Enjoying quick and unfastened has taken its toll on John Daly’s well being.
A sixteenth surgical procedure earlier this 12 months, this one an “emergency” on his hand, and bladder most cancers has not deterred the 59-year-old, nevertheless, as alarming as his well being state of affairs could also be.
“I’m like Lazarus — I keep coming back from the dead,” Daly stated. “Waking up is a win for me.”
Daly continues to be decided to play on the senior PGA Tour Champions circuit, even skipping subsequent week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hole to play on PGA Tour Champions’ first main of the 12 months, The Custom in Birmingham, Ala.
The 1991 PGA Championship winner doesn’t perceive why the 2 majors have been scheduled for a similar week, nevertheless.
“I can go there and miss the cut and get $6,000,” Daly stated of the PGA Championship, which final 12 months paid $4,000 to gamers who missed the minimize. “But I’m playing Birmingham. I love Regions. They’re a great sponsor. But why are they scheduling Regions the same week as the PGA Championship, where I can see Brooks (Koepka) and all the guys?”
Might usually is crowded for golf and the Areas Traditions didn’t wish to take this week as a result of it’s powerful getting help on Mom’s Day. The week after the PGA Championship is the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional.
Going earlier was powerful with NASCAR at Talladega on April 27.
Daly additionally shouldn’t be in high kind after surgical procedure on his left hand in January. He stated his greatest situation stays getting via the ball on three-quarter pictures — that and his placing. He completed at 27-over par final week on the Insperity Invitational, a event he gained in 2017 and was runner-up in 2020.
Daly isn’t the one former PGA champion lacking subsequent week.
Wealthy Beem, who took down Tiger Woods at Hazeltine in 2002, selected to not play this 12 months after a tough go at Valhalla final 12 months. Beem now works for Sky Sports activities on the huge occasions and felt he didn’t have sufficient time to organize this 12 months for a prolonged course. Quail Hole is 7,262 yards and performs as a par 71.
Amongst those that didn’t withdraw, Beem completed final at plus-20.
“I got my (butt) handed to me last year,” he stated. “Even though I had success at Bethpage (2019), you lose 10 yards, you might as well lose 100.”
He stated he plans on skipping Aronimink subsequent 12 months however will return to the PGA Championship in 2027 in his dwelling state of Texas, the place he hopes dry and agency circumstances will assist.
Davis Love III (recovering from coronary heart surgical procedure) and Y.E. Yang additionally should not within the PGA Championship subsequent week.
— With AP
