John Daly

Height: 5 ft. 11 in 

Weight: 215 lbs 

Birthday: 04/28/1966

College: University of Arkansas

Turned Pro: 1987

Birthplace: Carmichael, California

Country: United States

Sponsor: Dunlop

Before graduating from the University of Arkansas, Daly turned pro in 1987. He gained his first PGA Tour card after finishing 9th on the Ben Hogan Tour in 1990. He won once at the Utah Classic and also finished runner-up on three occasions. In his rookie season on the main Tour, Daly captured his first Tour win at the PGA Championship, the fourth and final Major Championship of the year. His long hitting at Crooked Stick led him to winning the title by three shots over Bruce Lietzke. He was a shock winner of the event having been the ninth alternate. He was awarded the Rookie of the Year and finished 17th on the money list.

The following season, Daly won his first regular event at the B.C. Open when he won by six shots. This was one of five top 10 finishes that season. Daly won his third Tour title in 1994 at the BellSouth Classic. 1995 brought a second Major Championship win, the time at the Home of golf, at St. Andrews in the British Open. He defeated the Italian Costantino Rocca in a play-off. Interestingly, Daly is the only two time Major winner to never have played in the Ryder Cup.

He wouldn’t win again until 2004 when he beat Luke Donald and Chris Riley in a play-off at the Buick Invitational. This was his fifth and to date last time he won on the PGA Tour. He lost in two play-offs the following season. He lost to Vijay Singh at the Shell Houston Open and to Tiger Woods at the WGC-American Express Championship. He has one regular European Tour event win which came in 2001 at the BMW International Open where he beat Padraig Harrington by a single shot. Daly has struggled with many problems over the years and has attracted a number of controversies. He mostly relies on event invites to play on the PGA Tour.