Can John Daly be Saved?

Can John Daly be Saved?
Written by Greg Shaw, co-owner of Tattoo Golf
3-13-08


It's no secret John Daly's game has fallen far from it's peak in the 90's and his personal life has always been a disaster but it seems things are taking a turn for the worse - if that's at all humanly possible!


He finally seemed took steps toward getting his game back on track by hiring coach-to-to-golf-stars Butch Harmon but no sooner than it began, it ended with Harmon severing ties due to Daly's fondness for the booze. Harmon very publicly gave specific reasons for the split citing Daly's drinking several times and basically saying that he won't continue to waste time with someone so uncommitted to the game. "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." Can't say I blame him.


Since Daly no longer holds an exempt PGA tour card, he now plays strictly on sponsor's exemptions, which fortunately for him means he plays a lot. Daly hits the ball a mile and remains a huge crowd favorite so what sponsor wouldn't let him play? So during the recent PODS tournament, John spent a 2 1/2 -hour rain delay during the first round in the Hooters corporate tent behind the 17th green and when play resumed Big John had Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden on the bag for the rest of the round and ended up shooting a 77!! Funny but not a stunt an elite professional should pull while in the midst of an attempted comeback. Things didn't get much better the next day as he shot an 80 (with his regular caddy) to miss the cut.


Not one to miss a party, he returned to the golf course Saturday afternoon and spent a few hours back in the Hooters tent drinking beer, chit chatting with fans and signing everything in sight including the back of one female fans' pants!! Again, fun stuff but probably not the PR he needs at this moment in time. His reputation is that of a boozehound so common sense should dictate that he walks the straight and narrow but it's just not in his genes. Coming to his own defense he said he thought he was doing a good thing by promoting Hooters, signing autographs, and playing the jovial big man but Harmon, among others, simply doesn't see it this way!


Daly learned of the Harmon situation Wednesday morning and not from Butch but rather from the media! Pretty crappy way to hear the news but maybe Harmon was trying to administer a lesson in tough love by making the split so public? "I just wish Butch had called me before getting slapped in the face" Daly said when asked about the sudden split.


A call would have been nice but a slap to the face is really more appropriate at this stage of the game. Fans are still enjoying themselves watching Daly and sponsors are still tossing big bucks his way but it can't, and most certainly won't, last forever.

About the author - Golf fanatic Greg Shaw is the VP of Sales for Tattoo Golf (http://www.tattoogolf.com/) and has extensive experience in trend marketing. Greg also owns http://www.thegolfshirtfactory.com. He can be reached at greg@tattoogolf.com.