Is Long John toast?

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Reports are that Butch Harmon is parting ways with Daly. The reasons are obvious - Daly has no intent of ever changing his destructive ways (on and off the course) and it sounds as if Harmon is sick of it and doesn't want to waste his time trying to help someone who won't go to the trouble of trying to help himself.

I know there are lots of Daly fans out there who thought John was on the right track, but it appears he's not on any track -- he's like a train that has derailed.

[Shindig]

I missed these reports, but if John doesn't stop his destructive ways, he is toast. This is really too bad because if he had shaped up, he could've been a great player once again.

[Wisco-Kid]

Honestly I couldn't care less about John Daly. It seems like the only publicity he knows how to get is bad publicity and could someone please tell me what has he done for golf in the last X years?

Kudos to Butch for parting ways. I wonder if they will stop airing that horrible Winn grips commercial now!

[mutadayen]

It's sad. I may be mistaken on this, but this is a man who was once upon a time ago referenced by Tiger Woods as more natural ability at golf than any golfer on the tour. If I remember that saying correctly, then it is indeed sad and probably sooner than later the last we'll see of him... Still a fan of his though, and would love to see him regain his form...

[Craig Mac]

I think like most Daly fans I want to see him make some improvement, but know that the first round 68 he may shoot is usually followed by an 80 to miss the cut if he doesn't withdraw first. He has become the Britney Spears of the tour, known more for erratic behavior and tabloid-like fodder than the things that got him known. It would be nice to see him turn it around(seems like I say that every year now), but it seems his days of glory are behind him. You can only last out there on exemptions for so long.

[iacas]

I missed these reports, but if John doesn't stop his destructive ways, he is toast. This is really too bad because if he had shaped up, he could've been a great player once again.

See, I think posing it in the future tense is the mistake. I think he IS toast. Has been toast for 3 years now.

Can't say I care, either. He did this all to himself.

[golf_junkie27]

Every great athlete and every successful person is defined by the same attribute: PASSION .

I don't see this in John Daly. Having Jon Gruden caddy for him is just the latest example. I am not disrespecting Gruden but I doubt that he would ever invite Daly to play QB for the Bucs. Being a caddy is a very important job and is one not to be taken, lightly. It should never be trivialized.

[immts007]

He did it all to himself, yes. But I still feel sorry for him. He is obviously not a very happy person, he's got a boatload of 'issues' and doesn't know how to make things better for himself.

When he's on, he's great fun to watch and you can tell he's got a heart of gold - and he's one of the great characters of the tour.

I still hope he'll somehow turn things around, even if it's just to play on the weekend and collect a check a little more often.

[Avid Golfer]

Reports are that Butch Harmon is parting ways with Daly. The reasons are obvious - Daly has no intent of ever changing his destructive ways (on and off the course) and it sounds as if Harmon is sick of it and doesn't want to waste his time trying to help someone who won't go to the trouble of trying to help himself.

Daly has never been a very accurate player. Splitting from Harmon will probably cost him what little putting ability he has now. Daly will probably occasionally appear on tour because of sponsors. Companies like Taylormade (and Callaway before them) will sponsor him because they feel it draws in the what they call "every day man" portion of golfers to buy their equipment, and tournament sponsors will continue to give him exemptions since they believe it will bring in a larger crowd to market their advertisements. I think he will float around until he either looses his driving distance (and he fades from memory), or more likely he meets his demise as a result of his life style.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

I missed these reports, but if John doesn't stop his destructive ways, he is toast. This is really too bad because if he had shaped up, he could've been a great player once again.

Here's a link to one of the reports:

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3288641

[r7 425]

It's sad. I may be mistaken on this, but this is a man who was once upon a time ago referenced by Tiger Woods as more natural ability at golf than any golfer on the tour. If I remember that saying correctly, then it is indeed sad and probably sooner than later the last we'll see of him... Still a fan of his though, and would love to see him regain his form...

Its true. John Daly enjoys life more than golf and lets all give him credit. Who cares how good he could have been because in actuality John Daly made the game fun again. Golf is just a game. I am tired of people ripping on Daly---john is the nicest guy on tour and wants to be friends with everyone--The people that hate him are the Conservatists who think golf is a game only for the rich gentlemanly like kind of person. I can tell you this though-John is the realest person on the PGA tour -he doesnt hide from what he does--he just enjoys where life is taking him. Amen Brother

[rudygu]

Its true. John Daly enjoys life more than golf and lets all give him credit. Who cares how good he could have been because in actuality John Daly made the game fun again. Golf is just a game. I am tired of people ripping on Daly---john is the nicest guy on tour and wants to be friends with everyone--The people that hate him are the Conservatists who think golf is a game only for the rich gentlemanly like kind of person. I can tell you this though-John is the realest person on the PGA tour -he doesnt hide from what he does--he just enjoys where life is taking him. Amen Brother

I like JD, but I don't think he enjoys life or golf. Did you see his interview last year on the Golf Channel? He is a very sad man and he needs to get his life together before he can ever reclaim his past golf form

Whatever, I can't believe I even responded to that post.

[Shindig]

Here's a link to one of the reports:

Sadness. Thanks for the link.

Its true. John Daly enjoys life more than golf and lets all give him credit. Who cares how good he could have been because in actuality John Daly made the game fun again. Golf is just a game. I am tired of people ripping on Daly---john is the nicest guy on tour and wants to be friends with everyone--The people that hate him are the Conservatists who think golf is a game only for the rich gentlemanly like kind of person. I can tell you this though-John is the realest person on the PGA tour -he doesnt hide from what he does--he just enjoys where life is taking him. Amen Brother

John Daly makes golf fun when he plays well. It's no fun to watch a pro shoot 80 and make a mess of himself. Watching a wasted talent (pun intended) is just sad.

John's books were fun to read. The fact that he loves pro-ams makes him rare among pros. He doesn't hide from what he does, sure. But he doesn't attempt to change the behaviors that have hurt him. I wouldn't be surprised if he finds himself with a fifth marriage in a year or two that's just as bad as the past four. The only other person I know of who got married four times finally learned his lesson after wife 4. If John could get his act together and still enjoy himself in moderation, he'd not only be popular, but he'd be winning immense sums too. He'd be great for himself, great for fans, and great for golf. Me, I'd be willing to abstain from alcohol and women for life in exchange for John Daly's talent at golf.

[Three Putt]

My oldest son and I followed him at the PODS tournament on Friday. Caught him on #6 through 9 finishing his first round, then followed him on #10,11,12,and #13 after the turn on his second round. The holes I saw he wasn't bad from tee to green with the exception of #12. birdied both 10 and 11. was 10 over for the tournament going into #12 (only 380 yd par 4) where he pulled driver to hit at 25 yard fairway with water on the right and woods on the left.....SPLASH...he quit. Ended up with a double bogey on that hole then 4 over for the rest of the round. Putting cost him...he tried to adjust his putter between rounds by bending it with his foot.

Anyway, he looked really bad in the face (and obviously body), and looked pretty miserable, not much interaction with the crowd following him, had a smoke and a diet coke on most every tee box.

Still my favorite, hopefully he starts going uphill in his personal life...of course would like to see him win another tournament.

[Golf Yokel]

If John could get his act together and still enjoy himself in moderation, he'd not only be popular, but he'd be winning immense sums too. He'd be great for himself, great for fans, and great for golf.

In all fairness, he did win $250,000 on tour last year in winnings.

If I could play like he does with his lifestyle and still make a quarter-million playing golf... I don't think I'd be in college right now...

[Shindig]

In all fairness, he did win $250,000 on tour last year in winnings.

He did win $250,000 but it isn't sustainable. I doubt he'll make that much this year without some adjustment. And he's got alimony and child support for how many wives/children?

A side note: if you're rich and then get married, get a pre-nup, seriously. You can't eliminate child support payments, for obvious reasons, but the alimony and divorce splittings. On second thought, even if you aren't rich.

[Oregon Golf Ho]

I have no respect for someone who has tons of talent but not the brains to realize how great of a life he has. What a waste. I wish I had his talent and my love of the game. Let him flip burgers at Wendy's for a couple of years. Then maybe he will realize how good he had it. Without golf he would be just another guy sitting in a bar smoking and drinking his life away. Golf gave him a life that we all wish we had and made us aware of who he is....... or should I say was.

[iacas]

Who cares how good he could have been because in actuality John Daly made the game fun again.

I disagree. I never cared for John Daly and always wished he'd get the help he needed. He hasn't.

I've said on the podcast and here that John Daly might have more raw talent in his pinkie finger than Tiger's got in his whole body, but Tiger's got about a billion times more focus. John could have been an incredible golfer. He's turned out to be a schlub. Watching someone waste a deity-given talent like that is pretty much the opposite of fun.

The people that hate him are the Conservatists who think golf is a game only for the rich gentlemanly like kind of person.

Oh cut the crap, c'mon. You don't get to "win" the argument simply by casting everyone who disagrees with you.

I hate that John's wasted his talent. I hate that John's disappointed so many of his fans, friends, and family. I hate that John's story often casts a negative light on golf. I hate that John's kids have to read this stuff about their dad. I don't hate John, and I doubt anyone else does. And even if I did, or they do, cut the crap about "rich, gentlemanly conservatists".

I have no respect for someone who has tons of talent but not the brains to realize how great of a life he has. What a waste. I wish I had his talent and my love of the game. Let him flip burgers at Wendy's for a couple of years. Then maybe he will realize how good he had it. Without golf he would be just another guy sitting in a bar smoking and drinking his life away. Golf gave him a life that we all wish we had and made us aware of who he is....... or should I say was.

Well put.