March 13, 2008

John Daly disqualified at Bay Hill : One day after swing coach Butch Harmon fires him, Daly misses his tee time and is disqualified from Arnold Palmers Invitational. Said Harmon, "My whole goal for him was he's got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life," Harmon said. "And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk."

read story | posted by hawkguy to Golf at 10:45 AM CDT (48 comments total)

I think it's interesting that Harmon called him (Daly) out like that. JD has obviously had numerous issues in his life, and unfortunately drinking seems to be a reoccurring one. Maybe Daly has to hit rock bottom again in order to bounce back, or maybe he won't. He now will have to battle for exemptions, and I can see sponsors being hesitant with him again.

I've read a few books that included JD stories and interviews and I can't help but like the guy. Honestly, I want to see JD succeed but he makes some bad choices that tend to spin out of control, and effect every part of his life and profession.

Missing a tee time is a pretty shitty way to start off a week of golf. JD is there solely due to exemptions, so he's gotta rub those corporate elbows! C'mon John, get it together.

Also, that's kind of crappy that the other two alternates were DQ'd as well. They should be allowed to play. I don't know the "official" rules but this was obviously JD's fault, I don't see a reason for two others guys to face the same penalty.

posted by BoKnows at 11:16 AM CDT on March 13

When do you say when with this guy? John Daly is probably a really likable fellow, but his antics are interfering with other golfers now. We all watched this guy publicly crash years ago, and now we are getting front row seats to the second installment of "John Daly hits rock bottom". I think Daly needs to be called out publicly and if it takes Butch Harmon telling him in a public forum that it's time to quit getting drunk and start getting serious about life, then good. I can't speak for what his friends and family are doing, but I would say that if they really want whats best for him, they should step it up a notch or two or we will be reading about the passing of John Daly.

posted by THX-1138 at 11:42 AM CDT on March 13

Most people do like John Daly, a lot. The guy's a wreck, though, and while fans may enjoy drinking and partying with the guy in the hospitaity tent during a rain delay (then scooping up Jon Gruden for his caddy), it's obvious this type of attitude and behavior won't jibe with a guy like Harmon. Harmon doesn't want, or need to stand by and watch while Big John bottoms out again.

posted by dyams at 11:44 AM CDT on March 13

IMO, alcoholics only become "recovering" when the most important thing for THEMSELVES is to be sober. Right now, that does not appear to be JD's priority. He can't do it for others, his career, his family, or the public... he has to want is so badly for HIMSELF that it happens (with help). Meanwhile, one hears excuses for this and that... which represents a form of denial.
This is indeed sad to see a sickness consume someone... but it is what it is... an addiction that must be dealt with as such.

posted by Fly_Piscator at 11:56 AM CDT on March 13

Harmon had no right to make a public statement like that. It should have been private between him and Daly. Harmon has a very over-developed sense of his own importance that I hope gets cured by a lawsuit.

posted by irunfromclones at 12:26 PM CDT on March 13

Can the PGA step in and keep tournaments from giving sponsors exemptions for a set period? I like the dude but a suspension might help...

posted by Landis at 12:27 PM CDT on March 13

Can the PGA step in and keep tournaments from giving sponsors exemptions for a set period? I like the dude but a suspension might help...

Suspending him for missing a pro-am? Please. It's the sponsor who is at risk when they invite him to come. They'll make money off him being there if he does and they'll lose some (theoretically) if he doesn't. Every sponsor knows this and takes their own risk.

posted by dfleming at 12:51 PM CDT on March 13

Harmon had no right to make a public statement like that. It should have been private between him and Daly.

While I agree with you about Harmon's lofty self-image, I think John has been making such a public spectacle of himself for so long, anything less than the pubic statement he (Harmon) made would have made it more possible for Daly to justify his actions and go on like nothing happened. Daly has so much public support that he needs a wake-up call like this. The "pulic" I speak about can't be counted on to give him that wake-up call because they're so star-struck when they get a chance to swill drinks with Daly, he inevitably falls right into that trap.

Suspending him for missing a pro-am? Please.

Some tournaments probably wouldn't have, but Arnold Palmer has his name to consider in this one. Daly's such a loose cannon when he's going down this road that anything could potentially happen. Some tournaments (and sponsors) may enjoy the publicity his public meltdowns bring, but Palmer won't play that game. He's still a name in the game that is associated with golf the way it's meant to be.

posted by dyams at 12:59 PM CDT on March 13

Sometimes being as well-loved as John Daly has become is not a good thing. It's all too easy for him to interact with his fans and fall into the inevitable party atmosphere.

I wish John much luck--he's enormously talented and has a huge following. Like many of us, he has demons that must be exorcised, and maybe this is his chance to get clean.

posted by jm_mosier at 1:46 PM CDT on March 13

Daly's a putz. It's amazing how many chances the guy gets in a sport that wouldn't let a disabled player ride a cart, lest he damage the integrity of the game.

posted by rcade at 1:59 PM CDT on March 13

Good point rcade.

John needs to drive the Winnebago to rehab.

posted by Bill Lumbergh at 2:22 PM CDT on March 13

irunfromclones:
There is no lawsuit to be filed. You can't be sued for telling the truth.

posted by jackbrandon at 2:26 PM CDT on March 13

Well, they could stop invitiing him to these things. It would seem that they want a tiger to change it's stripes when it's convenient.

Not that Daly isn't to blame here, but it shouldn't be terribly surprising. I think it's all a bit wasteful. But that's Daly's call.

Anyone on the PGA whining about it should be slapped. This is a sport with 126 page rule book. The stick in their ass has a stick in its ass.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 2:41 PM CDT on March 13

Daly's a putz. It's amazing how many chances the guy gets in a sport that wouldn't let a disabled player ride a cart, lest he damage the integrity of the game.

He's not as dedicated as most are to winning tournaments and improving his game. The only person he's really hurting is himself; if there's someone to blame here, it would be the greedy sponsors who think they can make a buck off the fact he's liked primarily for his insanity. How can they roll the dice with him and then reprimand him when he acts predictably?

He's doing what he wants to and should bear no weight when it comes to the integrity of the game. He seems to be still doing this for the fun of it. We should all be so lucky.

posted by dfleming at 2:46 PM CDT on March 13

He seems to be still doing this for the fun of it.

The fun of golf or the fun of getting hammered?

I don't think it's either. I grew up with an alcoholic in my household and it wasn't fun for anyone, not even the alky.

Golf may just be a another routine for him, before Callaway finally dumped him, he had to abide by their rules, while begging for the second (third, forth) chance to play. My guess is that he lost the "fun" a long time ago.

posted by BoKnows at 3:40 PM CDT on March 13

Hell, I'd caddie for the guy, I'd even chug a beer with him after every hole....

posted by aMAIZEd Mark at 3:48 PM CDT on March 13

The PGA wants it both ways. They recently conducted a tournament where they set up bleachers, encourage drinking, hooting, hollering, the wave Etc. and love it because it fills the house. Then they invite Daly because of his known notoriety to bring in more crowds and when he acts up they get on their high horse. I personally liked it as it was. However pro golfers only get paid if they win so only one hurting is him.

posted by wgolf at 4:06 PM CDT on March 13

Do not be shocked if you pick up a paper, or read a blog of John Dalys death.
Everyone will say what a shame, and how well liked he was, and that some one should have done something about his destructive behavior. But in the end, he is a grown man making poor decisions, as do millions of people.(See Rod Beck).
I will always remember him as the guy who smoked on the tour. Always tried to hide it, always got caught. I never saw him with a beer in his hand tho.......

posted by scuubie at 4:35 PM CDT on March 13

I followed him around at a a charity tourney in Leawood a few years ago with Tom Watson and a few others. He was the common man. It was a blast to witness his interactions with the fans.

posted by hawkguy at 4:54 PM CDT on March 13

All of this is well and good. Don't forget that Daly's fun also screwed over a couple of other golfers. He wants to blow it for himself, it's a free country. O' Hern and Imada probably have a good beef with Daly. He's come down a notch or two on the old fun-meter for them.

posted by THX-1138 at 5:37 PM CDT on March 13

Daly's probably the life of the party, just don't invite O'Hern and Imada for a fun filled evening.

posted by giveuptheghost at 6:06 PM CDT on March 13

Beer please

posted by Bxboy at 6:07 PM CDT on March 13

His drinking aside, given the mix up, I really think some are being a bit hard on him. He calls for his tee time...fully intending to go...gets told 9:45...shows up and then finds out he was given an incorrect time.

If his story holds up...hard to blame him too much. Sure, he should have checked up on it.

As to the other two golfers then being disqualified because they didn't even know about this...seems a harse rule...they should at least be given a phone call.

I think some of you are mixing in two events...the drinking that Harmon was pissed about occurred last week at the PODS event. It had nothing to do with his missing the Pro-Am for this week's event. Does he have a drinking problem? Probably, but there is no indication in the story that drinking in any way impacted his not understanding when his correct tee time was.
Gotta love that they had a Hooter's tent at a PGA event...I can think of at least two reasons why Daly was hanging out there!

posted by dviking at 9:47 PM CDT on March 13

O' Hern and Imada probably have a good beef with Daly.

Why? If someone in the morning group drops out for any reason, they have to be there; their not being there is why they got bumped, not Daly's disqualification. Anyone saying they got caught up in the "snowball" effect of Daly is looking for an easy scapegoat. They didn't know the rules; that's not Daly's fault.

posted by dfleming at 5:19 AM CDT on March 14

Daly is, and always has been, a preemptive bottler. I wrote a column about a million years ago about Bode Miller accusing him of being the same thing. Both men enter their respective playing arenas with a long list of excuses ready - either to explain failure or make success seem even more spectacular - and in effect are therefore bottling it before they even hit a ball (or leave the gate).

I used to think John Daly was a fun character and just the kind of guy the tour needed to blow the cobwebs off the stuffy traditionalists. I respected his refusal to bend to accommodate rules that, frankly, can quite often appear at best arcane and at worst completely nonsensical. But what I mistook for principle was merely belligerence; what I saw as revolution, was merely a man going round in the same pathetic circle over and over again.

For what it's worth, he has been hard done by in the past. That he never got picked for a Ryder Cup team is pathetic, especially when you look at who got picked instead in the years when JD won majors. I've played this tune before, but bear with me.

In 1991, Daly came from nowhere to win the final major of the season. He was the talk of the golfing world. He was the most exciting player on the planet. He hit it 10% futher than everyone else and yet had the touch of an angel around the green. He was physically imposing, psychologically unscalable and a born matchplayer. But Dave Stockton, the US Ryder Cup team captain that year, decided instead of picking Daly to pick his old (by then very old) pal Ray Floyd who mustered a less than impressive 2 points from 4 starts (losing his singles match and arguably dragged to those points he did win by his partner, Fred Couples).

In 1995, having almost been written off as a freak major winner (despite finishing third in the 1993 Masters), Daly turned up in St Andrews and - possibly inspired by the fact that he had been on the winning Dunhill Cup team there two years previously - won the world's oldest championship at the world's most famous course. When it came to Ryder Cup selection time though, Lanny Wadkins decided that the man for the job would be his old pal Curtis Strange, who had missed the cut in the Open that Daly won and went on to produce a staggeringly marvellous zero points from three starts.

So yeah, you could argue that he got stiffed. Or you could argue that if the Ryder Cup had meant enough to him he could have knuckled down and earned the requisite number of points during the season to get himself into the team by right.

You could also argue that plenty of people get shittier breaks in life and then do a better job of coping with the hand they were dealt.

posted by JJ at 6:20 AM CDT on March 14

Daly is, and always has been, a preemptive bottler.

And here I thought his problem, like mine, was always letting the stuff back out.

posted by yerfatma at 9:01 AM CDT on March 14

I don't understand why most people tend to coddle this guy. So he can hit the ball a long distance off the tee, big deal. What about the rest of the game? He's horrible at it, and has been for a long time. He's unprofessional, unreliable, and Butch Harmon had every right to give him the boot. Mr. Daly has long ago worn out his "benefit of the doubt" for winning 2 Majors, but is now affecting the income of other Pros. They should boot this guy back to Q School and make him earn it all over again, if he can. I kinda doubt it. Which is why he no longer belongs on the Pro Tour...

posted by falconrod at 10:26 AM CDT on March 14

Because we want those sorts of stories, The Natural who comes from nowhere who can't possibly make it, a combination of so many faults and errors against Accepted Wisdom that his very appearance at the top levels of the sport anger the Establishment. Or maybe just 'cause he drinks beer from a can and likes boobs.

posted by yerfatma at 10:39 AM CDT on March 14

Most "party boys" aren't real golfers anyway. How many frat boys do you see with golf clubs unless they're using 'em to open beers?

posted by NerfballPro at 10:59 AM CDT on March 14

he drinks beer from a can and likes boobs.

That's actually a line from my resume.

posted by dyams at 11:31 AM CDT on March 14

What about the rest of the game? He's horrible at it, and has been for a long time.

Thanks, Dave Marr, for your in-depth analysis. You don't win two majors if all you have is a big drive. Only seventy-four players in the entire history of the game have won two or more majors, so he deserves at least some respect for being part of that group.

As dfleming points out above, the loss of income to other pros was their fault, not his.

Because we want those sorts of stories, The Natural who comes from nowhere who can't possibly make it, a combination of so many faults and errors against Accepted Wisdom that his very appearance at the top levels of the sport anger the Establishment. Or maybe just 'cause he drinks beer from a can and likes boobs.

That's it right there.

posted by JJ at 11:40 AM CDT on March 14

Yeah, Daly's not a horrible golfer by any means. He's just terribly inconsistent. Throughout his career, when he was on, he was incredible. Smash the ball off the tee, great touch with his short game, and he'd just walk up to the ball without studying the green, putt it, and make it. Probably due in large part to his lifestyle, though, he'd either tear it up or completely tank. But why do people want to rag on him any more than they rag on the alcoholics that work in the next cubicle over from them?

posted by dyams at 11:49 AM CDT on March 14

But why do people want to rag on him...

Probably because Butch Harmon decided to make it public that Daly is sinking? (Again) And, like most people said here, JD is well liked.

I always thought the the player/coach relationship, in any sport, is usually quite confidential. I assume that Butch has approached JD in private, only to be met with indifference, or stubbornness. Or lies, for that matter. Taking this problem to the media might be Butch's "last resort" to help JD.

posted by BoKnows at 12:02 PM CDT on March 14

I will never understand why some people are so excited to jump on such men and suggest they're losers, or failures or anything of the sort. Daly won two majors and a shitload of money on the PGA - his success there is obvious and not often equaled.

The irony for me is that his committment to his job is probably most similar to the people that deride him. What - you never called in sick before when you were hungover? Never chose partying over coming in on the weekend? Ass over class?

Gimme a break. Your high horse is 4 inches tall like the rest of us.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:17 PM CDT on March 14

Only when you're lying down, Weedy.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:32 PM CDT on March 14

But why do people want to rag on him any more than they rag on the alcoholics that work in the next cubicle over from them?

I for one don't reserve my ragging for celebrities. I have no problem telling someone that they should lay off the sauce. John Daly has a problem with booze. Whether it impacts his profession, I guess I should not pass judgement. I don't idolize John Daly or even care if he plays another round of golf, but I also don't wish for him to continue on a path that, from all appearances, does not seem to be doing him any great service. I'm sure any one of us could relate a story about an alcoholic that met an untimely demise because they weren't strong enough to put down the bottle. John Daly should try not to add his name to the list.
And Weedy, I would never claim that I haven't called in sick with a hangover, or perhaps partied when I should have been taking care of my responsibilities. But I grew up. Those things are a part of my past that don't get repeated. My life, in my own estimation, got better because of it. I think maybe John Daly's would too

posted by THX-1138 at 12:33 PM CDT on March 14

Go ahead guys, coddle away. Stick your noses as far up his as you want. He's a "has been" that better get his shit together or he's gonna have to find another occupation. He even admits that if the Sponsor's Exemptions run out he's SOL. Hasn't made enough money at this sport you guys say he's so good at to pay the entry fees. Forget what he did yrs ago, where's the proof now. Pull your heads out boys, look at what's there instead of what used to be there...

BTW, any of you smart guys want to guess at his world ranking...

posted by falconrod at 7:36 PM CDT on March 14

Gotta love that they had a Hooter's tent at a PGA event...I can think of at least two reasons why Daly was hanging out there!

Three.......if ya count the beer!!

posted by Bozemanite at 7:42 PM CDT on March 14

Contemplate this:

Money List $29,091 182nd
Driving Distance (Yards Per) 288.2 41st
Driving Accuracy 45.9% 196th
Total Driving 237 152nd
Greens Hit in Regulation 58.0% 180th
Putting (Per Hole) 1.844 170th
Sand Saves 43.2% 140th
Birdies (Per Round) 3.05 126th
Eagles (Holes Per)

Go ahead, tell us why you would sponsor this guy...

posted by falconrod at 7:47 PM CDT on March 14

falconrod

Not everyone is a "what have you done for me lately" type of sports fan. Your stats, I'm sure, are accurate, but I won't just forget a guy's success due to stupidity.

Go ahead, tell us why you would sponsor this guy...

Because, as was said before, he's a likable, friendly guy and he brings fans to the events. He's made some mistakes, as we all have. You may not agree/understand it, but it is what it is.

posted by BoKnows at 8:12 PM CDT on March 14

Contemplate this:

Money List $29,091 182nd

Umm, falconrod, that's his 2008 money....given that we're 11 weeks into the year...he's on a pace to make $137,521 this year...you going to make that much???

He's made $10,587,149 for his career, and I'll bet he has some left. Sure, he's spent a ton on beer and Hooter's girls, and just pissed most of the rest away, but so what?

posted by dviking at 11:26 PM CDT on March 14

He is only eligible for tourny's this year by way of Sponsors Exemptions. Why??? A players eligbility is predicated on previous success'. And there are many ways to create those success' to warrent being able to play in a given tourny. He has no recent success', for how many yrs???

Go back to Q School and quit insulting the intregity of the Sport...

posted by falconrod at 12:39 AM CDT on March 15

Daly's not a great golfer by PGA standards. Good, but not great. A drunk Daly could still beat a sober me on the golf course any day of the week.

posted by NerfballPro at 7:14 AM CDT on March 15

What the fuck is Q School??

posted by Folkways at 8:07 AM CDT on March 15

"What the fuck is Q School??"

You're kidding, right?

Q School

posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:41 AM CDT on March 15

Like it or not, as long as he's a multiple-Major tournament champion, he's got appeal to any tournament. It's only in this day and age of everyone knowing everything about everyone's business, 24/7, that Daly's lifestyle is available for all to critique. Sure I'd like to see him get his shit together, but I'd still pay to follow him around the course. Anyone who says he's not a talented player doesn't know what they're talking about. He's just never been able to dedicate his life to practicing and improving like he could have. Thus the split with Harmon.

posted by dyams at 10:05 AM CDT on March 15

Q School

No not kidding, just dont follow golf.

And thank you crash Sir.

posted by Folkways at 3:26 PM CDT on March 15

Go back to Q School and quit insulting the intregity of the Sport...

An precisely who is inviting this guy to tourneys? Aren't they the ones insulting the integrity of the sport?

Look, I'm sure Daly must have punched your dog, or the equivalent - but you're blaming him when he's pretty much played himself off the tour - yet it's the tournament organizations and sponsors that are letting him play. Hate them. Get some focus on that ol' haterade.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 9:17 AM CDT on March 17

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