Still loud and proud: Putter
fails Daly in return to Bellerive

Loeffler's Link

John Daly winds up to blast a drive on the first hole of the opening round of the 100th PGA Championship on Thursday at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.

Aug. 9, 2018

ST. LOUIS, Mo. --- It took some time, but it finally happened a few years ago --- John Daly's wardrobe caught up with his golf game. ... not to mention his personality.

Loud and proud..

And he has his own clothing line to prove it --- Loudmouth Pants and its soooo John Daly catchphrase --- The most fun you can have with your pants on.

Being subtle and politically correct have never been high on his priority list.

That's our John.

Daly --- who attended Helias for two years in the early 1980s ---- wore pants that were a bit subdued (at least for him) on Thursday, as they were a modest tribute to the St. Louis Cardinals. If you were worried, he kept them on ... and he did have some fun.

But a balky putter kept him from having too much fun, as he bogeyed three of his final five holes --- two of those on 3-putts --- to finish with a 3-over 73 in the opening round of the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club.

It left Daly, who's still a crowd favorite, nine shots behind leader Gary Woodland, who was a blistering 7-under in his final 11 holes to shoot a 64.

"It's as close as I've ever played to home (Topeka, Kan.), which is awesome," Woodland said. "We're kind of in enemy territory down here in Missouri, we're big Kansas people, but the fans were nice to me today and I really fed off the energy."

Then there's Daly, 52, the 1991 PGA champion who was never a threat to win the event, or even make the cut for that matter. But he still hits it a mile and he still draws a throng of hearty fans --- not quite the mid-sized city Tiger drew on Thursday, but still impressive --- who screamed encouragement after Daly's every move.

You're the man, JD! John Daly for President! All John's ex's wear Rolexes!

The latter might be a sore subject, because Daly has plenty of them --- ex's, not Rolexes.

Daly earned his first Champions Tour win in May, The Insperity Invitational, which was also his first win as a professional since 2004. He pocketed $322,500 for the victory, a one-shot victory that he nearly coughed up with three straight bogeys to end his final round.

"It wasn't pretty at the end," Daly told the USA Today after the event. "But I got it done and that's all that matters."

Daly didn't have much to say after Thursday's round. Actually, he had less than "not much" to say --- he said nothing as brushed past reporters and Long John was Long Gone.

That's disappointing for the handful of reporters, but much more so for the fans and well-wishers who were seeking a touch of the hand or an autograph.

This was soooo John Daly, too. He's supplied so many good moments, but he's also had some moments that, well, have been something less than good.

Daly was placed on probation six times by the PGA Tour, ordered to go to counseling or alcohol rehab seven times, and was cited for conduct unbecoming a professional 11 times.

The gambling losses for Daly, who's been married and divorced four times, are legendarily sad --- he estimates his losses to be about $55 million, although other sources put the total closer to $90 million.

Daly would play the slot machines and bet $5,000 a spin. $5,000 spin! Can you imagine?

This was a return trip to Bellerive for him, 26 years after Daly was the defending PGA champion. The year before, he shocked  the golf world --- actually, he shocked the sports world --- by busting onto the scene like King Kong with a mop-top of blonde hair in winning the 1991 PGA.

Who is this guy?

He's our John.

Still loud and proud.