This might come as a surprise to most, but John Daly is not happy, and the problem lies with alcohol and accusations.
Back in March, swing coach Butch Harmon dumped Daly because of boozing, which would be a surprise if that word meant something completely different.
"My whole goal for him was he's got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life," Harmon said back in March. "And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk."Well, Big John is in the field at the British Open this week, and ain't too happy with 'ol Harmon.
"[Harmon] needs to stay as far away from me as possible," Daly said Wednesday.
Asked whether his "lifestyle issues" are making it more difficult for him to get sponsors' exemptions into tournaments, Daly took aim at his former coach.
"Most of that stuff started with Butch Harmon," Daly said. "His lies sort of destroyed me for awhile. He should be a real man and get his facts straight."
Now you really think the top swing coach in the world, who will only be teaching the best from now on, is going to just take those jabs and walk away? Oh, hell no.
"John keeps denying that all of his problems are his own doing," Harmon said in response to the comments. "He needs to take responsibility for his actions."
You know, Daly really can't do anything normal anymore. He practices without a shirt, he's hitting golf balls off of beers cans and now he's complaining about a teacher that clearly had reason to dump the guy, who was drinking beers in a hospitality tent?
I guess you can compliment the guy for something. As the above picture shows, he finds the only guy in the world that has struggled more with golf than him, and plays practice rounds with him. Well done Mr. Daly.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-16-2008 @ 12:44PM
Adam Jones said...
Stop being a drunk then.
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7-16-2008 @ 5:52PM
Jeff said...
Don't pull David Duvall into this. You try to play golf with a bad back.
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7-16-2008 @ 6:22PM
D Richardson said...
No doubt, John Daly was a great golf talent; never a mental giant, so this is what it has produced. I never could understand why the Golf Channel took on the John Daly production, because often Daly showed both his affection for beer and his disdain for practice. Hardly the role model I would have liked to see promoted. Was he a gracious contributor to some, yes; but charity starts at home. His marital life and choices were not good, and I suspect his decisions in other areas were equally weak. Most regretable in my mind was his performance a few years ago at Pinehurst, when he hit a rolling put as it rolled back from one of the crowned greens. Another time, I think it was at Congressional, he kept hitting a shot over and over into a lake until finally hitting the green, but taking an 8 or so on the par three. This wasn't a movie. This was real! Sad for John and golf when others struggle with far less talent to gain the dream John had and has pi___ed away; along with a few to many brews.
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7-16-2008 @ 7:39PM
Tony said...
Daly is a train wreck. I saw him at the Hope earlier this year and he looked toasted on the course. Someone sent me some photos of him at a tourney that had him matching bare chests with some naked chick. He's a classic case of an alkie blaming everyone but himself for everything that has gone wrong. Plus he looks like he weighs 300 lbs. Get straight JD or you are going right down the tubes.
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7-16-2008 @ 9:57PM
Joan said...
I am a lady that has played golf for 51 years. I have watched John Daly over the years and the only think I can say is that it is a shame that such a talent has gone down the tubes. John has no one to blame but himself and he is a poor role model for the youngster coming along to play this wonderful game. My only wish is that parents will not allow their children to watch his antics. Actually, I do not know why he gets so much media coverage. When the Golf Channel took him on I stopped watching the Golf Channel. With all the sponsors that tried to help him out and he screwed all of them up.
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7-16-2008 @ 10:26PM
kim said...
John Daly has a huge problem...it is John Daly. He needs to not take one drink of alcohol for the next 24 hours and then the next twenty four hours and on. One day at a time. He needs to go to ninety AA meetings in 90 days and then an AA meeting once a day after that. During that time he can play golf...sure but he has TO put his sobriety above everything else. He is a train wreck and it is so so sad to watch. Get sober John and watch how everything in your life improves. Oh and take responsibility for your own actions.
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7-23-2008 @ 2:48PM
J-dog said...
Kim got it right. booze is no big deal for most folks. but for some, its a huge deal. like me. I woke up and made a commitment not to drink today. 'cause today is all I really have. and for John Daly, like for me, one pop means 12 or 14. the first one is easy to decline. the second is impossible.
7-16-2008 @ 11:02PM
James said...
Whatever happened to the old saying "If you did not have anything good to say about someone do not say anything." That was something we were all told my our mothers.
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7-17-2008 @ 7:52PM
Allen Searson said...
Shane, with all of his faults Daly happens to be one of the most well-liked golfers in the world. He readily resembles many of the people who play in the pro-ams -- or at the country clubs for that matter -- except that he hits it 350 yards. I have attended approximately 15 events that he has played in, and the only player I found to be more popular is Tiger.
And, he is extremely cordial to most around him and far more endearing than the majority of the players on the tour. He portrays himself as a regular guy (not necessarily the case), and better than no one else. Having worked a number of golf tournaments, I humbly submit that the PGA mollycoddles these fellows beyond anything I have ever seen.
That said, Daly someimes makes poor decisions and draws undo attention to himself. For those mistakes, he desreves what he gets. He doesn't, however, deserve for Harmon to dress him down in public, no matter how egregious his actions may have been. Fire the guy, if you must, and keep it simple. If indeed Harmon's comments caused him financial harm, which it probably did, Daly has a legitimate beef. Respectfully, Aqua
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7-21-2008 @ 10:59PM
Janet said...
John Daly is a disgusting pig...
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7-22-2008 @ 3:23AM
Denny said...
By his own admission, John Daly has problems and has made many mistakes and bad choices. Welcome to the human race! John is an admitted alcoholic (a disease), and addicted to nicotine (an illness) and does not deserve to be talked about like he was trash.
Some will say this or that is his problem, was his choice, and so on....you can slam him all you want, but next time you do, LOOK IN THE MIRROR! I doubt that you will see a PERFECT person....
As for Harmon's comments, I didn't realize he was a licensed psychologist qualified to diagnose John or anyone else. Harmon is a "swing coach." Harmon should stick to the practice tees....He owes HIS LIVING to the PGA players. Granted he is good at what he does, but in the "showing compassion to others who have issues" department, he is a complete failure!
I AM a practicing licensed psychologist - I would love to speak to Harmon and ask him 1 question - "After dissing John Daly and others on the tour as often as you do, how do you sleep at night?" Sadly, I think he would probably answer - "just fine, thank you."
John Daly needs help, hopefully he will ask for, recieve it, work on his issues and be able to overcome his "demons." Meanwhile, John deserves our prayers, not condemnation...
Prayers, support? Aren't these thoughts ones that decent people offer to those who are down and/or out?
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7-22-2008 @ 1:46PM
Sonney Dey said...
OMG, I hope that picture of Daley and DuVall will save into my files.
As for Daley, I never rooted harder for anyone than when he was in the 1995 British Open. Back then ABC would show the first 2 rounds. And I'm tellin' you big John was nonchalantly and quickly swiping at 4 - 6 foot putts on windy/slick greens those first 2 rounds, and got away with it.
After he made the cut he settled in and took a little more care, but all in all it was a miracle he survived the playoff with Rocca.
And not long after in America he had to be "Taken Down" by Fuzzy Zoeller and State Troopers during a drunken blackout rage.
The guy pisses me off the way he's screwed up. I'll donate a small U-Haul trailer for him to be buried in if he gets busy and offs himself!
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7-22-2008 @ 4:36PM
Rob Ashworth said...
John I love ya pal and we have shared many a round of golf in charity events but you have to face this problem head-on. You drink more by accident than most people do on purpose. Remember slamming to 5 (five) 40 ouncer's that St Patricks Day. Nobody with your level of talent should ever waste it, not to mention the negative effect you have on all the young golfer, kids, people in general who are in awe of this great talent you have. We both know Harmon can be a real prick but it's only out of love that eats people like us alive when we see people like you wasting your life. Come stay with me, I'll sober you up and even kick your ass if necessary. See you at Oakland Hills
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7-22-2008 @ 4:44PM
zeus said...
ok..you fat slob..wife beater,,,no booze huh??ya right..
you a no good drunk moron jerk,,
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7-22-2008 @ 5:10PM
John Davis said...
Daly is one of the most talented players out there, it pains us to see all that talent not reaching it's full potential. Our worst fear is one day we will get a call where they have found him dead.
I hope one day he will find something more important than drinking and save his own life.
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8-21-2008 @ 2:08AM
Scarey said...
Hey John, I HOPE you read this! Get a life, man. Go to AA, get counseling, whatever it takes. Find some serenity finally. Keep on going on the same track and you will die under those wheels. We don't want that to happen to you, honest to God. But, none of us are responsible for what happens to you either. We hope you are strong enough to make it. It would be a pity if you are not.
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