“Tiger loves to break records, and I think he’s got the will and the game to still win Majors even hurt.” John Daly‘s words of encouragement for Tiger Woods come with a caveat: stay away from the senior tour. Daly, a longtime friend and fellow golfer, believes that Woods’ competitive spirit won’t be tested right on the Champions Tour, and instead, Woods should focus on competing against the best of the best on the PGA Tour. The two have shared very different fitness regimes, with Woods following more conventional, rigid ones. So, Daly’s remark isn’t just based on emotional capacity.
Daly’s advice is rooted in his own experiences and observations of Woods’ solid dedication. He knows that Woods, a competitor at heart, would be bored by the relatively easier competition on the senior tour. By staying on the PGA Tour, Woods can push himself despite battle wounds. Well, it seems like Daly’s words have come back to haunt him as the golfer struggles to regain his old form.
Speaking on the latest episode of Like A Farmer Podcast on YouTube, PGA Tour veteran John Daly revealed the struggles he’s been facing when he was asked what keeps him wanting to play the game of golf. Daly admitted that it’s tough, citing his numerous surgeries and inability to play healthy since joining the Champions Tour. He expressed his frustration, saying, “Ever since I got on the Champions Tour, I’ve never played one tournament healthy… I’ve had so many surgeries on knees, feet, shoulder, elbows, hands, you name it.”
Daly confessed that his physical limitations have hindered his ability to practice and compete at the level he desires. He’s no longer able to hit hundreds of wedges or spend hours on the putting green due to his back issues. Despite this, he remains competitive and wishes he could get healthy enough to regain his form and truly compete on the tour. “I can’t stay on a putting green and hit 500 putts, you know, and because my back gets all bad… you know, it’s just like, I’m still competitive, but I just wish I could get healthy to where I could really get my game back and be able to compete on that tour,” he said.
via Reuters
His candid remarks lean into the challenges faced by golfers to meet the fitness demands of the sport. Daly has, previously, also said that he thinks working out actually isn’t as helpful as young golfers think. Around the 2018 PGA Championship, John Daly took a swing at Woods’ intense fitness regimen, suggesting it may have done more harm than good.
Why John Daly thinks modern golfers are getting it wrong
John Daly, a two-time Major winner, has shared his thoughts on the physical training of modern golfers, and his views are nothing short of surprising. “I think working out hurts a lot of these guys, I really do,” Daly said in a recent interview. He believes that “working out hardcore” can lead to a loss of flexibility and mechanical swings, ultimately hurting golfers in the long run. Daly thinks that this intense physical training will prevent golfers from playing well into their 50s and 60s.
Daly’s approach to practice is a far cry from the intense fitness regimens of modern golfers. “Mine was just practice wedges and chip and putt all day long. I could do that all day long; that’s all I did,” he revealed. Daly prioritizes playing and practicing his short game over hitting the gym. He believes that too much off-course work can be detrimental and that golfers should focus on finding a balance that works for them. As Daly put it, “When I get to a tournament, if you’re not ready, you shouldn’t have to practice as much — you should just kind of go just get warmed up basically.” Do you agree with John Daly‘s unconventional take on golf practice? Let us know in the comment section below.
