Maverick style
John Daly's unconventional lifestyle has earned him both friends and foes
| Now in its 14th season, this Daly soap still packs enough punch to either turn you into a couch potato, or send you scurrying to the golf course. |
| Of course, we are talking about John Daly, the man whose grip-it-and-rip-it philosophy on the course is only matched by his reckless disdain for society norms. |
| Each time it looked as if the world was at his feet, he would immediately dig a grave and bury himself. And just when the last few lines of his sporting obituary were being written, he would jump right back. |
| And for the umpteenth time, 'Long' John Daly has announced his comeback grandly. He won the Buick Invitational a fortnight ago, finished fourth in the Nissan Open and after the first round this week at the Chrysler Classic in Toucson, he shot a five-under 67 on the opening day and was tied for the fifth place. In less than two weeks, he has leapfrogged from 289th in world rankings to 64. |
| What makes John Daly special? His entry into the PGA Tour is now part of golfing folklore. After being voted the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1990, the Arkansas man served notice of his abilities during the 1991 PGA Championship. |
| As a ninth alternate, he learnt the evening before the tournament that he got an entry. So he gets behind the wheels and drives 600 miles to reach the Crooked Stick course near Indianapolis. |
| Without the benefit of a practice round, Daly shot a 69 on the opening day, and then added 67, 69 and 71. On Sunday evening, he drove all the way back with a shining trophy in his truck. |
| As if his game wasn't enough, his deeds also won him friends. During the tournament, one spectator was stuck by lightning and died. He gave away $30,000 from his winning cheque of $230,000 to the children of the deceased. |
| Daly also went on to win the 1995 British Open, and two more events on the PGA Tour. For 13 years, he was the longest driver on the Tour, belting one drive after another of 300 plus yards. That position he relinquished only in 2003 to Hank Keuhne. |
| But there is more to Daly than his booming drives. His temperamental nature has seen him serve two suspensions from the PGA Tour. |
| He once picked up the ball from the fairway in a PGA Tour event after he decided he was not playing too well. He has had three failed marriages. |
| His much publicized row with his second wife, and the police case after allegations of assault led to cancellation of endorsement deals worth millions. |
| He is a teetotaler now, but that has only come after two visits to the alcohol rehab centers. He smokes like a chimney. |
| In the last two years, he has lost more than 30 pounds, but still tilts the scale at 220 pounds. In 1996, he amassed gambling debts of more than $2.6 million. In 2002, he is reported to have hit a jackpot worth $-600,000 in a Las Vegas casino. |
| So, despite all his faults, what really makes Daly such a joy? The reason is simple "" the common man identifies with him and his problems, and appreciates how well he climbs back after each mighty fall. |
| He isn't picture perfect, but inside that large frame, there is a huge, kind heart. One that refuses to buckle down. |