Challenges in the Life of John Daly (golfer) in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and John Daly (golfer) faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

John Daly is a professional golfer renowned for his prodigious driving distance and unconventional persona. He gained prominence with a surprise victory at the 1991 PGA Championship and later secured the 1995 Open Championship. Despite his talent, Daly's career has been marked by inconsistency and personal struggles, contributing to his unique and often controversial image in the world of golf. He currently competes on the PGA Tour Champions.

Sections (6)

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

1989: Hospitalized for Alcohol Poisoning

From 1989 to 1993, Daly was hospitalized four times for alcohol poisoning.

1990: Quit Drinking Whiskey

In 1990, Daly claimed he quit drinking whiskey because it interfered with his golf game.

December 1992: Assault Charge

In December 1992, John Daly was charged with third-degree assault for allegedly throwing his second wife, Bettye Fulford, into a wall at their home near Denver. However, Bettye did not wish to pursue the matter.

1993: Incidents and Suspension

In late 1993 John Daly was suspended by the PGA Tour from late 1993 into early 1994 due to behavior which included walking off the course mid-round during the 1993 late-season Kapalua International, a mid-1993 incident at the Kemper Open that saw him disqualified for throwing his scorecard at the scoring tent after shooting 77, and an incident at the 1993 Southern Open where Daly walked off the course without telling his partners he was quitting.

1993: Alcohol Rehab Stint

In late 1993, Daly had a stint in alcohol rehab, after which he reportedly went on candy and burger eating binges.

1994: Turbulent Year and Suspension

In 1994, John Daly was suspended by the PGA Tour due to behavioral issues. He then entered alcohol rehab and won the BellSouth Classic, claiming it as his first sober win.

1995: Post Open Championship Era

After winning the 1995 Open Championship, Daly continued with his golf game and drinking habits, causing win droughts on both the European and PGA Tours.

1996: Reportedly Started Drinking Again

In 1996, Daly reportedly started drinking alcohol again, claiming he only drank a few beers.

1997: Second Stint in Alcohol Rehabilitation

In 1997, Daly fell back into his excessive drinking habits and checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation center for the second time. He also lost his sponsorships with Wilson and Reebok.

1997: Struggles and U.S. Open Withdrawal

In 1997, John Daly had a difficult season, withdrawing from the U.S. Open due to physical conditioning and Delirium tremens. He was also attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at this time.

1998: Alcoholic Shakes During Greater Vancouver Open

During the 1998 season, as Daly was recovering from his alcoholism, he suffered alcoholic shakes during the first round of the Greater Vancouver Open.

1998: High Score at Bay Hill Invitational

In 1998, John Daly recorded one of the highest scores on a single hole in PGA Tour golf history, shooting an 18 on the sixth hole at the Bay Hill Invitational.

1999: Relapse and Lost Sponsorship with Callaway

During the 1999 season, Daly relapsed and started drinking again after missing the cut at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. He then lost his sponsorship with Callaway.

1999: Gambling Losses and Financial Struggles

In 1999, John Daly was reported to have lost $51 million from gambling in the mid-1990s, leading to financial strain. He had to sell his Mercedes and his California house. He also stated he had trouble paying alimony, child support, and other expenses.

2000: Difficult 2000 Season

In 2000, John Daly had a poor season on the PGA Tour, with only one top-25 finish at the Honda Classic, and he withdrew from the U.S. Open.

2000: Drinking on and off throughout the decade

Starting in 2000, Daly was reportedly drinking on and off throughout the decade. However, it seemed he had a lot more control over his drinking habits and rowdy behavior during the 2000s.

October 2005: Gambling Losses After WGC-American Express

In October 2005, John Daly lost $1.5 million after winning half that amount at the WGC-American Express tournament. He lost most of the money on a $5,000 Las Vegas slot machine at Wynn Casino.

2005: Second Place Finishes at WGC-American Express Championship and Shell Houston Open

In 2005, Daly tied with Tiger Woods at the WGC-American Express Championship but lost in a playoff. He also reached a playoff at the 2005 Shell Houston Open, losing to Vijay Singh.

2005: Libel Suit Against Florida Times-Union

In 2005, John Daly sued the Florida Times-Union for libel after a columnist claimed he "failed the scoundrel sniff test."

2006: Career Decline

After 2006, John Daly's career began to falter, and he faced challenges in making cuts and remaining on the tour.

2006: Loss of Full Exempt Status

In 2006, Daly finished 193rd on the PGA Tour Official Money List, losing his full exempt status for 2007.

2006: Autobiography Reveals Gambling Problem

In 2006, Daly revealed in his autobiography that he lost between $50 and $60 million over a 15-year period due to a gambling problem.

2006: Decline in form and one Top-25 finish

In 2006, Daly's form declined, making cuts in only 8 of 21 events and withdrawing from five events. He had only one Top-25 finish in 2006, at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

March 1, 2007: Withdrawal from Honda Classic

On March 1, 2007, Daly was invited to play in the Honda Classic on a sponsor's exemption but had to withdraw after two holes due to a pulled muscle.

June 8, 2007: Fight with Sherrie Miller

On June 8, 2007, John Daly and his wife Sherrie Miller got into a fight at a restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee, the location of the Stanford St. Jude Championship. Daly claimed Sherrie attacked him with a steak knife later that night and he showed up to his second round with cuts and scrapes across his face. Sherrie fled the scene.

2007: PGA Tour Season without Full Exempt Status

Daly entered the 2007 PGA Tour season without full exempt status for the first time since his 1991 PGA Championship victory.

2007: Injury at Honda Classic

In 2007, John Daly sustained an injury at the Honda Classic that led to litigation in 2010.

March 2008: Swing Coach Butch Harmon Quit

In March 2008, Daly's swing coach Butch Harmon quit, stating that "the most important thing in (Daly's) life is getting drunk."

October 26, 2008: Taken into Protective Custody in Winston-Salem

On October 26, 2008, Daly was taken into protective custody by Winston-Salem police after being found drunk outside a Hooters restaurant.

December 2008: PGA Tour Suspension

In December 2008, Daly was suspended for six months by the PGA Tour after an incident involving the Winston-Salem police.

2008: Competed on the European Tour after suspension

After his 2008 suspension, Daly was forced to compete on the European Tour and underwent lap-band surgery to lose weight.

2008: Lawsuit Against Hippo Golf

In 2008, John Daly sued Hippo Golf for using his name on a golf club without his permission. The judge ruled in favor of Daly, but denied the motion for Hippo Golf to pay any damages.

July 2009: Weight Loss and Swing Coach Blaming Surgery

In July 2009, Daly stated that he had lost 80 pounds due to lap-band surgery. After shooting a personal-high 88 at the Buick Open, he claimed to be losing confidence in his game, with his swing coach blaming the surgery for the loss of muscle and power.

2009: Libel Suit Dismissed

In 2009, a judge threw out John Daly's libel case against the Florida Times-Union, stating that Daly had failed to prove the statements were untrue. Daly was ordered to pay the newspaper over $300,000 in legal fees.

December 17, 2010: Custody Awarded to Daly, Sherrie Jailed

On December 17, 2010, in Memphis, Circuit Court Judge Donna Fields awarded custody of John Daly and Sherrie Miller's seven-year-old son to Daly. Sherrie was jailed for interfering with Daly's court-ordered visitation rights and other failures to abide by court's orders.

2010: Lawsuit against Children's Charity and PGA Tour

In 2010, John Daly sued a children's charity and the PGA Tour for $100 million from an injury he sustained at the 2007 Honda Classic.

March 14, 2014: Shot Career-Worst 90 at Valspar Championship

On March 14, 2014, Daly shot a career-worst score of 90 during the second round of the Valspar Championship, including an 8-over-par 12 on the 16th hole.

August 6, 2014: Discussed Past Alcohol Struggles on The Dan Patrick Show

In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show on August 6, 2014, Daly said that much of his past struggle with alcohol was due to growing up with an alcoholic and abusive father.

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2015: Ongoing Litigation

As of 2015, the litigation initiated in 2010 by John Daly against a children's charity and the PGA Tour was still ongoing.

2015: Failed to get back European Tour card

At the end of 2015, Daly tried to get back his European Tour card in Shanghai, but failed after finishing T-46 at the BMW Masters and T-50 at the Turkish Airlines Open.

July 2019: Near-Death Experience After Spider Bite

In July 2019, Daly had a near-death experience after being bitten by a brown recluse spider while vacationing in England, developing sepsis and requiring emergency surgery.