Rule 88 and the PGA Tour

[enduro]

I love how everyone judges him and acts like they know what he's done and what he has and has not learned from. It's one thing to comment on the game and of course you have every right to judge him but its hilarious to see the conviction people have in it. Like anyone here knows anything, lol.

[pittpanther]

JD has more talent than any 3 of us put together.

That's what we said about David Duval....

That's what we said about Stewart Cink.... That's what we said about Anthony Kim.... That's what we are saying about Rory McIlroy.... There's no guarantees in golf! JD could have worked 10 times harder, and still never won any more than he has. Don't you think all the guys above work hard? Don't you think all the guys above have strong will? Maybe JD really isn't that good. Maybe his major wins were the fluke, and now he's playing more in line with his real talent level. I don't know the answer, but a guy that hits two consecutive drives out-of-bounds does not sound like the definition of a PGA-level golfer.

[iacas]

A little harsh towards JD, don't you think?

No, I don't think so. He needs to be smacked in the face (by someone other than an ex-wife).

After all, with a little thought, we can find dozens of PGA guys who were successful in the 90's and haven't done anything in the 2000's (Parnevik, just as an example).

Jesper Parnevik didn't win two majors. Jesper Parnevik probably doesn't have half the natural talent of JD. And Jesper Parnevik hasn't made a hobby of drinking, getting arrested, passing out in front of Hooters restaurants, and so on. You can't find anyone else like John Daly, no.

I say give JD a little slack. Given his Thursday performance, he knew that only shooting "lights out" on Friday would make the cut.

Oh, so that gives him license to mail it in when he's outside the cut line? Please. That's not how a professional golfer behaves.

At least he didn't fake an injury, or just pick up...

I wondered how the apologists would defend this. Guess that's the answer?

I think the biggest insult is to the tournament organisers who give him an invitation.

Agreed.

That's what we said about David Duval....

And how many of them, again, made a career of getting arrested, passing out drunk, getting divorces, etc.? When is the last time you ever another professional - including any of those players - mail it in?

There's no guarantees in golf! JD could have worked 10 times harder, and still never won any more than he has.

JD could have drank 10 times less and he'd still have disrespected his talent and been a drunk for large parts of his career.

Maybe JD really isn't that good.

Seriously? Tiger himself has said he's envious of JD's natural talent.

I don't know the answer, but a guy that hits two consecutive drives out-of-bounds does not sound like the definition of a PGA-level golfer.

No, JD is not a professional-level golfer, but for reasons that have nothing to do with his golf swing.

[enduro]

iacas, can you really be *that* upset? I mean, who cares? Did he take your tour spot or something? Pretty judgmental and you're holding addictions and crap against him. Some people have problems that are hard wired in and they battle them. Do you think he loves that kind of life?

I'm not even a JD fan but get off the soapbox and stop being so pompous about it. We don't even know why he shot so bad other than he did. And we're now ready to make a life indictment against him?

[Shindig]

Well, it would just mean we'd see a little less of him on the day of the shoot. I mean, if that rule were in effect, couldn't he just "injure" his wrist hitting out of the rough on hole 14, withdraw, and then go practice at the site of the next major?

[iacas]

iacas, can you really be *that* upset?

I'm not upset. I think his behavior was poor. I voiced that opinion.

Pretty judgmental and you're holding addictions and crap against him.

I don't hold addictions against him. I hold the fact that he's had so many opportunities to attempt to get real help for those addictions and he's never done anything about 'em.

And last I checked, trashing hotel rooms, mailing it in during a PGA Tour event, getting into fisticuffs with ex-wives, and constantly marrying and divorcing aren't addictions.

I'm not even a JD fan but get off the soapbox and stop being so pompous about it.

So because you disagree, I'm not only pompous, but I should shut up. Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and ignore that. You don't have to agree with me, but I'm not alone in feeling this way (obviously) and even if I was, I'd be entitled to share my opinions.

And nothing I've said is pompous (self-important). If anything, I wish JD had taken himself to be more important.

Well, it would just mean we'd see a little less of him on the day of the shoot. I mean, if that rule were in effect, couldn't he just "injure" his wrist hitting out of the rough on hole 14, withdraw, and then go practice at the site of the next major?

Yeah, exactly!

Sounds like a good plan to Wie me, eh? Darn rhyming words...

[enduro]

If anything, I wish JD had taken himself to be more important.

Fair enough, I can agree with that.

It's disappointing when people born with such talent most of use would envy can't take advantage of it.

[pittpanther]

iacas, in several of your responses, you have addressed the concept of "natural talent." In particular, claiming that JD was born with more natural talent than most, and has therefore squandered his ability through a life of debauchery and sloth.

Can you define what you mean by "natural talent," and why you believe that JD has more of this natural talent than others who have similar career arcs?

[Shindig]

why you believe that JD has more of this natural talent than others who have similar career arcs?

I believe Tiger Woods has described John Daly as being the most talented of the currently active golfers.

[BASHERBAKER69]

I think the worst thing about John's 88 was that he had a sponsors invite- he let them down a bit with his front/back nine display....it was pitiful, I dont understand we he doesn't eat more...I know he's trying to lose weight but he needs to eat. In my view, yes he has lost weight, but he just looks 'ill' to me.

He needs a rest, as he's been globetrotting over the last few months (thats what Frank Nobilo said), and needless to say, he will put in a good performance at the PGA and have a top 25 finish.

[MSDOGS1976]

Man how I wish the PGA Tour had Rule 88 like the LPGA. John Daly would finally get what he deserves.

I don't always agree with you, but I agree 100% on this one. I hope this is a final lesson for the sponsors.

[abris33]

That's what we said about David Duval....

The above guys have more of a will than Daly. David Duval has struggled for quite some time now but he has worked to get back to his game. Cink seems like he is in contention a lot more this year(with a major under his belt too). AK and Rory will win tournaments. AK has had a bad year this year but he's been in contention.Same with Rory. The point is , is that if Daly doesn't care anymore why give him a spot in a tournament,like someone above said? When these listed guys miss cuts at least they don't miss it by over five strokes.

[Laxplayer201092]

88 is a badddd number.. why would you want a rule 88? why not a rule 87?

I feel as if JD is just another fly in the oinment. a grain of salt in the ocean, a transparent... Thing.

[Clambake]

......

Really? Let's see, in the '61 Los Angeles Open, one golfer proceeded to hit three consecutive 3-woods OB on his way to shooting a 12. You might have heard of him....his name is Arnold Palmer.

I don't care much for JD and got really tired of his act years ago, but even the great ones screw it up.

[gogolfing]

Here is an article from the Canadian Press. Looks like Rick Smith and JD have a 'reason' for the 88.

http://tsn.ca/golf/story/?id=286384

Looks like more poor lifestyle choices and excuses to me.

[2bGood]

He shot a 51 on the front nine.

So did I today with a 10 on a par three. ouch.

[ArrrrJay]

Here is an article from the Canadian Press. Looks like Rick Smith and JD have a 'reason' for the 88.

I just read through this article, and is JD's diet is as bad as this article makes it out to be, I'm surprised he shot 88 and not 100!!!

He got the gastro/rubber band surgery, and instead of eating well and getting enough protein to keep his muscle during rapid weight loss, he's doing it wrong. (If true) what JD is doing is eating 600-1200 calories a day, drinking (which slows metabolism and muscle growth/preservation down), and barely sleeping, his body is messed up. Under these circumastances, you start losing muscle, and your body can't recover properly from shock (playing 6 tourneys in a row). He's down to 210 lbs, and still has a high body fat %, which means he's lost a good deal of lean muscle weight, which will effect his golf swing. I think this 88 is a slap in the face for him to start managing his weight loss properly, as opposed to him abusing his newfound stomach limitation. /rant

[MSDOGS1976]

Here is an article from the Canadian Press. Looks like Rick Smith and JD have a 'reason' for the 88.

From the link:Daly says he has lost over 80 pounds in the last four months after having Lap-Band surgery, in which a tube place around the top of the stomach helps control the appetite.

He was eating only 1,200 calories a day, but now says his intake is about 600 calories daily. What the heck? He's on a fast track for an early grave. He needs a shrink as much as a regular doctor to get himself straighten out.