History of John Daly (golfer) in Timeline
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.
3 hours ago : John Daly withdraws from PGA Championship and Regions Tradition, citing health issues.
John Daly sadly admitted his absence from the PGA Championship and withdrew from the Regions Tradition due to health concerns. The golfer, also a Masters champion, made the difficult decision.
1927: Beginning of Ryder Cup
Since the Ryder Cup event began in 1927, John Daly is the only man from either Europe or the United States to win two major golf championships but not be selected for the Ryder Cup.
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".
1976: Jerry Pate win U.S. Open
In 1991, John Daly became the first rookie to win a major title since Jerry Pate won the U.S. Open in 1976.
1983: Missouri State Amateur Championship Win
In 1983, John Daly achieved his first significant golf success by winning the Missouri State Amateur Championship.
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.
1984: Arkansas State Amateur Championship Win
In 1984, John Daly won the Arkansas State Amateur Championship, adding to his amateur golf achievements.
1986: Qualified for U.S. Open
In 1986, John Daly qualified for the U.S. Open as an amateur but missed the 36-hole cut.
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: Turned Professional and First Pro Victory
In the summer of 1987, John Daly turned professional after leaving college and shortly after secured his first pro victory in the Missouri Open.
1989: Played in Minor Events
From 1987 to 1989, John Daly primarily participated in minor events around the U.S. and had some success during the 1989–90 season on the Southern African Tour.
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.
1990: Ben Hogan Tour and Sunshine Tour
In 1990, John Daly earned full playing privileges on the Ben Hogan Tour and won two Sunshine Tour events, one in South Africa and one in Swaziland.
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.
1991: PGA Championship victory and 10-year exemption
In 1991, Daly won the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club, which carried a 10-year PGA Tour exemption.
1991: PGA Championship Victory
In 1991, John Daly achieved a "zero-to-hero" victory in the PGA Championship, marking one of his greatest on-course accomplishments.
1991: PGA Tour Privileges
In 1991, John Daly earned PGA Tour privileges on his fourth attempt.
1991: PGA Tour Join and PGA Championship Victory
In 1991, John Daly joined the PGA Tour and won the PGA Championship as the ninth alternate, gaining significant media attention.
1991: Led the PGA Tour in Driving Distance
In 1991, John Daly led the PGA Tour in driving distance.
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.
1992: Win the B.C. Open
In 1992, John Daly win the B.C. Open by six strokes late in the season for his second PGA Tour title.
1993: 1993 season
In 1993, Daly's season was his least successful since joining the PGA Tour. He notably finished T-3 at the Masters Tournament and won the Alfred Dunhill Cup with Fred Couples and Payne Stewart.
1993: Cult-like Fan Base
In 1993, John Daly's victory and powerful swing led to a cult-like fan base. Additionally, he became the first player to reach the green of the 630-yard hole 17 at Baltusrol Golf Club's Lower Course in two strokes.
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.
July 1994: Claimed PGA Golfers Were Cocaine Users
In July 1994, Daly claimed that many PGA golfers were cocaine users, causing an uproar in the pro golf community.
1994: Davis Love III Led the PGA Tour in Driving Distance
In 1994, Davis Love III led the PGA Tour in driving distance, taking John Daly's spot.
1994: Last win on American soil until 2004
In 1994, It was Daly's last win on American soil until 2004.
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.
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.
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.
1995: Last PGA Tour event win until 2004
In 1995, it was Daly's last PGA Tour event win until 2004.
1995: Best PGA Tour Season Since 1995
In 2001, John Daly had his best PGA Tour season since 1995, where his best result was finishing 4th at the Bell Canadian Open.
1996: 1996 Season
In 1996, Daly finished T-19 at The Players Championship and had a top-10 finish at the Kemper Open. His only win in 1996 was at the AT&T Australian Skins Game.
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: First PGA Tour Player to Average Over 300 Yards Per Drive
In 1997, John Daly became the first PGA Tour player to average more than 300 yards per drive over a full season, according to official performance statistics kept since 1980.
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: Averaging over 300 Yards Per Drive for a Full Season
In 1999, John Daly averaged more than 300 yards per drive over a full season. According to official performance statistics kept since 1980.
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.
1999: JCPenney Classic Win
In 1999, John Daly won the JCPenney Classic. At the 1999 U.S. Open, Daly finished 68th place.
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.
July 29, 2001: Marriage to Sherrie Miller
On July 29, 2001, John Daly married Sherrie Miller.
2001: BMW International Open Win
In 2001, John Daly won the BMW International Open by one stroke over Pádraig Harrington. He also had his best PGA Tour season since 1995.
2002: Last Masters Cut Made
Daly has not made the cut at the Masters since 2002.
2002: Led the PGA Tour in Driving Distance
In 2002, John Daly led the PGA Tour in driving distance.
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. Daly made the cut at the 2002 Masters, finishing T-32, and won the Champions Challenge, a non-PGA or European Tour event. He was also a member of the winning PGA Tour team in the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge.
July 23, 2003: Birth of a Son with Sherrie Miller
On July 23, 2003, John Daly and Sherrie Miller's son was born.
2003: Being the Only Player to Average Over 300 Yards Per Drive
Until 2003, John Daly was the only player to average more than 300 yards per drive over a full season, according to official performance statistics kept since 1980.
2004: Buick Invitational Win and Comeback Player of the Year
In 2004, Daly won the Buick Invitational in a playoff against Luke Donald and Chris Riley, marking his first victory in 189 PGA Tour events and his first win on American soil since 1994. He was also selected as PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year for 2004 and ranked 4th on the PGA Tour.
2004: Buick Invitational Win and Two-Year Exemption
In 2004, Daly won the Buick Invitational, earning a two-year exemption which expired at the end of 2006.
2004: Appearance in Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game series
In 2004, John Daly appeared in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game series.
2004: Last PGA Tour Victory
In 2004, John Daly secured his last PGA Tour victory in San Diego, which earned him a two-year playing exemption.
2004: First PGA Tour-affiliated event win since 2004
May 7, 2017, it was Daly's first win of a PGA Tour-affiliated event since 2004, and it happened exactly one year after he made his PGA Tour Champions debut.
2005: Finished in the top 20 in a major championship since the Open
In 2005, Daly finished in the top 20 in a major championship since the Open.
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: Launched Wine Label John Daly Wines
In 2006, Daly launched a wine label John Daly Wines that later went defunct.
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: Provided Back-up Vocals in Kid Rock Song
In 2007, Daly provided back-up vocals in the Kid Rock song, "Half Your Age".
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: Averaging over 300 Yards Per Drive for a Full Season
In 2008, John Daly averaged more than 300 yards per drive over a full season. According to official performance statistics kept since 1980.
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.
2008: Extended PGA Tour exemption through 2008
The 2005 WGC-American Express Championship tournament would have extended Daly's PGA Tour exemption through 2008 had he won.
May 26, 2009: Return to PGA Tour via Sponsor's Exemption
On May 26, 2009, Daly announced his return to the PGA Tour via sponsor's exemption for the St. Jude Classic.
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: Appearance in Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game series
In 2009, John Daly appeared in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game series.
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.
April 2010: Released Second Music Album
In April 2010, Daly released his second music album called I Only Know One Way on Long Ball Records/Hopesong Digital/GMV Nashville. He wrote and co-wrote eight tracks on the album.
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: 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 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.
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.
2012: Finished 18th place at PGA Championship
In 2012, Daly shot a score of 68 for the first round of the PGA Championship which was played at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Daly finished 18th place in that tournament, which was the first time Daly had finished in the top 20 in a major championship since the Open in 2005.
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.
December 6, 2014: Daly Won Beko Classic
On December 6, 2014, Daly won the Beko Classic, an event sanctioned by the PGAs of Europe, finishing at −15.
2014: Signed Endorsement Deal with Rock Bottom Golf
In 2014, Daly signed an endorsement deal with Rock Bottom Golf, a discount golf retailer.
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.
April 28, 2016: Turned 50 and Became Eligible for PGA Tour Champions
On April 28, 2016, Daly turned 50 and became eligible to play on the PGA Tour Champions.
2016: Competed on the PGA Tour Champions Circuit
Since 2016, John Daly has been competing on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.
May 7, 2017: Won Insperity Invitational on PGA Tour Champions
On May 7, 2017, Daly won the Insperity Invitational on the PGA Tour Champions after shooting 14-under par for the tournament.
2017: Insperity Invitational Win
In 2017, John Daly won the Insperity Invitational on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.
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.
2020: Results not in chronological order
In 2020, results were not in chronological order
2021: Finished T-2 at the 2021 Insperity Invitational
In 2021, Daly would also finish T-2 at the Insperity Invitational.
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".
2023: Launched Cannabis Products Line
In 2023, Daly launched a line of cannabis products.
Mentioned in this timeline
PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned by Sony Interactive...
Xbox is a video gaming brand created by Microsoft Gaming...
FedEx Corporation originally Federal Express is a multinational conglomerate based...
The United States of America is a federal republic of...
California is the most populous US state located on the...
Africa is the second-largest and second-most populous continent comprising of...
Trending
12 minutes ago Alcaraz Advances to Italian Open Final, Faces Sinner in Rome Showdown
12 minutes ago DeChambeau Predicts Major Win for Niemann; Niemann's LIV Golf Success Noted.
12 minutes ago Jon Rahm aims to 'make some music' at weather-delayed 2025 PGA Championship.
12 minutes ago Tyrrell Hatton's US PGA outburst may result in fine; Lowry reacts to behavior.
2 days ago Viktor Hovland Seeks Breakthrough at PGA Championship Despite Swing Concerns and Positive Outlook
1 hour ago Carlos Sainz Imola GP Incident Leads to Williams Team Being Penalized.
Popular
Jupiter the fifth planet from the Sun is the Solar...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...
Cristiano Ronaldo often nicknamed CR is a highly decorated Portuguese...
Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church...
Ariana Grande-Butera is an American singer songwriter and actress recognized...
Ronald Reagan the th U S President - was a...