in his books...you left out some positives: like John Daly always takes time out to sign an autograph or chat with a fan....good luck getting Tiger to do that, or 98% of the PGA pros! How about the fan who got struck by lightning during a tournament a few years back......JD put that fans daughters through college. JD has even given the shoes off his feet for a fan......so c'mon, stop banging on JD.

  11. Anonymous-
    I really hope I didn't offend you. Sounds like I did. My apologies.

    I try to write about golf in a fun way, with a bit of an edge to my humor. I honestly thought that it came through in the article that I really like John Daly. That doesn't make him any less of a train wreck--which nearly everyone in the press seems to think he is.

    I think he's the everyman of the PGA Tour. He is, at the very least, not hiding who he is.

    And certainly I have my own little train wreck moments, as everyone does. So while I was having some fun with this latest piece of the John Daly puzzle, I wasn't trying to judge him or say he's headed to hell or anything.

  12. We see the NFL and other Major League sports suspending players for their off the field/court/rink antics so why shouldn't the PGA do the same.

  13. Daly is a man thats living life on his terms. You on the other hand can't even come up
    with a new story. Maybe if you were working harder you would'nt be able to shoot 80

  14. John Daly gambles, drinks and womanizes. Is it so hard for people to believe a professional athlete would stoop to this level? Drinking, gambling and womanizing in golf goes back to the very beginning of the sport in America. Showing up half drunk for Bing Crosby's Clambake, getting laid and then throwing down a few bucks on the calcutta was normal. Get off your high horse and live a little. If Big John's swing coach doesn't appreciate his act, I'm fairly certain there is a line of guys ready to help him with his golf swing for enough money. Maybe having a person like John on tour is good for golf. Don't we have enough rich little robots in the sport chewing granola and drinking water as they snub the fans that pay to watch them play?

  15. "May the LORD help him!" Are you kidding me?? Who cares what he does with his life or his body - its his decision. And as long as he's good enough to hit a golf ball, he'll have a job. Just because he likes to hang out with fans, drink some beer, and sign autographs makes him somewhat less of a person? I contend it makes him human!! Just because he doesnt care what EVERYONE thinks about his lifestyle and his weight, doesnt mean he needs to find Jesus... Quit judging people based on your 'ideal'...

  16. Hey John Daly is enjoying himself. His personal demons come with an ability to live life. Personally, I like the guy.

  17. We used to cheer for him. Now he's a fcking joke. He was impressive, back when he was the longest hitter on tour. Now that J.B. Homes or whoever smoke it past him, Tiger has gotten longer, and Daly is just taking up spots that 22 year old college grads should be getting. Sponsors who like drinking with him, need to stop wasting valuable sponsor exemptions on him. And I promise you, that is the ONLY way this man plays any tournaments anymore. He sure as sht isn't qualifying for any.

  18. And I liked the article and didn't think that it was too harsh. The guy's a mess and when he is performing in the public eye and being paid to do so in a sport that is ALL about tradition, sportsmanship, and appropriate behavior Daly is a "What's wrong with this picture". If you don't see that he is making a joke of this wonderful sport than you've probably been hanging out with him in the tent too long.
    -Just My Two Cents

  19. Jeremy, you actually BELEIVE you could shoot an 80 on the Innisbrook Copperhead course? Baloney!! I'd bet a dollar to a donut you wouldn't have broken 100 in the conditions those guys played in last week.

  20. Ahh QQ you little whining brat Jeremy!

  21. Daly is well over the top on chosen lifestyle/golf priorities. Sad. Tiger takes it seriously; his fitness, commitment and focus show result. Look at Federer, too. That being said, I never figured golf to be a sport of athletes, per se--it's more craftsman oriented. Image in far stretches of one's imagination, John Daly as a WTA tour pro--with his present level of ability, commitment, and physical prowess (LOL). The bottom rungers would--huff-puff-wheeze--eat him alive...

    What a blob! What a load! His only sponsor ought to "Obese/Gluttony" clothing line...Marlboro, etc. Maybe a tent company. So much for free spirits--he even gives them a bad name. Burp! Belch!

  22. He has the right to do what he wants. Just like the write has the right to voice his opinion as well as the PGA for not wanting his image to tarnish theirs. Jus t like I got the right to say"Party On Fatso!"

    1. he shouldn't have the right to screw up a Pro-Am for people who have paid tp play with him..that's not right plus he has to play on sponsors exemptions which can take a spot from someone who really wants to play. I like the guy but what he did was just plain wrong. He needs to think about others and not just himself.

  23. He's not the only PGA player to light up on camera in recent years. He's not involved in anything illegal or arguably immoral. I'm sure he's not the only PGA player that drinks, and I'm willing to bet that other golfers have also signed fan's clothing. So what's the big deal? If you can qualify for an event, you should be able to play in it within the rules. If the rules don't cover certain topics, they are outside the rules and irrelevant. If there is a problem with that do one of two things: change the rules or deal with it.

  24. Top 10 Reasons Why this is NOT News

    10 This is John Daily and we are suprised???
    9 If this was hockey or football, this would be not an issue - why is this an issue when it comes to golf.
    8 And John Daily is the only drinker in the world of golf???
    7 And John Daily is the only smoker in the world of golf???
    6 And John Daily is the only gamber in the world of golf???
    5 And John Daily is the only 'womanizer' in the world of golf???
    4 Not everybody can be Tiger or Ernie or whoever...
    3 Why is this even on the "Offend - o - meter?"
    2 Remember Allen Iverson's "We're talking about practice..." video? Replay that tape and insert the word 'golf' everytime Iverson says 'practice.'
    1 This is John Daily and we are suprised???

  25. If you're gonna write the article, you can't get sensitive to the knuckle heads who are going to reply negatively to it. Clearly there are a LOT of people who side with JD because he hasn't been sanctioned yet. It was a good story and a nice angle with Butch. The people who are replying negatively are JD wannabe's and that in it self speaks volume.

  26. Daly... One thing is certain, he will remain true to his fans. I admire the guy for showing us that work and fun go hand in hand. Golf after all is no longer a corporate meeting!

  27. Totally AGREE!!!!

  28. Daly is self-destructive, and that is his right. Becoming monomaniacal about knocking a little ball into a hole is just as aberrant, if less deleterious.

    He was cursed with a remarkable level of natural talent for a game, and blessed with the inordinate fondness for vices to squander it.

    The fact that some worship him as a degenerate "Everyman" is not HIS fault.

    So it goes.

    Fluff

  29. If he behavior is so horrible and the golf community is so much better than that, then why do they have a hooters tent?
    Just askin...

  30. Makes me want a cigarette myself..... AZ I AGREE TOTALLY!

  31. Daly isn't actually on the PGA Tour anymore, he receives exemptions to play in some tournaments. Get your facts right.

  32. Bet they don't have a Hooters tent at the Masters

    1. Actually, I think I heard they had a Hooters trailer not far from the Augusta course...and guess who was signing autographs in it (even though he wasn't in the field)?

  33. Who cares, Tiger dosen't do it cause he wins every week. Daily probly figures hell he will have a good time and play some golf make some money and RELAX. Just like some of you need to do.

  34. "Bet they don't have a Hooters tent at the Masters"

    Hootie even barred Michelson a feww years ago.

  35. The guy is not hurting anyone (maybe himself). NFL is chock full of gangsters, wife beaters, stipper punchers, drug dealers, drunk drivers, gun dealers and dog abusers. But, I still watch it. It is nice to see a guy who is approachable and genuine. Maybe he'll never win a major again but I would rather see a guy like that win than a corporate robot with the personality of a postage stamp. Sports is in large, entertainment. Athletes and movie stars don't raise children, parents raise children.

  36. And saying JD is an "Everyman" person is pitiful. I wouldn't want his lifestyle EVER!

  37. Moralizing, pointing fingers, looking down at others, judging people on the basis of moral ideals that we ourselves routinely violate in our personal lives, but may be better at keeping hidden: this is the American way. Drinking? Who does that? Smoking? Never heard of it. Problems with women? Unheard of. Gambling or running up debts? How uncommon. This article did not come off as a 'humorous but non-judgmental' piece. It came off as a glib sermon, which is pretty common in news editorials (yawn) but I hope it stops creeping into the sports pages.

  38. Approachable and Genuine? The guy's only approaching you 'cause you've got a case of beer next to you. And drooling on you is genuine if you're one of his many wives who are gold-diggers.

  39. As for his "lighting up" on national TV: He's a smoker. The TV follows him because they choose to. He doesn't light up Because the camera is on him.

    As for his drinking, well yes, it is a problem for him and he has admitted it in the past. You cannot force an alcoholic to go sober. They must be willing to do it themselves.

    If the point of the article was to get John Daly to see it and look at himself, maybe it would be better to tell him what Butch Harmon said and ask him "how does that make you feel?".

  40. The PGA would not be what it is today if it was not for those drunk foursomes like Daly, that play all day Saturday and watch the final round on Sunday. For those that like it sing that sh*t, for those who don't eat a d*ck

  41. OH NO! HE DRINKS AND SMOKES! i don't get it? why are we comparing someone who obviously isn't tiger woods to tiger woods? why don't you mind your own business and let the dude do what he wants. this sounds like the case of people whining about him "wasting" his talents because they are jealous that they aren't as talented as he is. this isn't a major leageu team sport, like baseball. if i run into a certain center fielder out at a bar at 3 AM the night before a game, and i see him on TV half-arsing it the next day you better believe he has people to answer to -- his team, his coach, the city's fans. but who does john daly have to answer to? john daly.

  42. I don't drink and smoke at my WORK place.

  43. I assume the author doesn't drink, smoke or gamble...

    This article makes John out to be the equivalent to a heroin addict. There must really not be anything else exciting in golf news today...

  44. All I'm saying is hideous out of work strippers that serve delicious wings and cold refreshing beer is as American as SUV's and credit card debt. You all chastize a fat man taking advantage of this? If you are against Hooters and/or John Daly - you are a terrorist. Go to Iran with your brethren!

  45. the bigger issue is how golf is destroying the earth, taking the water and leaving a ground swell of chemicals

    1. Perhaps that's the "more important" issue to the health and future of our world—but it's a lot less fun to talk about than John Daly getting wasted with some Hooters gals!

  46. "Sure you got drunk. You have the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning... that can be heavy on your back, too, like a monkey. You'll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers. " -The Hustler

  47. Ken
    I never write on these blogs but I feel I'm compelled to. Let us go back to the 40's and 50's and early 60's of golf. Some of the best golfers from that era were gamblers, smokers, drinkers, hustlers, and in general "characters"! The advent of the media in our society in general and their influence in every aspect of American culture is the only reason this "is" a story. This is nothing new in sports. The media and people think golf should hold a higher standard than any other sport and it is pompeous is that respect. The game and life in general needs these type of people. There is no "fun" in this game anymore. I have been to many tournaments and there are few pro's who take the time with the fans before, during, and after the round. John Daly, Phil Mickelson, Peter Jacobsen, Freddy Funk, and Fuzzy Zoeller are ambassadors of the game and all characters in their own right. We need more of them! They take the time to interact with the fans. Most of these guys walk with their heads down and won't even look at the crowd. Who wants to cheer on someone who won;t even look at you.
    By the way, I saw John at the Hooters tent and when I was there he had a diet coke in his hand, although I am sure he switched to a more natural drink at some point!

    1. Ten bucks says there was Johnny Walker in that Diet Coke!

      Did you guys know that there's a drink called a "John Daly?" A spin off of an Arnold Palmer...

      (from drinknation.com)

      1 1/2 parts vodka
      1 part iced tea
      1 part lemonade
      1 wedge lemon

      Of course, John himself makes it with 5 parts vodka and a splash of lemonade and iced tea, but that's besides the point...

  48. I'm not sure what it is, but when I hear he's going to be on the course and on TV, I somehow find a way to tune in! The advertisers have to love this guy...Maybe, he's a partying weekender just like alot of us, who can actually can put it all together once in awhile and have a fantastic game of golf. Keep on swinging John...

  49. The PGA needs more JD's. Going to a PGA event today is like watching paint dry. Sure these guys can play the game...But watching Tiger now is as boring as it gets. Bring back the guys that make golf a spectator sport......there is no fan appreciation anymore. Thank God for JD and Fuzzy.

  50. John Dale attracts the same type that once delighted in bear baiting.

    His vulnerable humanity separates him from the starched stooges, but it's still a very sad spectacle.

  51. Mr Scott- Ok you wrote a catchy bit. But not much more than fluff. Because Butch Harom says so, you think it's gospel? I suggest not. And did I miss the part where you explained that Hooters sponsors Mr Daly? Along with 84 Lumber and some other fine corporations.
    And lets remember the entertainment factor of golf. People, viewers, and sponsors want to be entertained. Tiger is an entertainer. Or at least the ratings say so. Why don't you mention the ratings when Tiger is playing on Saturday as compared to Mr 118 on the money list. Then when Mr Daly is playing on Saturday. Long ball hitters are popular. Every golfer would wants to wait on the tee of a par 4, for the green to clear. Can you?
    He's an asset and I don't feel you should promote his potential crash and burn.

  52. Anonymous Wrote:
    All I'm saying is hideous out of work strippers that serve delicious wings and cold refreshing beer is as American as SUV's and credit card debt. You all chastize a fat man taking advantage of this? If you are against Hooters and/or John Daly - you are a terrorist. Go to Iran with your brethren!
    This type of rebuttal just adds to the fuel that you're an idiot.

    Anonymous Wrote:
    I never write on these blogs but I feel I'm compelled to. Let us go back to the 40's and 50's and early 60's of golf. Some of the best golfers from that era were gamblers, smokers, drinkers, hustlers, and in general "characters"!
    We did a lot of things in the 40's and 50's that we don't do now. If you want to go back to those dates then the golfer shouldn't expect a payday like they have now. Part of the HIGHER EXPECTATIONS is because the sport has grown in popularity, viewership, and corporate sponsors. If you think that having MORE John Daly's on the tour would make it BETTER you're delusional. Who would want to watch some drunk accrue multiple golfing infractions (ie. hitting a moving ball during the US Open) or watch him implode by hitting 5 balls in the drink, or moping around the corse with a butt in his mouth dragging his sorry ass up the fairway, or breaking down and crying during a round. Give me a break! You call that GOOD GOLF or entertaining. Go watch WWF!

    1. I disagree. John Daly is a fan favorite and more people like him on the tour would be a great thing for the world of golf.

      First off, let's not exagerate here. It's not like every time Daly is on the course he's stumbling around like a lunatic.

      Sure, he drinks. A lot of people do who play sports. And it is one of the many reasons why he has sold himself short of his potential. His choice, right?

      There will always be room for the Tigers of the world who try to their natural talents to the highest possible level. What is lacking in the world of golf however are the interpersonal players that fans can relate with and can get the youth interested in the sport.

  53. I won't condemn or condone John Daly. But I can say that if he were to "get hold" of his drinking problems, he would be an awesome golfer. I quit drinking about 20 years ago and I can attest to the fact that your "quality of work" improves greatly. He is where he is, but can be so much more.

  54. It might be worth mentioning that Hooters is one of his major sponsors. I don't think it's all that strange that a professional golfer would spend time hanging out at a major sponsor's tent during an event.

    1. They may not be a sponsor of his at this time.

      "Daly had an endorsement deal with Hooters for several years, although he no longer carries the company's logo on his clothing or golf bag."

      http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=harig_bob&id=3289577

  55. This guy is a train wreck waiting to happen. He is basically committing a slow suicide. I hate to say it but if he cleaned up his act he'd be a decent golfer. Sad to say it as well as see it but this guy has been circling the drain for a while now.

  56. It's really sad and unfortunate that someone with so much talent seems to be on such a path of self-destruction. You wonder if the problem is that he doesn't want help, or if none has been offered, though I find the latter hard to believe.

  57. "Why are you hating on John Daly?"

    It's called "reporting"

  58. John and I have a lot in common, except i don't get paid to play golf. keep living the dream John.

  59. Jeff writes: "This guy is a train wreck waiting to happen."

    It's HAPPENED and multiple occurrences. He's in my Top 10 for the Death Pool!

  60. oh my god, a cigarette on TV! the humanity!!!

    aside from that, i agree though.

  61. Love the piece, Jeremy.

    Simply put, not everyone was born to be a competitor.

    There are Brett Favre's and there are John Daly's. Some professional athletes just don't care to prioritize their careers over having fun.

    I love both of these men for entirely different reasons. You have to admire someone like Favre who took the sport he played so seriously that he didn't miss a game for 17 straight seasons, and gave 110% every Sunday.

    That said, there's also a special place in my heart for guys like John Daly, who treat the sport they play for what it really is on its surface: just a game.

    So John likes to drink, smoke, and gamble. And on the side, he makes millions of dollars playing golf.

    Is that such a bad life? Depends on who you ask.

    Did John Daly rob himself of his potential on the golf course? Without question. But does that mean his life as a whole is a failure?

    Again, the answer to this question varies according to what makes you tick as a person.

    Like Ricky Williams, John Daly just sees golf as a way to put food on the table (or to obtain the means to play $10,000 slots). He's more interested in partying and enjoying himself than than swinging clubs.

    So his caddy bails on him because he can't deal with John's lack of focus. Fair enough. I can see that being extremely frustrating if you took the game of golf as seriously as Butch Harmon clearly does.

    The great thing about sports is the variety of personalities that they bring to the table. While Tiger Woods's abilities swinging clubs has added unforeseen value to the sport , John Daly adds value in another way—by giving fans someone they can connect too and laugh with (or at).

  62. If you could get paid to drink beer and play golf wouldn't you? and tiger is the best no doubt... Daly won championships so he can play but when winning 37th place (if that is winning) is making more money then your entire W2 this past year why do u hate on him. that is the American dream and he is kicking the dreams ass and taking its name... so Hats off to you Daly for living it up and not giving a f*ck

  63. Great points made Zander and this should quell all disputes. (One thing Butch isn't his caddy, he's his swing coach and one of the best. Caddy! He would get a laugh at that one!)

  64. Daly has a good time, and he entertains.
    Thats part of golf as well.

    If you've ever been to a PGA event, Daly always has one of the biggest crowds following him.

    ... and besides, its fun to watch him drive 275 off a Diet Coke can when he knows he's going to miss the cut.

  65. I too like Zander's comment, and I have worked with guys that had all of the potential and no drive. They can be some of the most frustrating co-workers, and also some of the most fun to share a lunch break or a beer. (They DO however make hitting deadlines rediculously difficult--much like Daly it seems).

    Jeremy--I just heard you being interviewed on the internet radio--"New School with Shan Sheriff", and I loved your last comment..."John Daly is the Britney Spears of golf!"

    Keep writing!

    Jason

  66. Sounds like John has his priority's straight

  67. i really doubt you could shoot a 80 jeremy scott,, even from the whites,, i REALLY DOUBT you can shoot a honest 80

  68. I would rather get drunk too.

  69. Rod writes:
    If you've ever been to a PGA event, Daly always has one of the biggest crowds following him.

    Yeah they're following him because they are ambulance chasers and waiting for him to blow up!

    Rod also writes:
    ... and besides, its fun to watch him drive 275 off a Diet Coke can when he knows he's going to miss the cut.

    Sounds like a monkey doing tricks which is great if you're at the zoo but stupid if you're at a PGA event. OK it would be good at a Long Drive Contest or Nationwide Tour but this is the Big Leagues. You don't see Albert Pujols hitting off of a beer can during a MLB game do you?

    *I'm also appalled at the fact that the Yankees are suiting up Billy Crystal for one of their spring training games vs the Pirates. If I was the starting pitcher I'd bean him on the first pitch. Rediculous!

  70. "i really doubt you could shoot a 80 jeremy scott,, even from the whites,, i REALLY DOUBT you can shoot a honest 80"

    No, he can. He can shot AN 80...AN honest 80.

  71. J,

    Once you're born you start dying. He's actually speeding up the inevitable. People eating well and being healthy are the ones taking the 'slow suicide' to the extreme, right?? :P I actually don't think he'd become better at this point due to his past injury and body build, regardless of what he did. People here are saying 'He could be a great golfer if...', but that injury was very serious and I think he is a 'has been' now.

    MN

  72. I don't understand what the big deal is..

    I've been doing both (playing golf and getting drunk) for 30 years.

    Usually both at the same time....

  73. I most definitely rather getting drunk, than going to my work, too.

  74. Me too . . . but man that is bad on Television

  75. The bottom line is he's getting paid (or was getting paid) for swinging a damn golf club. Seriously, that's it. His swing and his golf game used to be a huge money-maker. Fans worshiped him for all the wrong reasons. He was the "bad boy" of golf and wasn't above anything by any means. He was human and we could all visibly notice his human flaws. People forget how good he was prior to all the shenanigans. If he had not spun out of control long ago, he might be challenging Tiger right now. Few are longer off the tee (even now) and he blended in the perfect "I don't give a damn" attitude, which erased the often negative mental aspect of the game. Trust me, he isn't tossing back the bottle because he has nothing better to do in his life. He has a disease, and a serious one at that. Stop acting like he weighed his options and decided the golf course just isn't for him. He can't help it. He's the kid we all knew in elementary school who just couldn't dodge trouble. It found him, and once it did, he decided he had no other alternative than to fully embrace it. At this point, he's thrown in the towel. He's ranked something like 573rd in the world. Where does he go from here? I hate to even think about it. It will end badly. Truly sad.

  76. Daly is a classic. I'm in no place to tell him how to live his life, but speaking only for myself, he disappoints me. It's always disappointing for me to so much wasted talent. And make no mistake about it, if you took a poll of PGA Tour players and asked them who is the most naturally talented player on tour, J.D. would probably win. That's what's so disappointing. It hasn't stopped me from watching him play of reading his books, though. I love the guy.

    One of my favorite anecdotes from Daly is about a time he was sitting outside of the clubhouse of a course...I think it was after a practice round. Daly's with a couple guys drinking beer, smoking..Tiger Woods goes walking by with a gym bag, towards the gym. Daly yells over to Tiger to stop over for a drink and says, "Why are you always liftin' all those weights and working out?!"..Tiger told him, "John if I had your talent, I wouldn't have to work out all the time". With that, Tiger continued on his way to the gym.

    As long as Daly's loving life, I've got no problems with him. I'll just always be a little disappointed in him.

  77. I truly like John Daly. However, I feel so sorry for him. He is a mess and I think he knows it. He NEEDS TO GET SOBER. He will never climb out of this hole he is in until he is completely sober. Plus I am ashamed of all of you who think this so called life of his is ok. The man is commiting suicide. I just wish someone somewhere would care enough about and for John to help him. And at this point you need to care enough for him even if he doesn't care about himself. I speak from experience. Help yourself John, please!

  78. John Daly is crazy!

  79. This comment makes a very good point.

    How many other golfers could live this lifestyle and still play in PGA events?

    It is a prime example of wasted talent.

    But, that being said, I am a J.D. fan!

  80. He has the right to live the way he wants, bad way but his way. Who are we to judge him. Sports stars to drugs quite frequently but when it comes to golf its such a big deal. "John Daly Would Rather Get Drunk Than Play Golf" so what one way his way its his life he has every right to choose how to live it

  81. John Daly id the perfect role model...

    if you want multiple failed marriages, lots of unloved kids and an early death

    sounds good to me!!!!

  82. How is this "breaking news"? What a joke. We all know who John Daly is. And how he lives his life. Does this shock any of us? Should it?

    WHO CARES? This piece was poorly written and a waste of time. Contrast that to the NBC piece that this bozo linked to. That's journalism.

    This was a joke.

  83. 15000+ reads, ESPN Radio interview and it got YOU to comment...I would say this is not a joke.

    Obviously you missed the sarcasm in the "Breaking News" headline.

    Keep writing Jeremy!

  84. It's an idiotic piece. Poorly written. It was only read 15,000 times because Bleacher Report has it and the topic is John Daly. John Daly and the distribution. That's it. It's not any writing talent -- because there is no writing talent behind the piece.

    Take a journalism class, Jeremy!

  85. Dude, if you want journalism, you're in the wrong place. Bleacher Report is, by definition, intended for passionate fans.

  86. Speaking of journalistic talent, please re-read your comment. Your sentence structure is all jacked up, you repeat yourself, and you switch tenses and your noun/verb structure changes 2 times in a 6 sentence comment. I think YOU need a journalism class. The article was read much more than other articles on the SAME site, about the SAME person, and that’s an obvious indication that the content of the article resonated with the B/R readers. Your argument holds no merit. My guess is that this article hit too close to home for you.

    Plus, just as the last comment mentions, the Bleacher Report is for 'everyone'. Not journalists.

  87. Every time I play golf drunk, I shart on my drives. Can anyone help me with my problem? :(

  88. Hey John, if you read this, just wanted you to know, that your fans love you, we want you back on the cource winning tournaments, we know you have the right to do what you want. we don't think its a bad thing about drinking and smoking but we don't want you to quit, John please don't quit, God Bless You,
    502-609-7559 yours truly Scott Stevens

  89. He just shot an 89 at the British Open. Looked like a bus had run over him 3 or 4 times... ragged face of a drunk that has hit bottom. So Sad!!!
    I love the dude, but he needs to get his life together or you're gonna see him dead in a couple of years. Then folks will be talking about how good he REALLY could have been.
    John, lay off the booze, lose some weight, come back and kick all their A@@es ... you still can do it!!!!!!

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About the Author Jeremy Scott (analyst)

  • 21 articles written
  • 53 comments posted
  • 12 fans

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