The 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick was won by John Daly – an alternate who got into the field literally at the last minute.
Since then, Daly has gone on to become one of the most exciting characters in the game, and he won The Open Championship in 1995 as well.
A prodigious talent, but one with quite obvious demons, the 1991 PGA Championship winner is now enjoying his days on the PGA Tour Champions.
‘Enjoying’ is a term used very loosely in this instance, after Daly’s horrendous showing last week at the Insperity Invitational.
He finished at 27-over-par for the three rounds that he played.
However, golf fans’ love for the 59-year-old will never be diminished, no matter how he plays on the course.
In his heyday, he was the longest hitter in the game. Daly even suggested that he reached ball speeds of 220 mph and more back in the 1990’s.
That said, it was the fact that golf fans could relate to his struggles that made him such a household name.
John Daly makes PGA Champions Tour complaint
Daly will be teeing it up at The Regions Tradition next next week.
However, he is clearly not happy that the event is being held alongside the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
Daly spoke to ESPN about his frustrations at the scheduling of events on the PGA Tour Champions this season.
He said, “I can go to the PGA Championship and miss the cut and get $6,000. But I’m playing Birmingham. I love Regions. They’re a great sponsor. But why are they scheduling Regions the same week as the PGA Championship, where I can see Brooks (Koepka) and all the guys? I got my (butt) handed to me last year,” he said. “Even though I had success at Bethpage (2019), you lose 10 yards, you might as well lose 100.”
He makes a great point. Big tournaments on the senior’s tour surely shouldn’t be clashing with major championships, so that those who are exempt to play them don’t have to miss out.
John Daly confirms the year he’s next planning to play in the PGA Championship
Having won the PGA Championship in 1991, Daly has a special lifetime exemption to play in the event until he decides he’s had enough.
However, he will miss out on the event this year at Quail Hollow and next year at Aronimink as well.
Daly said he plans to return to the PGA Championship in 2027 at PGA Frisco, “I’m like Lazarus—I keep coming back from the dead. Waking up is a win for me.”
The ‘Wild Thing’ is a still a huge draw wherever he plays.
However, unfortunately for fans at Quail Hollow, Daly will not be teeing it up at The PGA Championship this year.
Hopefully he finds some form between now and the end of the 2025 season and remains injury free.
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