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John Daly Reinstated To PGA Tour
Published by MoonDog on May 26, 2009
From The Associated Press
John Daly says he has been reinstated by the PGA Tour, and the two-time major champion plans to return in three weeks at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, TN and U.S. Open qualifying.
Daly said he has received a sponsor’s exemption to the St. Jude Championship and also has received an exemption from the Buick Open the last week in July.
Daly was suspended for six months in November after a series of off-course incidents that brought negative publicity, the latest a picture of him in an orange jail suit with his eyes half-closed after being locked up to get sober in North Carolina.
Daly told The Associated Press over the Christmas holidays that he had been suspended for the second time in his career, and he said he found out two weeks ago while playing in Ireland that he had been reinstated.
He has played eight times overseas during his suspension, and tied for second earlier this month in the Italian Open.
“I know I’ll be ready to play,” Daly said. “I’m not going to be [half-trying] like I’ve done in the past. I know I may not play the tour if something good doesn’t happen. It’s making me work harder.”
Daly hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since the Buick Invitational five years ago, and he has not kept his card the last two years, having to rely on sponsor exemptions and tournaments where he won, such as the British Open and PGA Championship.
PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said the tour does not comment on player discipline; it never confirmed that Daly was suspended and now cannot confirm that a suspension has been lifted.
Daly at least will look different than his last start on the PGA Tour, when he missed the cut at Las Vegas in October.
He had lap-band surgery on his stomach in February to restrict his eating, and says he already has lost 50 pounds in three months.
“What I’m eating in one week is what I used to eat in one day,” he said of his 1,200-calorie per day intake. He also says he has not been drinking as much as before, and only sips when he does.
He signed a clothing deal with Sonoma, CA-based Loudmouth Golf, wearing trousers with wild and colorful prints, some of them looking like pajamas. Daly wore hot pink Sunday at Wentworth to pay tribute to Phil Mickelson’s wife being diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I love the reaction I’ve gotten from the media and the fans in the U.K.,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
Uncertain how many times he can play on the PGA Tour, he said he will continue to focus on “The Race to Dubai” on the European Tour. Daly already has played six times on the European Tour and is 94th in the standings. The top 70 are eligible for the $10 million Dubai World Championship.
“I’m enjoying it over here,” he said. “My big concern is the Race to Dubai. I’m not sure if I can get in 15 [U.S.] tour events.”
Daly said he has asked for exemptions to just about every PGA Tour event, although he will need to play at least three more times on the European Tour to be eligible for Dubai.
Asked if he would still be welcome on the PGA Tour, Daly said, “I haven’t done anything to hurt any of the tournaments.”
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Tagged with: British Open, Buick Invitational, Buick Open, Dubai World Championship, European Tour, Italian Open, John Daly, Lap-Band Surgery, Loudmouth Golf, MoonDog, PGA Championship, PGA Tour, Phil Mickelson, Race to Dubai, St. Jude Championship
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