John Daly Falls Down Steep Slope as Caddie Jumps to the Rescue John Daly, a two-time major champion, expressed gratitude toward his caddie, John Cooley, for leaping down a steep slope to rescue him after a mishap during the final round of the Cologuard Classic on the Champions Tour in Arizona. The incident, captured in a viral video, showed Daly losing his footing after an errant swing sent him into a cactus-filled area. Daly, who has undergone 16 operations in the past four years due to hand tendon issues, praised Cooley’s bravery, calling him a “true buddy” who “slid in to save” him. The incident occurred at La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, where Daly had played his first 10 holes in four under par. As part of the first group to tee off, he aimed for his first top-10 finish on the over-50s tour in nearly three years. However, an erratic swing on the 508-yard par-five hole resulted in a hook that landed him among the cactus. After taking a penalty drop, Daly managed to chop his ball onto the fairway but lost his balance, ending up on his stomach. He struggled to grab onto anything to prevent slipping further into the greenery, prompting Golf Digest to humorously remark, “We’ve lost John Daly.” At this point, Cooley, who works as a singer-songwriter in Nashville by day, sprang into action. Despite the danger, he descended the slope to assist Daly, who was briefly out of sight. After several minutes, the pair emerged from the cactus-covered area, disheveled but unharmed. The incident led to a double-bogey on the hole, followed by a bogey on the next, but Daly recovered his composure to secure two birdies in the final holes. His 68 final round left him at six under par, tying him for 29th place, nine strokes behind champion Steve Alker.#john_daly #cologuard_classic #la_paloma_country_club #john_cooley #steve_alker
John Daly disappears into desert penalty area after bellyflop, compares it to an episode of 'Jackass' The golf world nearly lost John Daly on Sunday during the Cologuard Classic at Tucson’s La Paloma Country Club. The PGA Tour Champions star found himself in a precarious situation after losing his footing on a slope and executing a dramatic bellyflop that sent him sliding into a desert penalty area. The incident briefly sparked concern, as Daly vanished from view before being located safely. Daly shared a video of the mishap on social media, captioning it with a humorous nod to the reality TV series Jackass. In the clip, the two-time major champion loses his balance after a solid shot, tumbles headfirst down a hill, and disappears from sight. He later credited musician Joel Cooley for “sliding into save,” a playful reference to the act of rescuing him from the penalty area. Despite the mishap, Daly managed to recover and carded a 68 to finish tied for 29th in the event. The tournament was won by Steven Alker in a playoff over Padraig Harrington. While the incident added an unexpected twist to the competition, Daly remained in good spirits, joking about the situation and advising others to exercise caution in native areas. The episode highlighted the unpredictable nature of golf, where even seasoned professionals can find themselves in comically chaotic situations. Daly’s ability to laugh off the mishap underscored his enduring charisma, even as he navigated the challenges of the course.#john_daly #cologuard_classic #la_paloma_country_club #steven_alker #padraig_harrington
John Daly II has made a remarkable leap in his golf career, making his PGA Tour debut at the Puerto Rico Open. The 22-year-old, son of legendary golfer John Daly, is currently three shots behind the leader heading into the final round. His journey from struggling in college to competing at the highest level highlights his dedication and growth. Daly’s rise has been nothing short of impressive. Just over a year ago, he faced challenges at the University of Arkansas, where he couldn’t secure a starting spot despite his mental toughness and short game. His coach, Brad McMakin, described Daly’s progress as the most satisfying he’s seen in 30 years of coaching. Daly’s improvement has positioned him as a top-50 amateur globally, ranked No. 54 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Daly’s path to success wasn’t easy. As a walk-on freshman, he shot an 83 in his only tournament and redshirted the next season due to struggles with his swing. McMakin admitted he initially made mistakes in coaching Daly, but eventually stepped back, allowing the young golfer to focus on fundamentals. With guidance from his father and former Arkansas assistant Barrett Lais, Daly’s game began to take shape. The breakthrough came last spring, when Daly averaged 75.7 in fall events and became a key player for a struggling Arkansas team. His performance included three top-10 finishes, a first collegiate victory at the Columbia Spring Invitational, and consistent play that helped the team qualify for an NCAA regional. McMakin credited Daly with nearly leading the Razorbacks to the regional with a young squad. Daly’s success continued into the summer, where he placed third at the Northeast Amateur, won the Southern Amateur on Arkansas’ home course, and reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur.#arkansas #john_daly_ii #john_daly #puerto_rico_open #brad_mcmakin
Amateur John Daly II has a shot to win Puerto Rico Open in his first-ever PGA Tour start John Daly II, the son of two-time major champion John Daly, is making his PGA Tour debut at the Puerto Rico Open and could secure a historic victory. The 22-year-old, currently a senior at Arkansas, is competing as an amateur and is positioned to become the ninth amateur ever to win on the tour. His performance at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande has placed him at nine under par, three shots behind leader Ricky Castillo, with a chance to claim the title in his first professional start. Daly II’s journey to this moment has been marked by steady progress. After a two-under-par 70 in the third round, he maintained a strong position on the leaderboard, showcasing his ability to compete at the highest level. Despite the challenging windy conditions, Daly II managed to make 15 pars and record an eagle on the 11th hole. However, a bogey on the final hole—his first since the 15th in the first round—left him slightly behind. “It was solid,” he said, reflecting on the round. “The wind was really hard to get the numbers right, but I stayed in it well. It’s a good day.” The young golfer’s focus remains on the course, though he has faced questions about his strategy and his father’s potential involvement. When asked if he was monitoring the leaderboard, Daly II responded, “I feel like in college golf I look way too much, but I haven’t really looked at all. I saw walking to 15, but I don’t really look at it.” He also dismissed the possibility of his father, a legendary figure in golf, traveling to Puerto Rico for the final round. “He’s busy out west with some buddies and sponsors,” he said. Daly II’s path to contention is both surprising and impressive.#john_daly_ii #john_daly #puerto_rico_open #grand_reserve_golf_club #rio_grande
