Childhood and Education Journey of John Daly (golfer) in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of John Daly (golfer), highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

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

April 28, 1966: John Daly's Birth

On April 28, 1966, John Patrick Daly was born. He is an American professional golfer known as "Long John".

1983: High School Football and Golf Achievements

In 1983, John Daly's Helias High School football team achieved a 10–0 record, with John handling punting and place-kicking duties. Additionally, he was a 1983 Missouri state team HS champion in golf.

1984: Attended University of Arkansas

In 1984, John Daly attended the University of Arkansas on a golf scholarship and became a member of the golf team.

1987: University of Arkansas

From 1984 to 1987 John Daly was at the University of Arkansas, on a golf scholarship, and was a member of the golf team.

1987: Marriage to Dale Crafton

In 1987, John Daly married Dale Crafton, a hand model from a wealthy Arkansas family. Daly was attempting to make it to the PGA Tour to support them.

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.

1990: Divorce from Dale Crafton

In 1990, John Daly and Dale Crafton divorced due to irreconcilable differences. Daly was reportedly miserable living with Dale in her hometown of Blytheville.

1991: Donation to Family After PGA Championship

After winning the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club in 1991, Daly donated $30,000 to the family of a man who died during the tournament due to lightning strike.

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: Alcohol Rehab Stint

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

June 1, 1995: Birth of a Daughter with Paulette Dean

On June 1, 1995, a daughter was born to John Daly and his third wife, Paulette Dean.

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.

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.

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: Divorce from Paulette Dean

In 1999, John Daly divorced Paulette Dean, whom he married in 1995 after his divorce with Bettye Fulford.

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: 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.

July 29, 2001: Marriage to Sherrie Miller

On July 29, 2001, John Daly married Sherrie Miller.

July 23, 2003: Birth of a Son with Sherrie Miller

On July 23, 2003, John Daly and Sherrie Miller's son was born.

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: 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.

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: 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."

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.

December 8, 2009: Weight Loss After Lap-Band Surgery

As of December 8, 2009, Daly had lost over 100 pounds after undergoing lap-band surgery.

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.

July 15, 2010: Confirmed Sobriety

On July 15, 2010, Daly confirmed at The Open Championship that he had stopped drinking alcohol, resulting in a resurgence of his game and a positive change in his personal life.

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.

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.

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.

September 2020: Announced Battle with Bladder Cancer

In September 2020, Daly announced he had recently battled with bladder cancer and underwent surgery to remove it.

2022: Advocacy for Cannabis Legalization

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