How many majors would Daly of won if he didn't live the hard life?

[Chilidipper]

I know this is a hypothetical question and some of you hate these post. I however do not, so what do you all thinK?

He has 2 how many would he have if he didn't drink smoke and took his craft serious?

10?

[ks8829]

maybe 4 or 5 is my humble guess.

[Smallville]

I'll agree with that, I would have said 4 at the most. There have been a lot of players better than Daly ever was that only won 1 or 2. Watson only won 8; Even Els, who I would take over Daly even when Daly was "good" only has 3. So maybe I'll revise that to 3 at most. Yes, 3. He might have won another PGA or British Open.

[Chief Broom]

I'd easily give Daly a few more, but it's not the smoking and drinking that has runined his game. His problems are his own personal demons. His inability to deal with his own success has lead to his failed marriages/bad relationships, excess drinking/eating, etc. He's his own worst enemy. It's a shame but it's really not all that uncommon of an occurrance. It's just rare to see someone get as far in life as he has with those kind of deep seated problems.

[Chilidipper]

I'd easily give Daly a few more, but it's not the smoking and drinking that has runined his game. His problems are his own personal demons. His inability to deal with his own success has lead to his failed marriages/bad relationships, excess drinking/eating, etc. He's his own worst enemy. It's a shame but it's really not all that uncommon of an occurrance. It's just rare to see someone get as far in life as he has with those kind of deep seated problems.

I personally think normally yes, but in sports/athletics I disagree. A lot of times you see losers make it in professional sports. Now in golf in particular, it's fairly rare, but in the NFL, NBA, MLB etc you see losers make it all the time. I personally think you have the ability or you don't. You can practice all day everyday, but unless you where predetermined to be a stud you can't obtain that level. Just my opinion of course and thats not a law, just seems to be the way nature works.

[juanrjackson]

JD might have won 1 or 2 more....but with the PGA tour being so competitive it is hard to say how many more he might have won. Like someone posted...Els only has 3 majors.

The difference in MLB & NBA is players sign long term deals after one hot season & never have to produce again & a setup money wise for life.

Look at all the Super Bowl MVPs...a lot are above avg players that had their greatest game on the biggest sports stage in America. JD basically did the same thing....he had two of his best golf weeks of his life in majors & a legend was built on that. He only has a few other tour wins.

[uttexas]

I say seven, with the correlary that if he was sober and motivated, his mental game and strategy would have been much better. I suppose I can revise my answer by saying that he won what he should have. Even without the ETOH and poor habits, his mental game would always be weak. JD had more talent than his competition until Tiger came along. He was more skilled than Couples, DL3, Els, Price, Faldo, and Mickelson. PS, Faldo really bugs me. Another player that should have won more was Norman. Norman's only weakness was mental game.

JD had the short game and recovery of Seve, long game unbeatable. Tragic and will only get worse. I do not seeing this ending well for him.

[Smallville]

He was more skilled than Couples, DL3, Els, Price, Faldo, and Mickelson.

Seriously? I never saw that. Of course, that's just my opinion.

[RocketSauce]

i think he would've won between 4-6 majors. he had (has?) amazing talent that he just never took advantage of and he let his demons run his life. i wish he would've taken golf more seriouly because in my opinion he could've been one of the great ones.

[Chief Broom]

I personally think normally yes, but in sports/athletics I disagree. A lot of times you see losers make it in professional sports.

This is true.

I've always contrasted Daly and Tiger. The major difference between them that I see is that Tiger had a moral foundation instilled in him by his parents. I'm not faulting Daly's parents, I don't know the first thing about them, but Tiger's did an exemplary job of rasing a champion.

[RC]

With Daly's short game touch (which is or was at the top level of the game,) and his power, one could argue his record would only be determined by his mental strength to stay sober, train, improve, etc. He is not the first nor will he be the last super talented athlete to underachieve. It all comes down to mental strength and dedication. No one knows another's demons and problems but it would have been interesting if he had the focus of a Tiger or Watson or the work ethic of a Kite. He did not, so anything else is pure speculation. This question reminds me of the uncertainities of many athletes. What is the difference between a legendary quarterback and a Heisman winner who washes out? I think parents and the principles one grows up with are huge factors -- but I am old fashioned about such things.

[Stacey_E]

I'm going to post a short but simple counterpoint.

Maybe Daly wins 0 majors without living the hardlife?

Is it possible that his freewheeling attitude is what contributed to his success? Maybe if he wasn't the type to play by his own rules he doesn't bomb it as hard. Maybe someone along the way would have told him to shorten his backswing and he would have listened instead of saying "f*&% it I'm swinging big". He has/had amazing natural talent and maybe he could have won 4 or 6 majors. But I believe taking away the hardlife of Daly is taking away too much of who he is and what he did both on and off the course.

Just an idea.

[uttexas]

[QUOTE=Stacey_E;237077]I'm going to post a short but simple counterpoint.

Maybe Daly wins 0 majors without living the hardlife?

Is it possible that his freewheeling attitude is what contributed to his success?

I like your thinking on this. He reminds me of the tale of the frog and the scorpion crossing the stream together. He is who he is and can't change it. If he hasn't had that OMG what am I doing, rock bottom moment yet, he never will until its too late.

[Mr Eagle]

I think his book "My life in and out of the rough"(the truth behind all that bull**** you think you know about me) is worth a read.

"The Lion" is what he is,its why so many people follow him,personally Im with Stacey E's line of thought

[Three Putt]

He always played better when he was married, so I agree, probably wins 0 more. Hope he can one day straighten it out for his kids sake.