John Daly turned heads at The Open this week, strolling the greens with a massive beard and a cigarette, looking every bit the ‘Wild Thing’ fans remember.
Nearly three decades on from his St Andrews victory, the 58-year-old rocked up to Royal Troon, ready to take on the final major of the season, sporting a look that’s as wild as his reputation. Known for his colourful antics both on and off the green, Daly sauntered around the course with his trademark nonchalant swagger, decked out in his usual flamboyant garb.
With two years left on his ticket to The Open thanks to his status as a past champion, Daly is able to compete at the last major of the season until he is 60 years old. While his bushy beard might have raised eyebrows, Daly’s no newbie when it comes to causing a stir.
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His rollercoaster career has been peppered with more drama than a soap opera. From chucking a punter’s camera into a tree, to racking up four ex-wives and battling booze and betting demons, Daly’s never dodged the spotlight. Back in ’95, he was a 66-1 outsider at The Open before blasting his way to glory with raw power and fighting spirit, reports the Mirror.
Talking about his golfing tactics, Daly once quipped: “I just hit it as hard as I can, and if I find the ball, I hit it again.” Wild child Daly even revealed he’d set records while under the influence of alcohol. In a candid chat with Graham Bensinger in 2016, the golfer confessed: “It’s amazing where I would go, wherever I set course records or whatever, I would be barefooted drunk.”
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(Image: R&A via Getty Images)
The maverick’s rap sheet is as colourful as his trousers. His PGA Tour personnel file, which was laid bare during a 2010 lawsuit, showed fines totalling nearly $100,000 from 1991 to 2008. The file also detailed that Daly had been nudged towards counselling or rehab seven times and faced five suspensions while Butch Harmon, his former coach, ditched him in 2008, bluntly stating: “The most important thing in his (Daly’s) life is getting drunk.”
Meanwhile, Daly hasn’t kept quiet about his political leanings, openly chumming up with ex-President Donald Trump. The golf ace has been seen flogging Trump’s Bibles and even bizarrely dubbed the former POTUS “Daddy Trump”.
(Image: R&A via Getty Images)
But it’s not all smiles for Daly at Royal Troon he’s languishing near the bottom after a disastrous opening round. The seasoned pro racked up an 11 over par 82, leaving him third from last and out of contention.
The 1995 champion is trailing behind the leaders, which include Shane Lowry and the relatively unknown Daniel Brown. Meanwhile, fellow Brit Rory McIlroy seems unlikely to pose a threat to end his major wait after scoring seven over par during Thursday’s opening round.