Nina Caldwell
John Patrick Daly is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Daly is known for his driving distance off the tee, earning him the nickname Long John. Daly has had a successful career, with his two greatest on-course accomplishments being his victory in the 1991 PGA Championship and his playoff victory over Costantino Rocca in the 1995 Open Championship. Daly has also won accredited pro events in South Africa, Swaziland, Scotland, Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and Canada. Despite undergoing 16 surgeries, Daly continues to play golf. However, it is unclear if he is golfing this weekend.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | John Patrick Daly |
| Profession | Golfer |
| Birthdate | April 28, 1966 |
| Birthplace | Carmichael, CA |
| College | University of Arkansas |
| Career Wins | 5 |
| Notable Tournaments | 1991 PGA Championship, 1995 Open Championship |
| Nickname | Long John |
| Health | Has undergone 16 surgeries |
| Recent Tournaments | Skipped the PGA Championship at the Quail Hill Club in Charlotte, N.C. |
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What You'll Learn
John Daly's golfing career
John Patrick Daly (born April 28, 1966), commonly known as "Long John", is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Daly is known for his driving distance off the tee, his non-country-club appearance and attitude, his exceptionally long backswing, inconsistent play, and his colourful personal life.
Daly joined the PGA Tour in 1991, showing strong play throughout the year and winning the PGA Championship in August. This victory gained him significant media attention, as he was a virtual unknown at the time. He finished the tournament with scores of 69-67-69-71, giving him a three-stroke victory over veteran Bruce Lietzke.
In 1995, Daly won The Open Championship in a playoff with Italy's Costantino Rocca at the Old Course at St Andrews. He trailed New Zealand's Michael Campbell heading into a windy final round, but Campbell fell back in the difficult conditions. Daly played a superb final round, and though Rocca forced a playoff, Daly ultimately claimed victory.
Daly's last PGA Tour victory was in San Diego in 2004, and after 2006, his career began to falter. Since 2016, he has competed on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, winning the 2017 Insperity Invitational. Daly has also won accredited pro events in South Africa, Swaziland (Eswatini), Scotland, Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and Canada.
Daly has had to battle a number of health issues throughout his career, undergoing 16 surgeries and struggling with alcohol addiction. Despite this, he continues to play golf and is exempt for life in the PGA Championship and AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
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Daly's health and surgeries
John Daly, the professional golfer, has had a long history of health issues and surgeries. Despite his health conditions, Daly is still an active golfer and has competed in several tournaments.
In 2020, Daly was diagnosed with bladder cancer and underwent surgery. Although he admitted that the cancer could return, he expressed gratitude that it was caught early. During this time, Daly also acknowledged his unhealthy habits, such as smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day and consuming excessive amounts of Diet Coke. He vowed to make lifestyle changes and cut back on smoking and drinking soda.
Daly has also been open about his struggles with alcohol, having spent time in rehab on multiple occasions. In a 2024 interview, he casually mentioned drinking 20 drinks in a day, indicating that alcohol continues to be a challenge for him.
In addition to his bladder cancer surgery, Daly has had 16 surgeries throughout his life, including an emergency hand surgery in January 2025. He described the recovery process as "a little brutal," and it affected his performance on the golf course, particularly his putting. Despite the challenges, Daly remains determined to continue playing golf.
Daly's health updates have caused concern among his fans, especially when he stated that "waking up is a win for me." This statement shed light on the extent of his health struggles and the impact they have had on his life.
Despite his numerous surgeries and health setbacks, John Daly continues to be a prominent figure in the world of golf, displaying resilience and a strong will to keep pursuing his passion.
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Daly's golfing attire
John Daly is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Daly is known for his driving distance off the tee, earning him the nickname "Long John". He is also recognised for his non-country-club appearance and attitude, his exceptionally long backswing, and the inconsistency of his play, with a mix of exceptional performances and controversial incidents.
While specific details of his outfits vary, Daly tends to favour bright colours, patterns, and unconventional designs. He is not afraid to experiment with different styles and combinations, reflecting his playful approach to both fashion and golf.
Beyond his famous pants, Daly has also been known to pair vibrant shirts with contrasting trousers, creating a statement look that is distinctly his own. His outfits often showcase his personality and sense of style, contributing to his reputation as a golfer with a big personality both on and off the course.
Daly's unique fashion sense has become an integral part of his brand and public image, with fans and spectators anticipating his fashion choices as much as his golf performance. His attire has sparked conversations and added an element of excitement to the golf world, showcasing how fashion can be functional and expressive even within the traditional confines of the sport.
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Daly's personal life
John Daly's personal life has been described as a rollercoaster ride with a lot of hurdles. Daly has faced a series of personal struggles, including alcoholism, gambling addiction, and health issues.
Daly's struggles with alcohol have been well-documented. In 1997, he attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings after withdrawing from the U.S. Open due to physical conditioning and Delirium tremens. In 2008, his swing coach, Butch Harmon, quit, citing Daly's drinking as the most important thing in his life. This prompted Daly to stop drinking alcohol, leading to a positive change in his personal life. In an interview in 2014, Daly attributed his past struggles with alcohol to growing up with an alcoholic and abusive father.
In addition to his alcoholism, Daly has also battled gambling addiction. In 1999, it was reported that he had lost $51 million from gambling in the mid-1990s. Daly admitted to betting large sums of money on blackjack and football games.
Daly has also faced health issues, including bladder cancer, for which he underwent surgery in 2020. He has also undergone multiple surgeries throughout his life, including recovery from a "brutal" surgery in 2025, which caused him to skip the PGA Championship.
Despite these struggles, Daly has maintained a prominent presence in the golfing world, known for his distinctive style and enduring performance. He has also had a colourful love life, with multiple marriages, and his current wife, Anna Cladakis, has been a stabilising force in his life. Daly has also pursued musical endeavours, releasing two music albums and providing backup vocals for a Kid Rock song.
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Daly's golfing schedule
John Patrick Daly is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Daly is known for his driving distance off the tee, earning him the nickname "Long John". His two greatest on-course accomplishments are his victory in the 1991 PGA Championship and his playoff victory in the 1995 Open Championship.
Despite undergoing 16 surgeries, Daly continues to play in the golf tour. Daly's only win in 1996 was at the AT&T Australian Skins Game, which was neither a PGA nor European Tour event. In 1997, he finished 7th at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. However, this was followed by one of his worst seasons on the PGA Tour, as he withdrew from the U.S. Open after a first-round 77 due to physical conditioning and Delirium tremens.
Daly was set to skip the PGA Championship at the Quail Hill Club in Charlotte, N.C., in order to play in the Champion Tour event. He has not played in The Masters Tournament in years but has still benefited from the event.
Daly was recently spotted at the PNC Championship at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, where he greeted Tiger Woods. He was also in the Furyk & Friends field despite his Clearwater Beach home being damaged by Hurricane Helene.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear if John Daly is golfing this weekend. Daly has skipped the PGA Championship in the past, and has had to withdraw from tournaments due to health issues. However, he is still going strong despite 16 surgeries.
John Daly is known for his driving distance off the tee and his exceptionally long backswing. His two greatest on-course accomplishments are his 1991 PGA Championship victory and his playoff victory over Costantino Rocca in the 1995 Open Championship.
John Daly's nickname is "Long John", which he earned due to his impressive driving distance off the tee.
