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Confidential file reveals Daly’s trials and troubles on PGA Tour
The latest reality show about John Daly premieres tonight on Golf Channel. The string of episodes is called “Being John Daly.”
Gary Smits explains on Jacksonville.com that being Daly is quite a sordid story. The PGA Tour ordered the five-time winner to “undergo counseling or enter alcohol rehabilitation centers seven times, once disciplined him for hitting golf shots off the top of a beer can during a pro-am and cited him 21 times for “failure to give best efforts,’” Smits writes.
“Daly has also been accused of nearly hitting an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent after failing to stop his car at a security checkpoint at the 2005 U.S. Open in Pinehurst, N.C., and of launching golf balls over the heads of spectators who were sitting in the bleachers during a 1993 golf clinic, according to the PGA Tour’s confidential personnel file on Daly.”
That file eventually reached 456 pages, Smith writes in a long and detailed story, “with incidents covering 18 years, through the fall of 2008. Daly was fined nearly $100,000 during that span, suspended from the Tour five times, placed on probation six times, (and) cited 11 times for ‘conduct unbecoming a professional’.”
The tour’s official file on Daly, which previously was confidential, recently was made public, Smits continues:
“The tour has never voluntarily released information on disciplinary actions taken against players to the media, keeping with a long-standing policy. Daly’s file was turned over to Morris Publishing lawyers on a court order after Daly sued Morris in 2005, and became part of the court file after Daly dropped his appeal last fall of a summary judgment issued in favor of Morris on March 23, 2009, and after Daly was ordered to pay Morris’ attorney fees.”
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Entries open for Morris Williams Mid-Am
Entries have opened for the first full-field tournament of the 2010 season, the Morris Williams Spring Championship Mid-Amateur. The 36-hole stroke-play competition is scheduled for March 27 and 28.
The competition is open to men and women 25 and older. The entry fee is $145 for men and $105 for women.
The deadline is 6 p.m. March 24.
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Texas golf: Longhorn men rise in polls
That victory last week in the Puerto Rico Classic has given the University of Texas men’s golf team another bump in the polls.
The coaches voted the Longhorns No. 7 immediately after the win. This week, the Longhorns moved to No. 3 in the Golfstat head-to-head team rankings and No. 4 in the Golfweek/Sagarin team performance index.
So there’s your upside. The downside: Oklahoma State, the team Texas beat last week on the island, is No. 1 in all three polls.
Texas returns to competition March 12 in the Southern Highlands Collegiate Invitational in Las Vegas.
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On golf: Rickie Fowler and the confounding case of reverse hubris
The Golf Channel broadcasters could barely believe their monitors when they saw Rickie Fowler choose a short iron Sunday for his second shot into No. 15.
They were speechless. They used the word, “Wow.” Here was Fowler, the swashbuckling 21-year-old in traffic-cone orange trousers, opting to surrender to the odds on the last par-5 hole at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Instead of firing at the green from 230 yards, the former two-time All-American at Oklahoma State pulled a short iron and laid up to 80 yards, from where he missed the green short and made par. Fowler was one behind eventual winner Hunter Mahan at the time.
He finished second. “I think it basically gives me my card back, which was one of my goals going into the year, and I took care of that pretty quick, which is kind of a relief,” he told the Arizona Republic.
Questioned after the tournament about his decision on No. 15, Fowler said:
“I was a little farther out than I would have liked to have been to go for it. You know, I told them, obviously if I was a couple back in that position and feeling that I needed to make a few birdies coming in, I would have gone for it. But being that I was at the time, I think, just one back, putting a wedge in my hand from 80 yards, a lot of times I do make birdie there. I played 16 well all week. I had a look at birdie there. With 17 being a short hole, there’s a birdie chance. So I felt that instead of bringing trouble into play, in a way which a lot of times I don’t play, I took the safe route, easy lay-up, and like I said, I had an easy wedge shot with soft greens. I just hit it a little soft.”
You’ve got to admire a young player who trusts his wedge game enough to believe in his chances at birdie with a wedge over the chance of rinsing a hybrid trying to hit a green in two. Yet, as Frank Nobilo astutely pointed out on the broadcast, the chance to win on the PGA Tour doesn’t come around very often.
I have no doubt Fowler will indeed win. And I have no illusion that finishing second Sunday will do anything but bolster his will.
But I have to wonder: Why even bring second into play?
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Jackson Bradley: 1921-2010
Jackson Bradley — a longtime player, teacher, steward, curator and guardian of the game — died Friday night. He was 88.
He was born Oct. 26, 1921, in Tipton, Ind. His family moved to Long Beach, Calif., when he was 7, and he learned to play golf from his uncle, who was a physician and avid golfer. Jackson won many state junior titles and later won the Southern California Junior Championship. He turned professional at 19, joined the Navy, was honorably discharged and returned to California to pursue his golf career. He had an accomplished playing career on the PGA Tour, participating in 15 PGA Championships, 10 U.S. Opens and two U.S. Senior Opens. His many friends in golf included Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Jackie Burke, Jimmy Demaret, Tommy Bolt, Jay Hebert and Bob Rosburg.
Jackson was a Life Member of the PGA of America and served as head professional at many prestigious clubs, including the St. Charles Country Club, River Oaks Country Club and The Connecticut Golf Club. He was a writer for Golf Digest for eight years, starred in the first live television show for golf, held patents on the first metal woods, and used high-speed capture video for teaching golf before such a technique was popular.
Jackson was on the PGA of America Rules Committee that changed the stymie rule to clean and mark.
He worked on the design and construction of nine golf courses in the Houston, Conroe and Livingston areas.
He taught many years in the Austin area, at such venues as The Hills of Lakeway (Academy of Golf), Balcones Country Club and Austin Country Club. He received numerous teaching awards, including PGA Teacher of the Year. He was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1993.
He was a longtime member of Westover Hills Church of Christ and helped to form The Freedom Church.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Dorothy Roberts Bradley; his five daughters, Robin Christiaens, Jennifer Fanuzzi, Lynda VanNus and husband Stuart, Tina Mayers and husband Buck, and Melissa Bradshaw-Mack and husband Geoffrey; and his step-daughters, Liz Dobecka and husband Richard, and Patty Walsh and husband Martyn. Jackson had 14 grandchildren and four great grand children.
Jackson’s service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Westover Hills Church of Christ, 8332 Mesa Dr.
Carlton Wade put together a really nice Q&A with Jackson in 2004, back when Austin Golf magazine was the best local golf publication on the planet. Carlton also made a portrait of Jackson for the magazine. Jackson’s daughter Tina sent it to me last night. I hope Carlton doesn’t mind my putting it here:
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San Antonio architect to design Summit Rock clubhouse
Horseshoe Bay Resort has hired Michael G. Imber Architects of San Antonio to design the clubhouse at Summit Rock, the private golf club under construction at the new residential development there, Skywater over Horseshoe Bay. Imber’s other work includes the clubhouse at nearby Escondido.
From a news release: “The architecture will be timeless, with European influences, but at once distinctly Texan in character,” says Michael G. Imber, FAIA. “Our desire is to bring together the character of what the Hill Country signifies, what the landscape is, and what it wants to be.”
When I was there late last year, I reported that Summit Rock was schedule to open in 2010. An update should come next week, when Summit Rock architect Jack Nicklaus is expected to visit the project.
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Longhorn golf: Texas men rise to No. 7 in coaches’ poll
The University of Texas men, who beat top-ranked Oklahoma State and 13 other teams Tuesday in the Puerto Rico Classic, saw a boost today in the national rankings. The Longhorns vaulted eight spots in the latest Golf World/Nike Golf coaches’ poll, released just minutes ago.
This year, the Longhorns have finished fourth of 10 teams, third of 15, second of 12, eighth of 12, fourth of 12 and now first of 15.
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Longhorn golf: Texas men win in Puerto Rico
The University of Texas men shot a final-round 276 today to win the Puerto Rico Classic at 42 under par, six shots ahead of Oklahoma State.
Freshman Cody Gribble (67-65-70) placed second individually behind Cowboy Kevin Tway at the Rio Mar River Course in Rio Grande. Sophomore Dylan Frittelli (69-69-67) tied for fourth, junior Bobby Hudson (70-67-71) tied for seventh, senior Lance Lopez (71-68-72) tied for 15th and senior Charlie Holland (71-74-68) tied for 19th.
Five players in the Top 20. A win over a rival — and the No. 1-ranked team in the land.
More when the stats and reactions arrive.
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Dreaming of a white Masters
On the occasion of a rare, snowy morning in Central Texas, a photo album of snow on the grounds of Augusta National. Slippery greens indeed.
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College golf: Texas men lead, Hilltoppers cancel second day
Lots to report Monday evening from the Central Texas college golf scene, including the lowest team score in two years for the University of Texas men:
Led by freshman Cody Gribble, the Longhorn men fired a sizzling 19-under-par 269 in the second round Monday of the Puerto Rico Classic. Gribble shot a 7-under-par 65 that gave him a one-shot individual lead. The team, meanwhile, ended the day at 30 under par, eight better than No. 1-ranked Oklahoma State. Four Longhorns shot scores in the 60s, and Texas head coach John Field had plenty to praise: “I’m very pleased with our play today. It was an exceptional round led by Cody Gribble. Cody’s 65 was outstanding, and that puts him in the final group tomorrow. We had four rounds in the 60s today, and to finish 19-under for the round says a lot about our players. I am proud of this round, and I give our guys tremendous credit. They had a great day.” The final round begins Tuesday in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
The Texas women shot a 30-over-par 606 in the first round Monday of the Central District Invitational to finish two rounds in ninth place in the 15-team tournament. The third and final round is scheduled for Tuesday at the River Wilderness Golf Club in Parrish, Fla.
The St. Edward’s University men placed third Monday in the St. Edward’s Invitational at Grey Rock Golf Club, posting a two-round score of 29-over-par 597. The University of Texas junior-varsity team won the 14-team tournament at 11 over par, and the Texas A&M JV team finished second at plus 17. The Aggies’ Case Cochran (even-par 70-72-142) was the medalist in the tournament, which was shortened to one day, and 36 holes, because the weather forecast promised a wintry Tuesday in Austin.
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Texas men hold second in Puerto Rico
The University of Texas men’s golf team shot 11-under-par 277 on Sunday in the Puerto Rico Classic to end the first round of the 22-team tournament in second place. The Longhorns finished two shots out of the lead held by Oklahoma State.
Texas freshman Cody Gribble shot a 5-under-par 67 at the par-72, 6,902-yard Rio Mar Country Club, and sophomore Dylan Frittelli shot a 3-under-par 69. Gribble begins the second round Monday in second place, two behind Kevin Tway of Oklahoma State.
All five Longhorns shot under-par scores.
“I am really pleased with our start,” Texas head coach John Fields told Texassports.com. “Having five guys under par to begin the tournament was outstanding. Cody Gribble played impressive golf today, and his 67 places him in second and in the lead group tomorrow. Dylan Frittelli came back from a 2-over-par start to finish at 3 under. All of our guys are motivated to play well (Monday).”
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Woods: Bigger, for a 15 minutes, than Ben S. Bernanke
Bloomberg.com reports:
New York Stock Exchange volume fell to about 1 million shares, the lowest level of the day at the time, in the minute Woods began a televised speech from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, headquarters of the U.S. PGA Tour. Trading shot to about 6 million when the speech ended, the highest for any period except just after exchanges opened, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Trading on all U.S. bourses declined during the press conference, falling to 456 million shares from an average of 576.8 million during the five previous 15-minute segments, Bloomberg data show.
I don’t know what “bourses” are. But I do know this: When Woods moves the meter like that at the NYSE, the economy’s in a lot more trouble than I thought.
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Golf in pictures: How not to play a desert course
In honor of the WGC Match Play Championship semifinal matches to begin presently in Tucson, I invite any and all suggested captions:
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Thomas Oliver Kite Sr.: 1916-2010
Thomas Oliver Kite Sr., the father of longtime Austin professional
golfer Tom Kite Jr., died Thursday night in Austin. He was 93.
The elder Kite had been in declining health recently, his son said.
Kite was born in Princeton. He was married to his wife, Mauryene, for
67 years. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served
from 1942 to 1945.
The Kite family moved to Austin from Dallas in the early 1960s. The
elder Kite worked for the Internal Revenue Service, first as the
assistant director of the Austin service center and later as its
director. He retired in 1974.
He spent much of his retirement watching his son reach the highest
levels of success in professional golf. A member of the World Golf
Hall of Fame and the captain of two national championship teams at
the University of Texas, Tom Kite Jr. won 19 tournaments on the PGA
Tour, including the 1992 U.S. Open.
Kite won that windswept championship, contested at Pebble Beach Golf
Links in California, on Father’s Day. His parents were there when he
clutched the trophy on the 18th green. Father and son shared a long
embrace on that sunny Sunday in June.
“It was a special time. He was my best golfing buddy,” Kite said
Friday. “I played more rounds with Dad than anybody else in the world.”
Survivors include his wife, Mauryene; Kite Jr. and his wife, Christy;
a daughter, Karen Pittinger and her husband, Ed; and many
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services are planned for 2:30 p.m. Monday at Cook-Walden Funeral
Home, 6100 N. Lamar.
“He had a heck of a run,” Kite said. “Ninety-three years. And he did
it with style and grace and courage.”
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Concluding thoughts: Woods turns a corner — and moves toward the light
We can be truly betrayed only where we truly trust — by brothers, lovers, wives, husbands, not by enemies, not by strangers. The greater the love and loyalty, the involvement and commitment, the greater the betrayal… . Wherever there is trust in a union, the risk of betrayal becomes a real possibility. And the betrayal, as a continual possibility to be lived with, belongs to trust just as doubt belongs to a living faith.
— Daryl Sharp: Jung Uncorked: Book One
Today, Tiger Woods made progress. He revealed a lot in his short, scripted address to the world. Hello world, indeed.
He was sincere, honest, credible and, at times, intimately human. He gave us the confession we demanded. He withheld the details we’re not entitled to anyway. He defended his wife, Elin. He protected his children as any father would. And the pain was etched on his face with every word.
Was it the pain of shame? Was it the pain of personal agony? It was both and more.
I’m convinced we might never know what happened the night he ran his Escalade into a fire hydrant. But I’m tempted to say Woods is thankful, in his subconscious to be sure, that he turned the key and drove off into the dark, thereby stepping into that mysterious space called reform, redemption and rebirth.
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Watch live video coverage of Tiger Woods statement
Tiger Woods is scheduled to speak this morning. The Associated Press will be covering the event, and you can watch it here.
I’ll be riffing here throughout, gang. I’ll post your comments as quickly as they come.
Assuming, of course, there are comments to post.
On captive audiences: I noticed Golf Channel didn’t fail to promote “Being John Daly” during its run-up to what we’ll from here out call the statement.
Larry King will analyze the statement tonight on CNN. Who needs Rymer, Nobilo and Chamblee?
Here’s my one prediction: No matter what Woods says or does, it won’t, in the eyes of many, be enough.
“Every one of you has good reason to be critical of me.”
“Selfish” and “foolish,” he says.
He so sounds like he’s reading a statement.
“I have let you down.” Looks at camera: “I have let down my fans.”
Taking great lengths to embrace personal responsibility. Yep, by the book.
“I have made you question who I am.” You think?
On Elin: He’s close to yelling!
“For all that I have done, I am so sorry.”
“Elin deserves praise, not blame.”
“I ran straight through the boundaries that married couples should live by.”
I like the shirt, by the way. Lavender!
“It’s up to me to start living a life of integrity.”
“It’s hard to admit that I need help, but I do.” Right out of the playbook there, too.
It’s a 45-day program, we now know.
Will not talk about his and Elin’s future. He’s entitled to that, IMO.
Also IMO, he’s trying too hard to sound sincere.
Good points about media chasing his family. “Please leave my wife and kids alone.”
Buddhism?
Going back to “treatment” and “therapy” Saturday.
“I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don’t know when that day will be.” Doesn’t rule out this year.
“I need to regain my balance.”
Winding down now. Thanking tour, players, etc. What about Backspin?
“Today, I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again.”
The end. A hug for mom. Looks as heartfelt as it gets, folks.
Hug for Notah Begay.
No matter what you think, that had to be extremely hard for Woods.
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Golf writers’ association boycotts Woods appearance
The Golf Writers Association of America voted Thursday to boycott Tiger Woods’ appearance today at TPC Sawgrass.
Woods’ handlers originally “invited” three pool reporters to be chosen by the GWAA. The group protested, and the handlers agreed to six.
That wasn’t enough, either. The associated took a vote and, as an act of protest, decided to send no one.
Damon Hack of Sports Illustrated, a voting member of the GWAA, explains.
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Woods to return to therapy after statement
Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press reveals the answer to the question that vexed the golf world this week: Why did Tiger Woods need to speak Friday morning?
Because his therapy at a clinic in Mississippi provides a one-week break, and this is that week. So Woods isn’t playing next week in Phoenix. And he’s not taking a dig at Accenture, the company that (a) sponsors this week’s WGC Match Play Championship and (b) was among the first to drop Woods as a spokesman.
Ferguson obtained a letter from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem to the tour policy board. The letter says, in part:
“As we understand it, Tiger’s therapy called for a week’s break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning,” Finchem said in a letter Thursday. “Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement.”
That would explain the pictures of Woods practicing and jogging this week in Florida. Yes, that would explain a lot of rumors.
Let them rest.
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Woods to make statement Friday at PGA Tour headquarters
The golf tweeps (Sirak, Van Sickle, Wacker) are all atwitter about a live statement scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday from Tiger Woods at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The development just was announced on the tour’s Web site.
Early reports called it a press conference. It’s not. Woods will take no questions. A small number of reporters will be present, so we’ll call it a press reading.
The statement will, however, be streamed live on pgatour.com. Golf Channel will carry it, too.
The No. 1-ranked golfer in the world has made no public comment since his post-Thanksgiving collision with a fire hydrant outside his Orlando home. After several women came forward with claims of affairs with the golfer, Woods announced on his own Web site that he would take an indefinite leave from golf. Many of his sponsors dropped him. Woods has made no public appearances since his last tournament in 2009.
He reportedly entered a sex-addiction treatment facility in Mississippi last month.
Meanwhile, speculation grew about the subject of when Woods might return to the game he has dominated since the mid-1990s. Would it be the Masters? The Tavistock Cup? The U.S. Open? The first tournament of 2011?
Will we find out Friday?
Or, because it’s nothing more than a statement from Woods or his handlers, will we learn anything at all?
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Kite, too, deserves consideration for U.S. Open exemption
The USGA is considering a special exemption for Tom Watson into the U.S. Open. That would be a wonderful and appropriate gesture for a man who won his only U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach Golf Links, where the championship returns this year for the fifth time in the history of the course.
Watson deserves a special exemption. And while we’re on the subject, so does another Tom.
Tom Kite.
Like Watson, Kite won his only U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Like Watson, Kite has played in the other four U.S. Opens at Pebble Beach.
Kite tied for 19th place in 1972, when Jack Nicklaus won and Watson tied for 29th. He finished 29th in ‘82, when Watson won.
Kite won in 1992; Watson missed the cut. He tied for 32nd in 2000, five places behind Watson.
The USGA grants special exemptions with great care and discretion. It should, of course. The U.S. Open is the national championship of the game, and contestants who qualify do so either by high achievement in other significant tournaments or emerging from stages of local and sectional qualifying. Exemptions go to worthy players.
Watson and Kite are worthy players. Watson proved his skill last summer on the grand links of Turnberry — the Pebble Beach of Scotland, as it’s known — when he faced an 8-foot putt to win his sixth Claret Jug. Granted, Kite hasn’t played well in a non-senior major championship since 2001, when he tied for fifth at the U.S. Open at Southern Hills.
That might be the defining difference in the eyes of the USGA. I hope it’s not. I hope the USGA recognizes Kite for his achievements in its marquee championship at Pebble Beach.
Kite plans to go through qualifying for the U.S. Open. And if I know him the way I think I know him, I believe he’d prefer to actually earn a starting time on the Thursday of U.S. Open week instead of being given one. Qualifying in itself would be a tremendous accomplishment for Kite, who’s 60 years old. But if I know Kite, and after seven years I think I do, merely making the field wouldn’t be enough.
Let him play, USGA. Group him with Watson — and Fred Funk, who earned his own trip to Pebble by winning the U.S. Senior Open last year at Crooked Stick.
The U.S. Open celebrates the future of golf by opening its qualifying to anyone with a low enough index, regardless of age.
By granting Watson and Kite a special exemption, it can also honor its past.
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Watson to play British Open
Five-time British Open champion Tom Watson, who defied convention and age last summer at Turnberry, will play this summer at St. Andrew’s, according to opengolf.com. As he should.
While we’re on the subject of the best major championship in the game, England’s Royal Liverpool today was announced as the site of the 2014 British Open.
Latest comments
I have been critical of Coach Fields in the past and I shall remain that way. That said, his team is doing outstandingly early in the season and that’s encouraging. It’s still a long way to Chattanooga.
... read the full comment by UB | Comment on Texas golf: Longhorn men rise in polls Read Texas golf: Longhorn men rise in polls
Sad to watch him deteriorate through the years. ‘91 PGA and ‘95 Open Championship at St. Andrews seem like so long ago. Hard to believe all the notoriety he’s gained in almost 20 years and he only won five PGA tournaments.
... read the full comment by Donnie Hogan | Comment on Confidential file reveals Daly's trials and troubles on PGA Tour Read Confidential file reveals Daly's trials and troubles on PGA Tour
My kind a man!
“with incidents covering 18 years, through the fall of 2008. Daly was fined nearly $100,000 during that span, suspended from the Tour five times, placed on probation six times, (and) cited 11 times for ‘conduct unbecoming a professional’.”
... read the full comment by Mr. Big | Comment on Confidential file reveals Daly's trials and troubles on PGA Tour Read Confidential file reveals Daly's trials and troubles on PGA Tour
Alcoholism and being from Arkansas are a dangerous combination. Fortunately, the primary victim of Daly’s poor conduct and lack of self-discipline has always been John himself, so outside en****** are reluctant to take further action. It’s a
... read the full comment by Ed Chambers | Comment on Confidential file reveals Daly's trials and troubles on PGA Tour Read Confidential file reveals Daly's trials and troubles on PGA Tour
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