Daly still angry over Harmon's 'drunk' comments
SOUTHPORT, England –
John Daly says he's more Mild Thing than Wild Thing these days, and he's still steamed at Butch Harmon, who cut ties with Daly earlier this year after reports of Daly drinking in a Hooters hospitality tent during the PODS Championship in Tampa in March.
Harmon told the Associated Press that "my whole goal for [Daly] was he's got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life. And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk."
Daly's response Wednesday to their coach-student split: "[Harmon] needs to stay as far away from me as possible."
Daly is at Royal Birkdale this week for the British Open, a tournament he won in 1995. 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."
The facts of his behavior at the PODS, according to Daly, were that there was a rain delay on Thursday and he was near the Hooters tent, so he decided to wait it out there, where he drank only Diet Pepsi. While in the tent, he was invited to meet with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden. Meanwhile, his regular caddie Peter Van Der Reit was suffering from a stiff neck. So when play resumed, Daly asked Gruden to caddie for him the rest of the way, to build interest for the tournament and the fans, Daly said.
"Then Saturday afternoon I missed the cut and [the tournament organizers] asked me if I'd go to the Hooters tent," Daly said. "Yeah, I had a couple beers, but big deal, I also signed about a thousand autographs."
Daly claims that he did talk to Harmon by phone after the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and that Harmon apologized and retracted his comments. However, Harmon later said that he stood by everything he said.
"I told him that he had no one to blame but himself, that 'until you start realizing that you're the cause of all this and get some help, you're going to continue to have problems.' I told him I would be glad to help. But I wasn't going to retract anything that I said," Harmon told ESPN.
Working on the Birkdale driving range Wednesday, Harmon responded to Daly's latest comments.
“John keeps denying that all of his problems are his own doing,” Harmon said. “He needs to take responsibility for his actions.”
Daly said injuries -- not drinking -- are the true source of his struggles on the golf course. His doctor told him not to play this week, Daly said, because he has tendonitis in his left elbow. He also recently had calcium deposits removed from his right hand. But despite these ailments, Daly said his two weeks of practice in Arkansas prior to coming to England were the most time he's been able to dedicate to his game in the last couple years. Even injured, he said he feels he's close to playing good golf again.
The two weeks of practice in the sun also gave Daly a pretty deep tan. Asked about it, he laughed that "it's pretty hot in Arkansas and I can take my shirt off there and no one cares."
(Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Posted by: MICHAEL MATTHEWS tulsa , oklahoma | Jul 18, 2008 11:00:17 PM
I HOPE DALY GETS OVER HIS INJURIES AND GETS BACK TO THE FORM THAT INDEED WON TWO MAJORS PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES BEFORE MAKING HIM OUT TO BE A BAD GUY PEOPLE IN OTHER SPORTS HAVE DONE WORST LEN BIAS FOR EXAMPLE DRUGS DID HIM IN BEFORE HE MADE AN NBA SHOT IF JOSH HAMILTON WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS CAN COME BACK AFTER THREE YEAR BECAUSE OF A 4 MILLION HEROIN ADDICTION AND PLAY BASEBALL GIVE JOHN CREDIT HE HASNT KILLED ANYBODY OR HURT PEOPLE
Posted by: Randall | Jul 17, 2008 12:43:33 PM
I would love to see John bust Butch right between the eyes right in front of tv cameras, tell Butch he is right, and then get professional help and start winning tournaments.
Posted by: Joe | Jul 17, 2008 12:01:43 PM
Big John, whats your favorite game at the casino?
Posted by: Joe | Jul 17, 2008 11:59:36 AM
Big John, whats your favorite game at the casino?
Posted by: Jim | Jul 16, 2008 9:43:11 PM
John may of had some problems in the past, however, he has done a lot of good things and helped a number of people. It would be a honor to play a round of golf with him.
Posted by: John Daly | Jul 16, 2008 4:06:33 PM
So I like to drink a few beers and fart. Who doesn't like to do that?
Posted by: mikey | Jul 16, 2008 3:16:48 PM
daly is himself and none of you know him so shutup he is great for the game people love big john anyway anyone heard the 18 shots to a bottle 18 holes to a round concept from st.andrews
Posted by: alz | Jul 16, 2008 3:08:53 PM
The guy has won 2 majors, I'd hardly call his career a "waste". That's 2 more than 90% of the walking bill boards on tour who just show up and collect $$ for finishing 54th every week.
Posted by: JVEC | Jul 16, 2008 2:43:01 PM
no matter what people think of the guy one thing you cant say is that hes a phony.everything he does gets blown out of proportion.leave him be how would you like every mistake youve ever made make the news all the time.yeah he drinks he gambles so what its his life hes still made more out of his life than 99 percent of you reading this
Posted by: MikeO | Jul 16, 2008 2:11:13 PM
John Daly is the epitome of what you see on the show "Intervention"..someone who knows they have a problem, but blames everyone else for everything that happens to him. Then when everyone else tries to get him help he denies having a problem. He is a great guy with a big heart but he needs to take responsibility for his own actions. It is obvious that he is a fan favorite because he can identify with the normal everyday guy who has issues and problems. But as a public figure and a role model for kids, he needs to step up a little more. He could still be a great player, not a Tiger Woods, but still a force to be reckoned with. He has more natural talent than 90% of the guys on tour right now but he is wasting it. Don't be mad a Butch Harmon for stating the obvious....feel sorry for John for not realizing that Butch is right!!
Posted by: Tiger Woods | Jul 16, 2008 1:24:02 PM
I can't wait to come back and start winning again! I miss the W's!
Posted by: Chris | Jul 16, 2008 1:16:09 PM
While I agree that Daly has seen his better days and a lot of his problems are his own fault. I think Harmon needs to keep his mouth shut as well. He has said what he has said and that should be the end of it. Let them part ways if they want and quit bringing the past back up. Daly will either get his act back together or he won't. No one likes their past being thrown back up in their face every time they turn around.
Posted by: Ken | Jul 16, 2008 1:06:03 PM
Daly is like a car wreck. He is fat, drinks too much, smokes too much, quits during tournaments, and will not take personal responsibility for his stupid actions. But, the media loves his tired act. I really don't care what Daly does. But he really should quit blaming others (like Butch Harmon) for his problems. Butch was smart to dump Daly.
Posted by: Scott | Jul 16, 2008 12:47:30 PM
Daly is history. He had his chance and blew it. He had his priorities screwed up.
Posted by: jerry | Jul 16, 2008 12:46:36 PM
John really needs to stop keeping one foot in, and one foot out of AA. As he continues to deny his personal issues, it holds him back professionally. I look every week to see if he makes the cut, but I know if he followed the AA program, he would be great again.
Posted by: Mike | Jul 16, 2008 12:38:53 PM
Daly's a bum....squandered his talent then blames other's when the ruth is spoken. I used to be a big fan butnot showing up to tournaments, withdrawls
don't hurt him but hurt the volunteers whi pledge their time....Good riddance.
Posted by: Frank | Jul 16, 2008 12:19:24 PM
Harmon should keep his mouth shut...
John is a better man anyday despite all his problems...
Posted by: Kyle | Jul 16, 2008 12:15:10 PM
"Daly said his two weeks of practice in Arkansas prior to coming to England were the most time he's been able to dedicate to his game in the last couple years." What a slob, two weeks was the most he's practiced in a few years?
Posted by: redleg | Jul 16, 2008 12:13:29 PM
Two weeks to work on his game over the last couple of years! All he does is play golf, it's not like he has a job that interferes with time to practice. Jeez this guy is too much. Feel for the guy, not likely.
Posted by: gman | Jul 16, 2008 11:46:36 AM
Harmon should keep his mouth shut!! Even if what he said was true, he should never had said such a thing about Daly!!!! A very low class statement to make about a golfer!!
Posted by: ronnie canales | Jul 16, 2008 11:17:46 AM
big john was good in the past now he has alot of issues diet weight smoking and drinking if he was serious about himself he should drop about 50 to 75 pounds stop the smoking and drinking completely to show that he is serious about himself and the rest would take care of it self
Posted by: Noel Verzosa | Jul 16, 2008 10:14:45 AM
John Daly is the Daryl Strawberry of golf.
Posted by: lefty53 | Jul 16, 2008 10:04:18 AM
Not the first or last person in any sport to waste their fabulous talent.
He'll just be a footnote in golf history instead of one of the greatest to play the game.
Posted by: Anton | Jul 16, 2008 9:28:38 AM
There's no doubt John Daly is an awesome talent, trapped in a lazy body. If he worked as hard as a pro should he'd be a champion, instead he's a binge-drinking has been. It's a shame because he seems like a decent fella.
Posted by: peter | Jul 16, 2008 8:57:51 AM
If Gruden confirms his story, then I miiight believe him. It's hard not to feel for the guy regardless though.