Career Timeline of John Daly (golfer): Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how John Daly (golfer) made an impact.

John Daly is a professional golfer recognized for his prodigious driving distance and unconventional persona. He gained fame with his unexpected victory at the 1991 PGA Championship and further solidified his reputation by winning the 1995 Open Championship in a playoff. Daly's career has been marked by both remarkable achievements and inconsistencies, compounded by personal struggles that have often overshadowed his talent. Despite these challenges, he remains a popular figure in the world of golf, now competing on the PGA Tour Champions.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1983: Missouri State Amateur Championship Win

In 1983, John Daly achieved his first significant golf success by winning the Missouri State Amateur Championship, marking an early milestone in his golfing career.

1983: Helias High School Accomplishments

In 1983, while at Helias High School, John Daly contributed to the football team's 10-0 record as a punter and place-kicker. Also in 1983, he was a Missouri state team HS champion in golf.

1984: Arkansas State Amateur Championship Win

In 1984, John Daly followed up his Missouri State Amateur Championship win by winning the Arkansas State Amateur Championship, showcasing his growing talent in golf.

1986: Qualifying for the 1986 U.S. Open

In 1986, John Daly qualified for the U.S. Open as an amateur but missed the 36-hole cut, gaining experience in a major professional golf tournament.

1987: Turning Professional

In the summer of 1987, John Daly turned professional, marking the beginning of his career as a professional golfer.

1987: First Pro Victory at the Missouri Open

Shortly after turning professional in 1987, John Daly secured his first professional victory at the Missouri Open, signaling early success in his career.

1989: Playing Minor Events and Southern African Tour

From 1987 to 1989, John Daly primarily played in minor events around the U.S. and had success on the Southern African Tour, gaining experience and building his skills.

1990: Earning Ben Hogan Tour Privileges

In 1990, John Daly earned full playing privileges on the Ben Hogan Tour by winning the qualifying tournament, marking a significant step in his career progression.

1990: Winning Ben Hogan Utah Classic

In 1990, John Daly won the Ben Hogan Utah Classic, adding another victory to his growing list of accomplishments.

1991: Earning PGA Tour Privileges

In 1990, John Daly finished T-12 at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, earning him 1991 PGA Tour privileges, which was a significant milestone in his career.

1991: Victory in the 1991 PGA Championship

In 1991, John Daly achieved a remarkable 'zero-to-hero' victory in the PGA Championship, marking one of his greatest on-course accomplishments. He was the ninth alternate for the tournament and had to drive through the night to claim his spot after Nick Price withdrew. Daly finished the tournament with scores of 69-67-69-71, giving him a three-stroke victory over veteran Bruce Lietzke.

1991: Joining PGA Tour and Winning PGA Championship

In 1991, John Daly joined the PGA Tour, showed strong play throughout the year, and won the PGA Championship in August. This victory brought him significant media attention and international fame.

1991: PGA Championship Victory Impact

Under pressure from his 1991 PGA Championship victory, Daly started the 1992 season with several top 10 finishes.

1992: Winning the B.C. Open

In 1992, John Daly recovered from a difficult PGA Championship to win the B.C. Open by six strokes, securing his second PGA Tour title.

1993: 1993 Season Performance

John Daly's 1993 season was his least successful since joining the PGA Tour. He notably finished T-3 at the Masters Tournament. Daly won the Alfred Dunhill Cup with Fred Couples and Payne Stewart.

1994: Turbulent Year and BellSouth Classic Win

In 1994, John Daly experienced a turbulent year, including a suspension from the PGA Tour, entering alcohol rehab, and winning the BellSouth Classic, which he claimed was his first sober win. He was suspended by the PGA Tour from late 1993 into early 1994.

1995: Victory in the 1995 Open Championship

In 1995, John Daly secured a playoff victory over Costantino Rocca in the Open Championship, adding another significant achievement to his career. This victory further solidified his reputation in the world of golf.

1995: Winning The Open Championship

In 1995, John Daly unexpectedly won The Open Championship in a playoff with Costantino Rocca at the Old Course at St Andrews.

1996: 1996 Season Performance

In 1996, Daly's only win was at the AT&T Australian Skins Game, which was neither a PGA or European Tour event. Daly finished T-19 at The Players Championship and had a top-10 finish at the Kemper Open. At the 1996 U.S. Open, Daly finished T-27.

1999: 1999 Season Performance

In 1999, Daly won the JCPenney Classic, which was neither a PGA or European Tour event. He had a weak PGA Tour season, with only three top-25 finishes. At the 1999 U.S. Open, Daly finished 68th place.

2000: 2000 Season Performance

John Daly had a horrific 2000 season on the PGA Tour, with only one top-25 finish at the Honda Classic. He also withdrew from the U.S. Open after shooting an opening round 83.

2001: BMW International Open win

In 2001, John Daly won the BMW International Open by one stroke over Pádraig Harrington. He scored a personal best of 27 under par for four rounds. This was Daly's first European Tour event win in six years.

2002: Inducted into Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame

In 2002, John Daly was inducted into the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame. He also achieved two top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour with 4th-place finishes at the Buick Invitational and the Phoenix Open. He made the cut at the 2002 Masters finishing T-32, which would be his last time making the cut at the Masters. Additionally, he won the Champions Challenge.

2003: Korea Open Win

In 2003, John Daly had a less successful season, although he did finish T-7 at the Shell Houston Open. He won two other tournaments that were neither PGA Tour nor European Tour events, including the 2003 Korea Open, which was the most prestigious event on the Korean Tour.

2004: Last PGA Tour Victory

In 2004, John Daly achieved his last PGA Tour victory in San Diego, which earned him a two-year playing exemption.

2004: Appearance in Tiger Woods PGA Tour Video Game

In 2004, John Daly appeared in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game series.

2004: Buick Invitational Win and Comeback Player of the Year

In 2004, John Daly won the Buick Invitational in a playoff against Luke Donald and Chris Riley. Daly was also selected as PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year for 2004. Daly's victory marked his first tournament using Dunlop golf equipment and his first win in 189 PGA Tour events.

2005: WGC-American Express Championship Playoff Loss

In 2005, at the WGC-American Express Championship, John Daly tied with Tiger Woods after regulation play. However, Daly missed a short par putt on the 2nd extra playoff hole, leading to Tiger Woods' victory. In the same year, Daly reached a playoff at the Shell Houston Open but lost to Vijay Singh on the first extra hole.

2007: Lacked exempt status on PGA Tour

In 2007, John Daly entered the PGA Tour season without full exempt status for the first time since his 1991 PGA Championship victory. He relied upon sponsor exemptions to gain entry to PGA Tour events.

2007: Injury Sustained at Honda Classic

John Daly sustained an injury at the 2007 Honda Classic.

2008: Competition on the European Tour after Suspension

Following his suspension in 2008, John Daly was compelled to participate in the European Tour. He underwent lap-band surgery to lose 40 pounds, which led to improved performance, including a second-place finish at the Italian Open.

May 26, 2009: Return to PGA Tour via sponsor's exemption

On May 26, 2009, John Daly announced his return to the PGA Tour via a sponsor's exemption for the St. Jude Classic.

2009: Last Appearance in Tiger Woods PGA Tour Video Game

In 2009, John Daly made his last appearance in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game series.

2010: Partnership with Oxygen Games for John Daly's Prostroke Golf

In 2010, John Daly partnered with publisher Oxygen Games for John Daly's Prostroke Golf, a video game for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. In the game, John Daly is both an instructor and an opponent for players across twelve courses modeled after real-world courses.

2012: Finished 18th at the PGA Championship

John Daly shot a score of 68 for the first round of the 2012 PGA Championship. He finished 18th place in that tournament, which was his first top 20 finish in a major championship since the Open in 2005.

December 6, 2014: Won the Beko Classic

On December 6, 2014, John Daly won the Beko Classic, an event sanctioned by the PGAs of Europe, with a score of -15. This marked Daly's first win in over 10 years.

December 2014: Won the Beko Classic

In December 2014, John Daly won the Beko Classic at Gloria Golf Club in Belek, Antalya, Turkey, an event sanctioned by the PGA of Europe. This was Daly's first professional tournament win since 2004.

April 28, 2016: Turned 50 and eligible for PGA Tour Champions

On April 28, 2016, John Daly turned 50 years old, making him eligible to play on the PGA Tour Champions. His debut was at the Insperity Invitational in May, where he finished tied for 17th.

2016: Joining the PGA Tour Champions Circuit

Since 2016, John Daly has been competing on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, marking a new phase in his professional golf career.

May 7, 2017: Won the Insperity Invitational

On May 7, 2017, John Daly secured victory at the Insperity Invitational on the PGA Tour Champions, finishing with a score of 14-under par for the tournament. This marked his first win in a PGA Tour-affiliated event since 2004, occurring exactly one year after his debut on the PGA Tour Champions.

2017: Winning the 2017 Insperity Invitational

In 2017, John Daly won the Insperity Invitational on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, adding another victory to his career achievements.

2022: Daly Advocates for Cannabis Legalization in Arkansas

In 2022, John Daly advocated for the legalization of cannabis in Arkansas, endorsing a ballot measure that he claimed would generate "millions in new funding for our police, ... thousands of good jobs, [and] revenue for our state".

February 20, 2023: Relies on sponsor invitations

As of February 20, 2023, despite having career earnings of $10,270,681, John Daly is not among the top 50 on the PGA Tour's All-Time Career Money List, and he relies on sponsor invitations (PGA Tour Exemption Category 11).