The Last Word
John Daly's life is one big roller-coaster ride. There have been some highs and plenty of lows. But despite it all, he is one of the most beloved golfers.
By KEN FIDLIN -- Toronto Sun
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- Last Saturday evening, as he clung to the third-round lead at the Buick Open, John Daly's cellphone rang.
At the other end of the line was his 11-year-old daughter, Shaynah, sobbing into the phone.
"She said 'Daddy, you've just got to win,' " Daly related.
"And then I said 'What are you doing? Shaynah, are you betting with the kids at school or what?'
"And she said 'No. I just want you to win because I love you.'
"It was Valentine's Day. Can you beat that?"
It's just another chorus in the sweet 'n' sour country song that is John Daly's life. The next day, of course, Daly went out and, without exactly bringing Torrey Pines to its knees, held off the field to win his first tournament in 10 years.
In a modern world that is quick to condemn and slow to forgive, Daly is unique. He has been granted a lifetime free pass to indulge himself to alarming excess in most every vice you can imagine and still be the most popular guy at the next tournament. He hadn't won a big-time tournament since the 1995 British Open, yet remains among the most beloved golfers on the planet. Just because he's John Daly.
He felt like he was carried along by the fans on Sunday.
"They were unreal," he said. "It's so great: The drunk ones, the sober ones, I love them all. I just love them. And they have kept me going. When things are going bad, they still pull for me. It's a friendship that I'm very proud of."
TOUCHING SCENE
Oh, what a touching scene it was on Sunday after he won the playoff against young Englishman Luke Donald and Chris Riley.
Daly was blubbering like a baby and here comes Sherrie -- wife No. 4 -- on to the 18th green to embrace her man in the joyful aftermath.
They wrapped their arms around each other, whispering into each other's ear and then, as they parted, Daly touched his back pocket, just to make sure his wallet was still there.
Naw. I just made that last part up. But if you've followed Daly's life and times (and if you haven't, what rock have you been hiding under?) you'll know that his luck with women is about the same as it is with gambling. Or with booze. Or with any of the many indulgences he holds near and dear.
Five days after she delivered Daly a son last summer, Sherrie was indicted, along with her father, for allegedly laundering $1.2 million US of drug money back in 2001, before she met and married Daly. Yeah, John knows how to pick 'em.
For many, who read the news that both John and Sherrie had filed for divorce last fall, this public hugging may have come as a surprise. But nothing that touches Daly should shock or amaze anymore. They have kissed and made up. For now.
He has been a notorious drunk. He has lost millions gambling all over the world. He weighs nearly 300 pounds. And did I mention that Sherrie is wife No. 4?
Yet it hardly shocks any of his peers that Daly is capable of winning in this, the biggest of the big leagues of golf.
"I think it's great for John to have come through," Tiger Woods said yesterday. "After what he has gone through, to somehow come out on top and succeed. He worked his butt off on his game the last year or so. You are starting to see the fruits of that. He brings an element to the game of golf, a level of excitement that we certainly need."
Daly arrived at Riviera for the Nissan Open just in the nick of time to make his tee-time yesterday in the pro-am and professes to be looking forward to a good week here.
"They've added some length here and I'm for that. I can't wait," Daly said.
Daly's victory moved him to 85th in the world from 380th. Another such victory could move him into position to contend for a spot on this year's Ryder Cup team. If that prospect doesn't scare the pants off the PGA of America, nothing will.
Bad boy John Daly, representing the United States of America? Actually, if you think about it, it's something he does every day of his life.
