Facts about John Daly

John Daly is 57 years old
Born: April 28, 1966
Best known as: Crowd-pleasing golfer whose motto is "Grip it and rip it"

     

John Daly Biography

John Daly is the professional golfer known for his outsize talent and outsize lifestyle on, off, and near the golf course.

John Daly took professional golf by storm when he came out of nowhere to win the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick in Indiana. He was named that year’s PGA rookie of the year. A big hitter, Daly earned the nickname “Wild Thing” and became a favorite with PGA crowds for his long drives and no-frills philosophy of “grip it and rip it.”

Almost as quickly he became a controversial figure thanks to his on-course fits of temper and off-course bouts of binge drinking and millions of dollars in gambling losses. He overcame erratic play to win the 1995 British Open, then suffered through six years of poor play and personal turmoil before winning the BMW International Open in Munich in September of 2001. In February of 2004 returned to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour, winning the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.

Daly continued to play well into the 21st century, joining the PGA’s Champions Tour when he turned 50 in 2016. He became known for his outrageous golf pants in fabulous colors and patterns, which he wore through an endorsement deal with Loudmouth Golf clothing. He published the no-holds-barred memoir My Life In and Out of the Rough in 2006.

Extra credit

John Daly has been married four times… He and his fourth wife, Sherrie, filed for divorce in October of 2006… Sherrie and her parents were indicted on federal drug and gambling charges in 2003; they were accused (and later convicted) of selling cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines from 1996 to 2002 and of laundering the proceeds through local banks. The events in question happened before her relationship with Daly began, and Daly himself was not implicated or charged in the case… John Daly is no relation to the popular Northern Ireland talk show host John Daly… John Daly’s outsized personality (and waistline) are sometimes compared to that of Babe Ruth.


     

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