John Daly participated in the PGA Championship but ran into some confusion regarding his golf schedule, which led him to miss out on competing for a second major title. Currently, he’s also involved in the PGA Tour Champions and will be playing in the Birmingham, Alabama Regional Traditions event, coinciding with the PGA Championship taking place at the Cool Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Daly expressed, “I can go there and miss a cut and win $6,000. But I play Birmingham. I love the region. They are great sponsors. But why do they schedule the region in the same week as Brooks (Koepka) and the PGA Championship where you can see everyone?” This tournament is one of the five majors within the PGA Tour Champions Schedule. Doug Baron took home the win in 2024, while Steve Stricker was the victor in 2023 and 2022. Daley noted that holding the event this particular weekend bumped up against Mother’s Day, which might have been better positioned two weeks earlier.
On a personal note, Daly is still navigating health challenges. He underwent surgery on his left hand back in January and mentioned that his putting has been particularly difficult post-surgery. At the Insperity Invitational, he ended up 27 over par but remains optimistic despite facing numerous health issues, including bladder cancer. “I’m like Lazarus. I’m back from death,” he stated. “Walking up is a victory for me.”
Daly famously won the PGA Championship in 1991. His experiences and resilience paint a vivid picture of both the challenges and triumphs he continues to navigate in his golfing career.
