Health challenges do not dampen Daly's love for the game

By Jeff Babineau

John Daly is still very much a fan favorite on PGA TOUR Champions, and said he has a pretty simple goal as he sets out on a new season at age 57: He wants to get through a full year feeling healthy.

The long-hitting Daly, a two-time major champion who shocked the world in winning the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick as the tournament’s ninth alternate, is playing the Chubb Classic for the first time. Friday, heading out in the day’s second group, returned a solid opening round of 2-under 70.

“I’m rusty. I played the PNC (in December), but I haven’t played a tournament since October,” Daly said. “One hiccup on No. 9 (a toe-hook off the tee that led to double-bogey), but I hit it OK. I could have made a few more (putts), but I’m not complaining.”

Daly said he hit only four drivers Friday at Tiburon’s Black Course, which he is seeing this week for the first time. “I just put a brand new Callaway 3-wood into the bag that I love,” he said, “and I hit it pretty good. You have to hit fairways out here; the greens are so good, you hope to make putts.”

Daly has had both of his knees replaced and has battled cancer the last few years. His next screening is Feb. 28, and he said his last two screenings have shown the cancer to be benign. His new right knee feels good; his left knee, replaced in December of 2022, is starting to feel stronger, but might take three years in total to get to 100 percent.

Daly plays wearing knee braces and estimates he is now “about 80 (percent).”

“It’s the first time in about six years I’ve had two full knees,” Daly said.

Overall, though, Daly said it has been a very tough week. He is grieving the death of his good friend, country music star Toby Keith. Keith died of stomach cancer on Feb. 5 at age 62. When Keith came out of surgery two days prior, he and Daly exchanged texts.

“He’d had a surgery on Saturday. I texted him,” Daly said. “He said ‘I’m going to beat this, JD. I just got out of surgery, I feel a little groggy. I love ya.’

“Next thing you know, he was gone ... It's been a rough week. He was like a brother to me”.