Daly’s troubles are revealed (From The Northern Echo)

Daly’s troubles are revealed

11:04am Wednesday 3rd March 2010 in

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THE full extent of John Daly’s controversial career in golf has finally come to light – and it amounts to a 456-page file.

Former Open champion Daly has been given five PGA Tour suspensions, fined over £65,000 and handed seven PGA Tour orders to undergo counselling or enter alcohol rehabilitation centres.

The 43-year-old American has also been cited 11 times for conduct unbecoming a professional and 21 times for ‘‘failing to give best efforts.’’ His file is now public record because of a court order to hand it over to a publishing firm Daly tried unsuccessfully to sue in 2005.

The largest single fine was £20,000 for hitting balls over the heads of spectators in a grandstand during an exhibition clinic in 1993.

But action against him, according to a report in the Florida Times-Union newspaper, started four months before that first major victory when he swore at a playing partner.

An incident during the 1997 Players Championship, when Daly was alleged to have trashed a hotel room, resulted in a £3,300 fine plus £1,000 damages, while he was fined almost £7,000 after being taken to jail to sober up two years ago.

That also brought a sixmonth Tour suspension and one of the orders to receive treatment.

Other misdemeanours include hitting a ball off a beer can offered by singer Kid Rock during a pro-am, walking out of events, missing tee-off times and being filmed at the opening of a course wearing no shoes and no shirt as he played.