I think the "everyman thing" has to be kept in context. I can't quote figures, but I have to believe a majority of PGA professionals fall into the "silver-spoon" category and Daly is for sure a departure from that. Golf has always been considered a bit of an elitist sport and JD's background is anything but, so in that respect I think he endeared himself to many.
But.... it is hard to argue that his act isn't getting old. I'm a pretty patient guy and when I heard the news about his antics last week and then missing his Tuesday tee time I just had to shake my head.
I'll relay one story told to me by a friend of mine (a local club pro who managed to qualify for the PGA when it was held in Kohler, WI a few years ago). He has a daughter with a physical condition that required some expensive surgeries at a very young age and he happened to get paired with Daly in the Monday practice round. My friend had to get back that night for a Tuesday charity event for his daughter (and then fly back Wednesday). They talked about stuff during the round (JD's support of Make-A-Wish, my friend's daugher, etc) and JD told him to come by the "bus" and he'd give him a few things for the silent auction. Well... they're coming up the 18th, and my friend says that JD is up by the green waiting for him. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out about $3k in cash, gives it to my friend and says "this is for your daughter". That story made TGC that night, not at JD's request. My friend played the first 2 rounds with people literally trying to hand him cash on almost every hole. "Kinda tough to play good golf with people handing you money and you're trying not to cry". In his words.... "John Daly will always be #1 in my book".
I've always cut JD some slack since I heard that story. Man I wish he could turn it around.
My god people, leave John alone. He was late- the pga has a bug up their ass about these pro -ams. I bet John could have met his foursome on the third hole if the pga gods allowed it but no they say go home and btw the guys that replace you are gone too because they can't predict the future. John is one of the nicest guys on tour because he is nice to the fans. You can met John Daley, talk to him, cheer for him after he swings. Go meet Ernie or Phil, heck you can't even watch Tiger warm up. And John didn't need Butch - who really does? Soon Butch will have to teach golf to tourists.
And NEVER think Golf isn't the most important thing in the life of Tiger or Phil- come on. It can be slid over for a moment but golf will never stop being who they are. That would be unfair to the family. Look at Michael Jordan ( is that his name?) after basketball.
I think the "everyman thing" has to be kept in context. I can't quote figures, but I have to believe a majority of PGA professionals fall into the "silver-spoon" category and Daly is for sure a departure from that. Golf has always been considered a bit of an elitist sport and JD's background is anything but, so in that respect I think he endeared himself to many.
But.... it is hard to argue that his act isn't getting old. I'm a pretty patient guy and when I heard the news about his antics last week and then missing his Tuesday tee time I just had to shake my head.
I'll relay one story told to me by a friend of mine (a local club pro who managed to qualify for the PGA when it was held in Kohler, WI a few years ago). He has a daughter with a physical condition that required some expensive surgeries at a very young age and he happened to get paired with Daly in the Monday practice round. My friend had to get back that night for a Tuesday charity event for his daughter (and then fly back Wednesday). They talked about stuff during the round (JD's support of Make-A-Wish, my friend's daugher, etc) and JD told him to come by the "bus" and he'd give him a few things for the silent auction. Well... they're coming up the 18th, and my friend says that JD is up by the green waiting for him. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out about $3k in cash, gives it to my friend and says "this is for your daughter". That story made TGC that night, not at JD's request. My friend played the first 2 rounds with people literally trying to hand him cash on almost every hole. "Kinda tough to play good golf with people handing you money and you're trying not to cry". In his words.... "John Daly will always be #1 in my book".
I've always cut JD some slack since I heard that story. Man I wish he could turn it around.
CG
People don't know the truth about JD. His dad was an engineer and moved all over the country working on power plants. Everywhere he went he was a member of a country club and played golf. JD capitalized on the Arkansas redneck thing because that is the last place his dad moved.
JD grew up no different than any other PGA Tour player (a lot of them, anyway). So in essence, Daly grew up the "rule" not the "exception" Country Club member, silver spoon directly in mouth.
You want someone who wasn't that way...feast your eyes on Boo or any of those Panhandle guys.
My god people, leave John alone. He was late- the pga has a bug up their ass about these pro -ams. I bet John could have met his foursome on the third hole if the pga gods allowed it but no they say go home and btw the guys that replace you are gone too because they can't predict the future. John is one of the nicest guys on tour because he is nice to the fans. You can met John Daley, talk to him, cheer for him after he swings. Go meet Ernie or Phil, heck you can't even watch Tiger warm up. And John didn't need Butch - who really does? Soon Butch will have to teach golf to tourists.
And NEVER think Golf isn't the most important thing in the life of Tiger or Phil- come on. It can be slid over for a moment but golf will never stop being who they are. That would be unfair to the family. Look at Michael Jordan ( is that his name?) after basketball.
Your right 6B, the Tour does have a bug up their ass about the pro-ams..Because those people are the ones that give the money so that there even is a tour. It's pretty important and just like any other business.
Imagine if you blew off a client meeting in the morning because you were told wrong by someone who you shouldn't have been talking with about the issue anyway.....I would guess your boss would not like it...and you would not have that client anymore...You may not get fired, but I would bet there would be a post-it in your personnel file.
One more thing. I am sick of all these Tour players and all they can talk about is "getting away from the game" every damn one of them acts as if they hate the game during interviews. JD included. If they hate it so much, don't play, do something else, I am sure everyone of them has made a ton of contacts playing the tour and could do pretty much anything they wanted.
One more thing. I am sick of all these Tour players and all they can talk about is "getting away from the game" every damn one of them acts as if they hate the game during interviews. JD included. If they hate it so much, don't play, do something else, I am sure everyone of them has made a ton of contacts playing the tour and could do pretty much anything they wanted.
I agree glcoach. They Play Golf for a Living and they want to have a Pitty Party.
Your right 6B, the Tour does have a bug up their ass about the pro-ams..Because those people are the ones that give the money so that there even is a tour. It's pretty important and just like any other business.
Imagine if you blew off a client meeting in the morning because you were told wrong by someone who you shouldn't have been talking with about the issue anyway.....I would guess your boss would not like it...and you would not have that client anymore...You may not get fired, but I would bet there would be a post-it in your personnel file.
One more thing. I am sick of all these Tour players and all they can talk about is "getting away from the game" every damn one of them acts as if they hate the game during interviews. JD included. If they hate it so much, don't play, do something else, I am sure everyone of them has made a ton of contacts playing the tour and could do pretty much anything they wanted.
No excuse missing a commitment. I did not read the he said--she said. No interest.
But they let Phil play in Dallas last year when he had trouble with weather when traveling from a corporate outing and missed the pro-am. They said it was up to the sponsor. Phil "happened" to be the highest ranked player in a very weak field. Many players felt they, personally, would not have been given the same break. I was on the range Wednesday when the tour was trying to explain it to the field. Lot of skeptics.
Linking pro-am play to ability to play in the tourney proper is a new rule. It has only been in effect a few years. The penalty used to be not getting points toward one of about four retirement programs. Some players used to let the tour know ahead of time that they were not going to play because of injury or distaste for pro-ams. Pro-ams fund the charity, not the purse. Still worthwhile, but John gives away a fair amount of time and money.
The shift is all about branding, corporate packaging, value to sponsors, big business. On one hand, bigger purses are great. Everyone likes money. Everything comes at a price. Marry for money, and you will earn it. Finchem is trying to maximize the money side, often at the expense of the quality of the experience. The tour sold out TPC Woodlands (one exciting course) for 250 grand to move to a new development, ask Hal Sutton. Power is sexy, so power is emphasized.
As far as getting away from the game. Without doing it day to day, it is hard to understand the energy it takes. The other 143 guys that are your buddies and fellow competitors are trying as hard as they can to eat the food off your table. Old story about a player telling about a bad shot, round, etc: Half don't care, half wish it were worse for you.
Notice you don't hear Tiger or Nicklaus complain about wanting to go home? They play (ed) 20 or fewer times a year. They get their rest, so they can play their best. Some guys feel like they need to play more often to compete. A player complaining about fatigue or showing signs of it is one who needs to manage his schedule better. Often those guys are so tired by Sunday that they don't have the reserve strength to meet the demands of Sunday pressure (sadly they often think they need to work harder). They end up dropping down the leaderboard, making a smaller check, and feeling like they need to play more to make their money. Marthoners have found they perform better by training smarter and tapering down the pre-race training. It is a delicate balance between doing everything you can to be ready and having enough energy to compete. Sometimes you just have to suck it up.
No secret that Tiger learned a lot for the Nicklaus model. Only he stepped it up with a rigorous fitness schedule. It is not so much to hit it longer. More to prevent injury and to have the energy to drag the field every week he plays.
Most players have no idea what they would do if they did not play golf.
Thanks for taking us inside the ropes. I miss the Woodlands. 16, 17 & 18 are a great finishing trio...a lot of puckering gone on those holes! Some those greens are the shallowest I have ever seen.
I think it goes beyond the missed pro-am or the break with Harmon. Daly has had more than his share of second chances. His poor play is directly the result of his not focusing on his golf game, which is related to his lifestyle choices,excess drinking. In addition he probably withdraws from more tournaments than anybody on record, often for less than valid reasons.
While there is no denying his appeal, his dysfunction is slowly destroying his appeal. He needs to get his act together, or sponsor exemptions will be a thing of the past.
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