No John Daly Thread

[Iowa Hawkeye]

He's cleared to play on the PGA tour again. Sponsor exemptions to St Judes and Buick. Gonna try to make Bethpage.

[PEZGolf]

He's cleared to play on the PGA tour again. Sponsor exemptions to St Judes and Buick. Gonna try to make Bethpage.

It has been stated before, and the TV ratings back it up----there are only three Super popular players on the PGA Tour:

1. Tiger 2. Phil 3. Big John, the good ole boy I do have sympathy for him because I know people who fight addictions and are obsessive-compulsive. Their struggles are genuine, and constant. JD does not do some of the things that he does because he is a bad person. He cannot help himself, and the people who keep trying to help him do understand that. The real problem is that he has turned off people like Butch Harmon and Eli Callaway, who could have reallly, really helped him. Maybe, just maybe, this time, he will "straighten up and fly right". I hope so, and I am rooting for him. He is running out of time, rapidly.

[Surefire]

I used to try and defend John Daly as he often seemed to be given a hard time by many people.

However after seeing his behavior at Wentworth this weekend, I have far less sympathy for him.

For all his bad points I always believed he was good to his fans. At the autograph area of the BMW PGA all the golfers who had finished signed programs for kids, and in many cases gave caps, gloves and golf balls etc. As it got to Dalys turn to approach the number of kids grew massively.
When Daly came through, he took the first program held out for him to sign, kept his head down the whole time, kept walking and signed the program. By now he was at least 5 paces away from the kid whose program he had taken, without looking he just tossed the program over his shoulder into the crowd, nowhere near the kid who had given it to him. What ensued was a big scramble and plenty of damage to a program that was originally in good condition. This was repeated for 3 or 4 programs, until he had got to the exit point and made his getaway.

Fair enough he may have had a bad day, but to treat other peoples property like this is just plain wrong. To do it to kids is even worse.
If he had decided to sign nothing, fair enough. If he had signed properly, great. What he did was neither. It was pretty lousy and seemed to show massive contempt to all his supporters.

[Chas]

Speaking as someone who hasn't gotten closer to Wentworth than visiting a friend with a gorgeous Tudor house off of one of the fairways there (I just had to get that in .... ), I find this very disappointing in John if it's true. Doesn't matter how p****d off a golfer is with his round, there's no excuse for behavior like that. Well said Surefire, it would have been much better to do nothing.

I'm still rooting for the big guy though.

[Surefire]

Its definitely true, its not something I read, saw on TV or was told. I saw it with my own eyes. I was about 6' from Daly when he did it.

Is your friend female and single?

[Kcas77]

I love John Daly he is the example of pure talent. Never practices, drinks, smokes, and gambles.

[shortstop20]

I used to try and defend John Daly as he often seemed to be given a hard time by many people.

Wow, I never thought I'd hear about JD doing something like that. He seemed like a person that would always be pleasant to fans. Don't make this a habit JD or your popularity will suffer. In which case unless you play great golf you will be off the Tour just as fast as you got on.

[Chas]

Its definitely true, its not something I read, saw on TV or was told. I saw it with my own eyes. I was about 6' from Daly when he did it.

LOL.

This was about 30 years ago, he was a lawyer representing/advising companies in the Persian Gulf area. I shudder to think what that house was worth at market peak ..... I envy you being at Wentworth, I used to live not so far from there. As to the Daly episode - what a nasty experience for the young lad. Let's hope this doesn't put him off the game, or american golfers at least. It is surprising, how bad of a day did Daly have anyway?

[Thrash13]

Wake me up when this guy gets his life back together and keeps it together for more than a couple months. We have seen this story before, and the ending wasn't pretty. I hope things will be different this time around, but I'll believe it when I see it.

He should just stay in Europe where things are going somewhat positively at least.

[Surefire]

LOL.

Even now its probably not worth much less than at the peak of a couple of years ago, as area slike this in the South East have mostly bucked the trend due to desirability.

It would have to be worth a few million £ these days!

As to the Daly episode - what a nasty experience for the young lad. Let's hope this doesn't put him off the game, or american golfers at least. It is surprising, how bad of a day did Daly have anyway?

It surprised me too, I thought that fans were important to Daly and he respected them more than many other aspects of life and golf.

It wasn't a good day for him, but far from some of his worst efforts shooting in the 80s! He shot 75 to come T72nd out of 79 golfers who made the cut. It wasn't like he was in contention and blew it or anything, he was already way out of the running.

[PEZGolf]

Wow, I never thought I'd hear about JD doing something like that. He seemed like a person that would always be pleasant to fans. Don't make this a habit JD or your popularity will suffer. In which case unless you play great golf you will be off the Tour just as fast as you got on.

I have seen the "two faces" of John Daly, and both were nearby our house here in Central New York. Both took place at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino. The good side: in September of 2006, JD was part of the Skins Game with The King (Arnie), Natalie Gulbis, and Kix Brooks (of the duo Brooks & Dunn). Big John was very good during the clinic, and after that and on the course, signed many autographs. The bad side: last year, JD was the big draw for the PGA Tournament held at Turning Stone as the first event of the Fall Series. At Wednesday's Pro-Am, Big John was the main attraction, and I saw him several times take the program of a fan, and simply toss it behind him, as was described in this thread. People did not think it was funny. Instead, they regarded it as being rude and crude.

[Three Putt]

That's unfortunate, better not to sign anything than act like that.

He's -1 first round this week, T58 I think, has not started 2nd round.

[shortstop20]

My respect of JD has gone down after reading this.

[Dub]

I've had some great experiences at The National listening to his banter with other golfers and the gallery. He really made the practice rounds fun to attend.


I wish him the best.

The old saying that insanity is defined by doing the same thing repeatedly but expecting different results.

I hope that something has changed with John's strategy to navigate his way through life, much less life on the PGA Tour.

Again, I wish him the best.

[Three Putt]

I don't know...we are talking about JD, and he seems to wear it on his sleeve. As Pez said last year he flung autographs over his shoulder....but last year 90% of this forum thought he was on his death bed, waiting for the news headlines.

Last week he played like crap in the final round and was pissed I guess.

But here is a quote from another famous player....Freddie Couples.

Golf Magazine...May 2009
Question: You once said that after a round on Tour you often look for the quickest exit route. As Presidents Cup Captain, will you be more of a people person?

Answer: When I tap in on the 18th hole. I look around and, it's not to be rude, but I just like to find the eaisiest way to get away from the course. It's not to avoid signing autographs. I sign, some days I do better than others--toady I didn't sign more than about 10. I made that comment because it's my way of saying , [other athletes] finish and go into a locker room. We finish and we're free game, just walking around. I need time to think. I mean, I birdied 18 today, I'm in a great mood, but when you three putt, it's a different story.

[PEZGolf]

I don't know...we are talking about JD, and he seems to wear it on his sleeve. As Pez said last year he flung autographs over his shoulder....but last year 90% of this forum thought he was on his death bed, waiting for the news headlines.

Good post and quotes. I know what Freddie means. After finishing the last hole badly or having a tough round, it is must be torture to have to face fans, smile, and sign autographs. I had one such experience with a great woman player on the LPGA Tour, whom I know, and I just wanted to say, "Hi, how are you", and she stared at me, and her husband/caddy said, "She is headed to the driving range, and she may not come back here. This is NOT a good time to talk to her." I will not name her, but she was noted for being a fiery competitor and that incident is a reflection of her personality. Did I feel hurt or insulted? No. I understood how she must have felt so I left her alone. The counterpoint to this normal reaction is "The King". Arnie has always made it a point to sign autographs as a way of telling the fans, "Thanks for coming. Without you, we would not have jobs". He is still one of my all time favorite golfers. He has even lectured young players on the need to follow his example. Some guys on the PGA Tour are not very "fan friendly". I have found all the gals on the LPGA Tour to be very friendly, nice, and willing to sign autographs. This includes the young stars, like Cristie, Paula, Natalie, and Laura Diaz.

[Three Putt]

Good post and quotes. I know what Freddie means. After finishing the last hole badly or having a tough round, it is must be torture to have to face fans, smile, and sign autographs. I had one such experience with a great woman player on the LPGA Tour, whom I know, and I just wanted to say, "Hi, how are you", and she stared at me, and her husband/caddy said, "She is headed to the driving range, and she may not come back here. This is NOT a good time to talk to her." I will not name her, but she was noted for being a fiery competitor and that incident is a reflection of her personality. Did I feel hurt or insulted? No. I understood how she must have felt so I left her alone.

Exactly...That's why Arnie is my favorite of all time, in my book he is the only one of the greats that recognized when the game or match was over and wanted to thank the fans for coming and supporting the event, I take the same approach with my kids, whether they win or lose in junior golf or soccer, they go to the grandparents, aunts, and uncles and thank them for coming to watch them play...win or lose. (They seem to have no problem with this if they win

)

[Surefire]

I understand Couples point, but like I said in my original post if Daly didn't want to sign autographs that would have not been great, but far better than the contempt and disrespect he showed by making a half assed effort.