John Daly

[forefortheday]

I see he is currently serving a 6 month suspension for dragging the game of golf into disrepute.

Although I have sympathy for anyone facing addiction problems (and like many others family experience) surely it's time for him to do the decent thing and get himself right before playing again.

I know sponsors love him but surely his place at any tournament would be better used by someone who can actually complete four days of golf?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/7807449.stm

 

[andycap]

I agree,
I think there are probably a lot of occasions where John is put into these situations of temptation on purpose. It has been done with Best,Higgins,Gascoyne, etc.to feed the publicity machine

 

[Robobum]

As above, JD needs to be right and be focussed, committed and able to play "properly" on every single shot.

Him taking a spot at the moment will ultimately be the difference between a "lesser" pro losing or retaining his card due to lack of tournaments.

 

[edgey]

Hi

I rarely comment on Forums but on this one i feel i need to

The Aussie press set out to crucify him from the moment he arrived. The story about him smashing the camera was so biased it would have even shamed Daily Sport reporters. The 15 chopper whose camera got smashed had been taking pics in JD's face all day in spite of the fact no cameras were allowed on the course. He had already took a number of pics and JD asked him to stop so he could take his shot. Still carried on so JD lost his cool and threw the camera at a tree and good for him. He immediately offered to pay for it and apologised even though the little worm whose camera it was should have been thrown off the course hours earlier.

To suspend him for bringing the game into disrepute is farcical. If any one should have been suspended what about "do you know who i am, your only here because of me remember that" Mrs Doubtfire. That was the most shameful and embarrasing incident of 2008, what was done, nothing.

John Daly is an easy target, and yes i know he brings some of it on himself but does that mean the Tour should single him out. JD brings character, personality and an element of human frailty that the average chopper can relate too. it seems to me that golf wants a bunch of robots devoid of character and soul who repeat the party line and never provoke any controversy.

Finally if JD getting a sponsors invite stops some "up and coming" pro what the hell does giving Michelle Wie do!? Hell the tour have put a system in place where women can take a mans spot in a ranking comp but wont allow the opposite. Hows that for equality.

Role on 6 months, roll on big JD's return.

 

[HTL]

Sad news, I cant help but like him. He is one of the most gifted players the game has seen but he just cant seem to sort himself out.

Agree with edgey about the camera incident, the bell end who was taking pics of him even said it was him who was in the wrong.

Hopefully in these six months he will lose some weight and sort his head out.

 

[Imurg]

Love Big John to bits.

I just wish he'd clean up his act coz if he did he'd start cleaning up tournaments. WE all know the guy hits it forever but he's got such a sweet short game. I loved it when he won the Open in 95.

Come on John. Sort yourself out then the world will worship you again.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I hate his swing, he is a terrible ambassador for the game and I agree with the suspension. A simple request to the stewards to have the bloke with his camera removed would have been a more adequate and gentlemanly approach rather than loosing his temper. I agree he is very talented but he still needs to remember his place, and by using him as an example this should put any other tour hotheads off doing the same. It is unfortunate he is being used as the example but his iconic status make him perfect for the job!

I do hope he cleans up his act though so he can regain some credibility and respect from the golfing world.

 

[Robobum]

Inviting Wie/ Sorenstam or whoever to play gets exactly the same comment but with extra bells on it.

I salute John Van de Velde who tried to gain an entry to a womens event, there were already rules in place by their tour to prevent this and rightly so. But he did make his point, stick to your own tour and stop depriving male pros of their slice of the pie.

A JD who is playing "properly" is a good addition to any event. But a JD who can't be arsed because he is pi**ed/ stoned does nobody any good least of all himself. That's not being a character, that's him being a tit.

 

[USER1999]

I like JD, but how many 'last chances' can you give the guy? He is in the top 700 in the world, so he shouldn't be invited to anything, til he gets his game in order.

 

[Herbie]

I too love JD but not as much as I once did, he has been given chances to get back and I feel he maybe squandering them and that is a flaw in his charactor I dont like.

Its up to him, but I feel he needs to do it himself without any more help or forgiveness.

 

[TonyN]

Good arguements both side of the storey.

Aint been into golf long but big JD is one of the characters I always look out for. Great guy, so down to earth, naturally gifted and a kick in the face to athletisism(sp)

But gotta also agree with the ban. These golfers are role models to the younger generation. Its not the kind of image the game wants to be associated with, hell this forum does enough moaning about beer drinking muni players itself.

I hope he recovers because it would be a shame to not have him in the sport.

 

[andiritchie]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2rtT2z5fDlg

Big John at his best imagine turning up for your monthly medal like that

 

[HTL]

I read his book about a year ago and since then I cant help but like him, but like I said previously he is one of the worlds most wasted talents.

Still think his life would make an ace film.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to think that we have seent he last of John Daly as a tournament golfer. I don't think particularly ont he Europena Tour that there will many sponsors that keen to risk product association with him for potentially two days of play and missing the cut by a big margin and nay further incidents akin to the one in Australia.

Once his ban is over on the USPGA I can still see him getting into some events but I really don't think he has the game anymore to make his card next season and to be fair I'd rather an opportunity went to someone on the way through. As much as I really admire the talent he has (he short game is sublime for one who swings so hard and with that physique) it is the same with many fallen idols in that if they really wanted to make it back they would have made the necessary sacrifices already and done so. SPort (Gazza, Best, Frank Bruno etc) is littered with guys who had the world at their feet and lost that spark and struggled on and evenutally became shadows of themselves competing at such a lower level and almost becoming a novelty act.

I hope John Daly gets the help in his private life to find some inner piece and that somehow he finds a way to light up golf again (maybe win the Nationwide Tour and get exemption to all the events he wants) but sadly I'm not sure it will happen.

I hope I'm proved wrong!

 

[edgey]

I hate his swing, he is a terrible ambassador for the game and I agree with the suspension. A simple request to the stewards to have the bloke with his camera removed would have been a more adequate and gentlemanly approach rather than loosing his temper. I agree he is very talented but he still needs to remember his place, and by using him as an example this should put any other tour hotheads off doing the same. It is unfortunate he is being used as the example but his iconic status make him perfect for the job!

I do hope he cleans up his act though so he can regain some credibility and respect from the golfing world.

Ok

I feel the urge to ask a few questions...

1. You hate his swing.

Why, what is about his swing that you dislike. Since it has won 2 majors it cant be that bad or are you a teaching Pro who understands the subtleties of the golf swing?

2. he is a terrible ambassador for the game

He has never put himself forward as an ambassador for anything, why are you. Tigers caddy called Mickleson a Prick last week, is he going to be suspended, NO! Compared to most premiership footballers he is a saint and they dont get stopped from working why should he. He needs help not condemnation from the cheap seats.

3. A simple request to the stewards to have the bloke with his camera removed would have been a more adequate and gentlemanly approach rather than loosing his temper.

If you had taken the time to check you would realise he did request that the man be stopped, the stewards did nothing (nothing makes news like bad news) As far as i can see this "gentleman" was lucky not to have got his arse handed to him. If this had been Tiger i am sure photo man would have been stopped long before this ever happened.

4. he still needs to remember his place

Pardon me! and what place might that be. Would that be the same place as Monty thinks he is in, a place where he can speak to people like dirt and NEVER get admonished by the tour. The same place where Poulteroon can be so rude to the public that they barrack him all the way round (Forest of Arden, i was their). Daly's place is as the gallery favourite.

5. It is unfortunate he is being used as the example but his iconic status make him perfect for the job!

Perfect for what Job exactly. You appear to be justifying a man losing his work to spread fear amongst the masses a "Genghis Khan" type principal. That my friend is total nonsense. Next time Tiger spits on the course Ban him, send a message, right!! JD is the working class victim of a middle class, analy retentive, hypocritical and vindictive game run by analy retentive, hypocritical and vindictive old men.

JD as a golfer has never lost his credibility or my respect although as a human he no doubt has failings. Your comments display a mean spirited, judgemental and vindictive streak that i so often see both in our society and unforunately on the golf course.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I hate his swing, he is a terrible ambassador for the game and I agree with the suspension. A simple request to the stewards to have the bloke with his camera removed would have been a more adequate and gentlemanly approach rather than loosing his temper. I agree he is very talented but he still needs to remember his place, and by using him as an example this should put any other tour hotheads off doing the same. It is unfortunate he is being used as the example but his iconic status make him perfect for the job!

I do hope he cleans up his act though so he can regain some credibility and respect from the golfing world.

Ok

I feel the urge to ask a few questions...

1. You hate his swing.

Why, what is about his swing that you dislike. Since it has won 2 majors it cant be that bad or are you a teaching Pro who understands the subtleties of the golf swing?

2. he is a terrible ambassador for the game

He has never put himself forward as an ambassador for anything, why are you. Tigers caddy called Mickleson a Prick last week, is he going to be suspended, NO! Compared to most premiership footballers he is a saint and they dont get stopped from working why should he. He needs help not condemnation from the cheap seats.

3. A simple request to the stewards to have the bloke with his camera removed would have been a more adequate and gentlemanly approach rather than loosing his temper.

If you had taken the time to check you would realise he did request that the man be stopped, the stewards did nothing (nothing makes news like bad news) As far as i can see this "gentleman" was lucky not to have got his arse handed to him. If this had been Tiger i am sure photo man would have been stopped long before this ever happened.

4. he still needs to remember his place

Pardon me! and what place might that be. Would that be the same place as Monty thinks he is in, a place where he can speak to people like dirt and NEVER get admonished by the tour. The same place where Poulteroon can be so rude to the public that they barrack him all the way round (Forest of Arden, i was their). Daly's place is as the gallery favourite.

5. It is unfortunate he is being used as the example but his iconic status make him perfect for the job!

Perfect for what Job exactly. You appear to be justifying a man losing his work to spread fear amongst the masses a "Genghis Khan" type principal. That my friend is total nonsense. Next time Tiger spits on the course Ban him, send a message, right!! JD is the working class victim of a middle class, analy retentive, hypocritical and vindictive game run by analy retentive, hypocritical and vindictive old men.

JD as a golfer has never lost his credibility or my respect although as a human he no doubt has failings. Your comments display a mean spirited, judgemental and vindictive streak that i so often see both in our society and unforunately on the golf course.

Calm down mate

It is only a forum and I am as entitled to my opinion as you are yours. I don't see the need for an attack on my personality in your closing paragraph particularly considering your lack of knowing me, in person or through posting on the forum over a fairly long time. I could justify my points in a counter attack against your post much like you did to mine but your attempt to belittle me throughout your reply which had a tone suggestive of a direct attack upon my opinion, leaves me not wishing to dedicate my time to this at this moment.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Edgey by name and by nature. I think your response was a tad strong to be honest as we are all entitled to our opinions on here and would ask that you respect other peoples as they have respected yours.

Hate is probably the wrong adjective to use but I can see what eaglehunter is getting at. His swing is not textbook and picturesque and certainly not a swing you would want to copy (chiropracter bills are high!!) but he finds a way of getting back on plane and it works.

As for ambassador I think you will find that there are certain expectations placed upon you when you sign up for the PGA and European Tour (disrepute etc). To use your footballer analogy I think you will find an increasing number of managers and players are getting disrepute charges and having bans (touchline or playing) levied.

Regarding the point with the photographer, I am actually with you on this up to a point. I agree that having had a request from Daly to stop this guy the stewards had to take action and didn't. Of course if it had been Woods or any of the top players then action would have been taken but similarly if it had been Joe Bloggs in 125th place on the money list the chances are the same thing would have happened. That does not give Daly the excuse to take matters into his own hands.

Remember his place? He was a role model to a lot of aspiring golfers and a media mans drea at his peak and he was happy to take the Kings shilling and be paid for endorsements and interviews. He is still a draw but saly it is mainly in case a car crash scene like this unfolds. Surely JD isn't that naieve to assume that his recent life will attract a certain press follwing and that whenever he tees it up he will be under scrutiny.

I disagree with Eaglehunter about him being used as an example and maybe the punishment is too excessive but he did flout tour rules by getting involved in a fight. As for spitting and banning Woods, I quite agree that it is a disgusting habit and shouldn't be condoned but if you ban one player you have to ban them all and I'm pretty sure the sponsors will not pay if Woods, Mickleson, Garcia, Weekley (all of whom have been caught on camera spitting) are serving a ban.

It is clear that John Daly has a special place in your golfing heart and there is nothing wrong with that. It is sad that his life has taken a bumpy ride over the last few years and that he doesn't seem to be getting the help he needs but remember that this is a public domain and not everyone on here will share your feelings about the big man

 

[Herbie]

Edgey, you seem tense, but I dont care, I loved your post.

 

[IM01]

He's still going to be a big draw on the European Tour,because of what he has done both on and off the course in the past.
Can't see him contending week in week out but people will pay to watch him play.
Anybody who sleeps with their eyes open when gassed and gets sponsored by Hooters has a certain appeal.

 

[USER1999]

The thing is, it is JD's talent to waste, so who are we to criticise?

Peter Cook said it right. Do you think you have wasted your talents, NO.