At Melbourne’s Woodlands Golf Club on Monday, flamboyant American John Daly exhibited exemplary behaviour during his first public appearance since his disgraceful exit at the Australian Open.
Daly, seemingly unaffected by the controversy surrounding his walk-off during the first round at The Lakes, showcased his candid and entertaining personality while participating in the Melbourne Golf Invitational charity pro-am.
Currently ranked No.666 in the world, Daly garnered numerous admirers, finishing with a score of one-over par 73. His playing partner and event sponsor, Alan Eskander, later praised him as “a fabulous bloke and a delight to be with.”
In an attempt to clarify his meltdown at The Lakes, where he ran out of golf balls after sending seven into the water at the 11th hole, Daly stated that the incident stemmed more from his ego than from anger.
“The essential fact is that I ran out of balls. I didn’t give up or anything,” he explained.
“It just reached a tipping point where I could have laid up left of the water, but my ego intervened. When you feel the adrenaline, believe you can hit the shot, it shifts from scoring to an ego-centric struggle.”
Feeling regretful and embarrassed about the situation, Daly resisted claims that it showcased a relapsing of his bad-boy persona.
“I apologize to the fans and the Australian Open for what transpired, but it wasn’t one of those angry outbursts I typically have,” he clarified.
“Considering my past, it might seem unfortunate. But in the context of today, it comes off as humorous.”
Before starting his round on Monday, local professional Jarrod Lyle humorously presented Daly with a box of golf balls, setting an upbeat mood for the game.
The former heavy drinker, who has been sober for over a year, drank a six-pack of Diet Coke throughout the round, confessing to having cultivated a soft drink addiction.
Daly entertained the small gallery at Woodlands by pulling out his driver on one of Melbourne’s narrowest courses, consistently launching the ball over 300m.
by Buford Balony
