Daly to play on through the pain at British Open
SOUTHPORT, England (AFP) — John Daly says he is hurting badly but has decided to defy doctors orders and tee off in the British Open here on Thursday.
The 42-year-old former "Wild Thing" has hit rock bottom in his colourful career and has failed to make the cut in the last six tournaments he has played on the US PGA Tour.
His form has been so poor that to get into the top tournaments he is largely dependent on invites from sponsors who are still aware of the big-hitter's popularity and drawing power with golf fans.
Many say Daly is a victim of his own freewheeling lifestyle which has been a mix of drinking, gambling and fast food, but the American says his recent struggles have more to do with a succession of morale-sapping injuries.
"It's just been very tough to play at all this year because of the injuries and the same last year," the two-time major winner said.
"My doctor told me I shouldn't play.
"I've got tendonitis in my left elbow and I had a cyst on my right hand that was a calcium buildup that we thought was arthritis, and they got that out. So it's just been one thing after another.
"It's pretty much the first time I haven't listened to my doctor in two years."
Daly said that he had been forced to curb his big-hitting to alleviate the pain but reckons that could help him over tight and tricky Royal Birkdale where accuracy off the tee is paramount.
It was 13 years ago when he stunned the golfing world by winning The Open at St Andrews thanks to a sublime short game rather than his exceptional yardage off the tee, and he believes he can draw inspiration from that.
"One great thing I remember when I won in '95 was that I putted real good," he said.
"I don't think you have to putt great-great to win an Open - you've just got to putt solid. You've got to make a few five- or six-footers to keep your round going.
"If you can get hot, you've seen what Tiger has done in the past and how you can win by six or seven shots if you putt really great."
Daly also took the occasion of his pre-Open press conference to have a go at former coach Butch Harmon, who parted company with him in March claiming that he was more interested in drinking than driving.
"I think his lies kind of destroyed my life for a little bit," he said.
"I think if he would become a man and talk about some of the stuff he lied about when we were doing charity work that week when I missed the cut.
"He told the Golf Channel that I'm just a drunk. He just made up stuff that he didn't really know the facts ... and put it out all over the world. Real men just don't do that.
"I don't know what his problem is, but he needs to stay as far away from me as he possibly can."
Despite all the injuries and bad press, Daly said that he had not entirely given up all hope of better days ahead and has taken as an inspiration the recent form of 47-year-old Kenny Perry.
The American, who has opted not to play at Royal Birkdale this week, has won in three of his last five starts and is the hottest golfer on the US PGA Tour in the enforced absence of Tiger Woods.
"He's given hope to the 40 and overs," Daly said.
