It was two years before John Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick. At the National Insurance Youth Golf Classic at Texarkana Country Club, a 13-year-old Tiger Woods was grouped with a 23-year-old Daly. That was purely a chance encounter. Texarkana Gazette reported that Daly was called in as a last-minute replacement after David Orgin’s travel plans were squashed. Woods, naturally, was much younger than most of the field that had future stars like David Duval and Justin Leonard. But both saw the talent in the other.
Daly was hearing all the good things about Woods and how great he would become. “He is unbelievable. I mean, the guy’s almost kicking my a**,” Daly had said about his first impression of Woods in a conversation with Teddy Greenstein in 2020. But Daly had also made an impression on the teenager. On one hole during that round with Woods, Daly hit a five-iron about 220 yards with his HT Max Fly and smashed the golf ball in some 4-5 pieces! In the same conversation. Daly had said, “Tiger said it was the greatest shot he’s ever seen.” Since that first encounter, the lives of the two iconic golfers have panned out in different ways.
Tiger has grown as the epitome of hard work and work ethic, winning 15 Majors. And Daly, on the other hand, has blown up the concept of hard work in every possible manner! Yes, Daly has two Majors to his name. But we bet you remember him more for comments like, “I don’t think I’ve ever stepped in the gym – they won’t let me smoke there!” Daly himself might never adopt Tiger’s regime, but he is firm in his belief that Tiger still has a lot of golf left in him and he isn’t finished competing at the top level.
Lately, there has been a lot of talk about Tiger Woods’ participation in the Champions Tour. Tiger will be eligible to play on the Tour, where players are allowed to use golf carts at most events, when he turns 50 on December 30. Paul Azinger believes that Tiger competing there will bring immense visibility to the tournament. On the other hand, Bernhard Langer said, “It would be a thrill to see Tiger come out and play the Champions Tour and I’m convinced he will play several. Depends how many.” As speculation intensifies, Daly maintains that Woods still has what it takes to contend for more major championships.
Known for his direct thoughts and straightforward style, Long John recently brushed off the notion of Tiger Woods joining the PGA Tour Champions during his conversation with Like a Farmer Podcast. Daly stressed that despite his injuries, Woods still has what it takes to play at the highest level.“I think, you know, Bernhard Langer has set something that Tiger may go after, I don’t know. But Tiger loves to break records, and I think he’s got the will and the game to still win Majors even hurt. I always root for him. I believe in him, and I don’t think Tiger’s done yet,” Daly remarked.
He further revealed, “Three years ago, I thought he could still beat Jack. I still think he could beat Jack’s [Nicklaus] major record [18]. I’m still not beyond that because Phil Mickelson won the PGA on a very difficult golf course at 50.” For context, Phil Mickelson pulled away from Brooks Koepka to win the 2021 PGA Championship by two strokes at Kiawah Island, S.C., at the age of 50 years, 11 months, and 7 days. Not to forget, Tiger showed up on X for one of his biggest rivals, writing, “Truly inspirational to see @PhilMickelson do it again at 50 years of age. Congrats!!!!!!!” Daly believes, even Tiger can also do that, AGAIN.
“It can be done, and I agree—if Tiger gets healthy, man, he’s in shape. What is he, 48 now? Man, he’s got a body of a 20-year-old,” said Daly, emphasizing how physically fit Woods is, even at 48. “If Tiger gets healthy, man, he’s still in shape,” Daly remarked, brushing aside worries about Woods’s wounds. Although Woods has not yet addressed his possible future on the Champions Tour, he has earlier made it clear that he has no interest in playing golf until he can compete at the highest level. That mindset supports Daly’s opinion that Woods is a competitor first and that competing on the senior circuit may not be at the top of his agenda just yet.
Furthermore, Woods continues to have an unmatched impact on the game. Fans want to watch him play, but they also want to watch him compete, and Daly, like many others, thinks it could be too soon for Woods to switch to the senior circuit because he still has at least one more major victory left in him. Indeed, Tiger himself bluntly said once that he plays to win, not for records! But this win-hungry legend might never forget how Daly had once handed him a defeat, that too in a situation, as bizarre as it could be!
Daly’s crazy win over Tiger Woods with “Jack and Cokes”
Except for his thunderous drives, John Daly is renowned for his untamed and wild personality. And nothing better encapsulates it than when, while suffering from a hangover and drinking Jack and Cokes, Daly defeated Tiger Woods at the 1994 match-up he had with Woods at the Sherwood Country Club. Although Daly has frequently discussed his unconventional way of life, one of his most legendary tales concerns an exhibition duel with Woods. Daly said he had been drinking the previous evening and was not in the best of shape when he got to the course. “I wasn’t feeling great, but I thought, ‘Screw it, I’ll just play,’” in an interview, Daly described.
Daly defeated Woods while still sipping his trademark drink, putting on a clinic despite his bad state. Even the competitor, Woods, was taken aback. “Tiger’s always been about discipline—strict diet, training, practice. He saw me downing Jack and Cokes and still playing well, and he just shook his head,” Daly recounted.
Despite having completely different approaches to discipline and preparation, Woods and Daly have a great deal of respect for one another. Woods has even acknowledged Daly’s natural talent, stating, “If John had my work ethic, he’d have 10 majors.” “If I had Tiger’s work ethic, I’d be dead!” was Daly’s legendary response. The two will indeed go down in golf history in their own rights, albeit for different reasons!
