Daly's Dilemmas Get Him Suspended from the PGA Tour

There were a few faces missing from the first stop on the 2009 PGA Tour besides Tiger, as the season kicked off last weekend with the Mercedes Benz Championship in Kapulua, Hawaii. One of those missing in action was 1990 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, John Daley.

Unlike Tiger who was a no show stating he felt he needed the time off, Daly is serving time on his six months suspension handed down by the PGA Tour. Daly, 42 with a liver going on 80 is better known around the tour as "the Lion". A non conformist, Daly's recent antics include smashing a tee shot off the top of a beer can during a pro-am, returning from a rain delay with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden as his caddie, and his most memorable event this year, a photo of Daley in an orange jumpsuit that was taken by the Winston-Salem, N.C. police department where he was taken to sleep it off after being intoxicated outside a Hooters restaurant.

The recent suspension came on December 31st and is the second time the tour has suspended Daly. At least two other times, he agreed to sit out the final few months of a season to put his life in order. He has not played on the PGA Tour since he missed the cut Oct. 17 in Las Vegas. In the interim Daly will take his game to the European tour at least until the spring. Still trying to recover from various injuries, Daly made only five cuts in 17 starts on the tour in 2008, finishing 232nd on the money list, while his world ranking has plunged to No. 736.

Big John was last seen wrapping up a three game tournament in Australia, where he was paid appearance fees to participate because, apparently he's no longer good at golf and couldn't qualify on his own. Not to mention they serve beer in massive oilcans down under, so you never know what kind of shit may happen and it did. Upon finding the ball he pushed far right on his final hole, he was approached by a spectator. According to Daly, he was snapping pictures from within six inches of his face. Daly quickly snatched the spectators' camera, and threw it against a tree during a 6-over 78 in the first round.

The PGA continues to deal with Daly because they need a guy like Daly. JD is the kind of character that makes sports so unpredictable. The tour needs more personality anyway. Right now we are forced to watch sissy boys like Poulter, creepy belt buckle wearing nut jobs like Rory, and tight shirt wearing crybabies like Morgan Press, or Sergio Garcia.

It's about time that the PGA starts to appeal to the regular guy. The next time you out on the course look around. I'm sure you will find more golfers that possess a body type more like Daly than Tiger Woods. I can't say I'll miss him horribly but it's always fun to see what he'll do next.