Say what you like about John Daly, but golf is a more colourful sport with him involved. He's a folk hero to some golf fans, an embarrassing blot to others. But "interesting character" is something we can all agree on when it comes to Daly.
The two time major champion, who's had one of the most tumultuous careers in all of sport over the last three decades, turned 50 last year and was so eligible for the Champions Tour - the incredibly fruitful Seniors' Tour of the PGA. Now in his second year of competition, he got his virgin win on the Tour yesterday at the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands in Texas and his first win anywhere since 2004.
Daly, classically decked out in stars and stripes trousers, limped over the line with three bogeys in a row to finish the tournament but still managed to claim the championship by one shot.
Daly, who the subject of a brilliant ESPN 30 for 30 last year called "Hit it Hard", has been the real life "Tin Cup" for most of his career. During his career, he has five suspensions by the PGA and has been fined on numerous occasions for conduct unbecoming to a professional or for failing to give best efforts.
Battles with his weight, mental health, gambling, and especially alcoholism has majorly impacted his career - he spent two spells in rehab for alcohol addiction. That's what makes his rather "typical" celebration on the 18th green yesterday all the stranger. One wonders what his "friends" and fellow golfers Esteban Toledo and Michael Allen were thinking when they decided to douse a noted alcoholic in champagne after winning the event.
That disturbing issue aside, it's great to see Daly back. The Champions' Tour might be worth watching for the next couple of years.
[Deadspin]
