Tag: John Daly

Arkansas golfer John Daly II signs NIL with Hooters

The NIL deal between John Daly II and this particular restaurant isn’t the most surprising of alliances.

The Hooters location in Fayetteville, Arkansas, hasn’t been open in almost 10 years. But one Arkansas athlete has a bond with the restaurant now, anyway.

John Daly II, son of the famous Arkansas golfer, signed a name, image, likeness deal with Hooters, it was announced Monday. Daly, a freshman on the Razorbacks golf team, played one tournament for the Hogs in the fall.

The father-son duo won the PNC Championship in Orlando in November. They beat, among others, Tiger and Charlie Woods and broke the tournament scoring record in doing so.

Arkansas won the SEC Match Play title in the fall is currently ranked No. 11 in the nation.

John Daly’s son — who has played one college golf tournament — signs NIL deal with Hooters

The son of two-time major champ John Daly played in one tournament last fall for the Razorbacks.

John Daly II has played exactly one tournament for the University of Arkansas and posted just a single round under par during that event, but that didn’t stop the freshman from signing a name, image, likeness deal with Hooters, an agreement that was announced on Tuesday.

The son of two-time major champ John Daly played in one tournament last fall for the Razorbacks, posting scores of 83-68-78 at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational in October.

The Dalys combined in December to win the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, using a 36-hole total of 27-under 117 to beat Tiger and Charlie Woods. In the process, the tandem broke the previous tournament scoring record set by Davis Love III/Dru Love in 2018 by one stroke, and earned Team Daly the red-leather Willie Park winner’s belts.

Also, the younger Daly placed T-12 in the 2022 New Year’s Invitational at St. Petersburg Country Club, posting rounds of 69 and 68 in the process. That event was won by Remi Chartier of East Tennessee State. The freshman from Clearwater has seen little time in the Arkansas lineup as stars Mateo Fernández de Oliveira and Luke Long have led the way. The Razorbacks won the SEC Match Play Championship in the fall at Shoal Creek, and currently sit at No. 11 in the Golfweek/Sagarin collegiate team rankings.

The senior Daly said via Twitter that he was happy to continue the family relationship with the brand.

“Can’t express how excited I am to be back with my @Hooters family & having my son beside me on the next generation!” he said.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Hooters is thrilled to make our long-standing relationship with John official and to enter an exciting new venture with Little John as our first NIL ambassador,” Bruce Skala, Hooters senior VP of marketing, said in a release. “John’s larger-than-life personality makes him an ideal representative of Hooters’ fun-loving spirit, while Little John will promote our brand to the next generation as one of the next big names in golf. We are ecstatic to have the Dalys, fantastic golfers and great personalities, on board as spokespeople for Hooters, the definitive 19th hole.”

NIL deals continue to make news as the stakes for college athletes is raised. For example, a five-star high school recruit in the 2023 class recently signed a name, image and likeness collective with a school that could earn him $8 million before his senior year at the college, The Athletic reported.

Since the Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision in June 2021 that threw out the NCAA’s restrictions on “education-related benefits,” almost 30 states have passed legislation about NIL and its governance, despite being no federal law to oversee it.

The NCAA is expected to file a report to discuss how NIL is impacting college athletics, despite the Supreme Court ruling that “the NCAA is not above the law” in its unanimous decision.

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The best golf club tosses in history — from Rory McIlroy to Judge Smails

A recent club throw got us thinking: what are some of the other best on-course meltdowns?

Whether you’re a touring professional golfer, an avid amateur or weekend hacker, every player has hit a bad shot out on the golf course and felt the urge to wind up and throw his or her club.

Exhibit A: Matt Jones on Saturday after making par on the 11th hole at Bay Hill during the third round of the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.

“Matt a little frustrated there,” announcer Steve Sands said on the broadcast. “Did you hear what he said? He said, ‘I’m done, I’ve had enough of it.’”

So that got us thinking: What are some of golf’s greatest club tosses? From Rory McIlroy to Judge Smails, here are a few of the best.

API: Leaderboard | Photos | PGA Tour Live on ESPN+
More: Drone shots of all 18 holes at Bay Hill

John Daly keeps playing golf with a separated shoulder: ‘Sometimes it will pop back into place and I have to pop it back out’

‘I just play with it separated, that’s how I get a nice cut out there. I just don’t hit it anywhere anymore.’

There’s nothing drab about John Daly — not his wardrobe, not his ball-striking and certainly not his interviews.

In preparation for this week’s Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, California, Daly was asked about the prospect of being a role model. As you might expect from the two-time major champion, he didn’t mince words.

“Well, if you look at me as a role model, if you do the opposite of John Daly, you’re going to do really well in life. That’s the only way I can answer that,” he said.

Daly — who has a new album coming out later this week entitled “Whiskey and Water” featuring the likes of longtime friend Willie Nelson — isn’t the same guy who could flail at everything and outhit the longest players. His health is a constant issue, between now-benign bladder cancer and a shoulder that simply hasn’t healed.

In fact, Daly said he has learned to play golf with a shoulder that isn’t just ailing, but permanently separated.

“It’s separated. I just play with it separated, that’s how I get a nice cut out there. I just don’t hit it anywhere anymore.” Daly said. “Sometimes it will pop back into place and I have to pop it back out.”

The shoulder hasn’t slowed him completely, however. Daly and his son, John II, poured in 13 birdies and an eagle en route to shooting 15-under 57 in the two-person scramble format at the PNC Championship in December.

The 36-hole total of 27-under 117 was two strokes better than Tiger and Charlie Woods, breaking the previous tournament scoring record set by Davis Love III/Dru Love in 2018 by one stroke, and earned Team Daly the red-leather Willie Park winner’s belts.

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So, he can still play, when all the pieces are in working order. But Daly admits he never knows if that’ll be the case when he wakes up.

“Some days are good, some days are bad,” Daly said. “Some days I feel like Superman, some days I feel like Jimmy Hoffa six feet under.”

Daly can still hit just under 300 yards, but while that once marked one of the longest balls on Tour, it’s now overshadowed by the masses. And while the former University of Arkansas star is pleased to have helped push the driving limits, he also said the game still revolves around those who convert when they get close to the green.

“When I came up you heard of long drivers being in long drive championships. Remax sponsored it and you had guys that could hit it 420, 450, almost to 500 yards. When I came out it was me, Freddie Couples, Davis Love. It wasn’t — like nobody really heard of guys hitting it really long except for us three,” Daly said. “The game of golf was always around the short game and the middle irons. When I came out, hopefully I changed it a little bit. But the bottom line, it still doesn’t matter, the guys are scoring because of the way they’re chipping and putting and all that, but now there’s probably 50 guys that could hit it over 350 yards on the PGA Tour.

“It’s great to see, but they’re still chipping and putting.”

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‘He’s probably going to beat Jack’s records:’ John Daly sounds confident Tiger Woods isn’t done winning majors

John Daly was asked about Tiger Woods and said he believes Woods isn’t done winning majors.

John Daly and his son, John II (previously known as Little John), won the PNC Championship by two shots over Team Woods. Tiger and Charlie put up a fight, at one point making 11 straight birdies, but it wasn’t enough.

Despite falling short, John saw encouraging signs from the 15-time major champion in Orlando. The Dalys made an appearance on ‘Fox and Friends,’ and the elder John was asked about Tiger.

“I think Tiger’s gonna be fine. He looked good. He looked a little tired, but he still looked great. He’ll be back, and I could see it in his eyes.

“He’s probably gonna beat Jack Nicklaus’ records and be the greatest of all time.”

John Daly and Tiger Woods during the final round of the 2005 American Express World Golf Championships at Harding Park in San Francisco. (Photo: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

Daly has seen that look from Tiger before. At the 2005 American Express Championship played at TPC Harding Park, Woods shot a final round 67 to get into a playoff with J.D. On the second playoff hole, Daly yipped a three-footer to lose. Tough.

The timetable for Woods’ return has yet to be set. Golf fans can expect his schedule to be limited.

“I’m not at that level. I can’t compete against these guys right now, no,” he said Sunday after the PNC when asked about competing again on the PGA Tour. “It’s going to take a lot of work to get to where I feel like I can compete with these guys and be at a high level.”

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John Daly teams up with son John Daly II to win PNC Championship in record fashion

The 36-hole total of 27 under earned Team Daly the red-leather Willie Park winner’s belts.

ORLANDO – John Daly putted so poorly on Saturday that when his son walked off the 18th green at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, he asked a friend, “Teach my dad how to putt, please.”

John II wasn’t kidding but his dear old-dad, 55, figured things out with his short stick on Sunday as Team Daly poured in 13 birdies and an eagle en route to shooting 15-under 57 in the two-person scramble format.

“Hit seven naturals today, so I helped the team today,” Big John said of his rediscovered putting prowess.

The 36-hole total of 27-under 117 was two strokes better than Tiger and Charlie Woods, breaking the previous tournament scoring record set by Davis Love III/Dru Love in 2018 by one stroke, and earned Team Daly the red-leather Willie Park winner’s belts.

“He’s always wanted to win those belts,” said Daly’s longtime girlfriend, Anna Cladakis.

John II is a freshman on the University of Arkansas golf team, his father’s alma mater, and he was decked out in a Razorbacks golf shirt, hat and belt buckle. The 18-year-old has been playing in this event since he was 12.

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“To watch him grow up to do the things he could do with a golf ball,” the proud papa said, “and a swing that’s so perfect, but saving my you-know-what from putting yesterday, and he played phenomenal and I helped him with a few shots here and there.”

Team Daly combined to birdie every hole except two on the inward nine (Nos. 15, 17). Daly stuck his approach at 16 tight for the birdie that would be the difference.

“We are used to hitting like wedges up there, and I hit a horrible drive,” Big John said. “I hit a 7-iron in there about a foot and a half and it was a birdie there. I think that was a big, big turning point for this week right there.”

“When he made that, we knew it was basically over because I checked the leaderboard to see what Tiger finished at,” John II said.

Team Daly had finished inside the top-10 in all six appearances at the PNC Championship, with a tie for second in 2018, but had never won the belts they so desperately wanted.

“Every year we always try and win but this was the year just enjoyed it and being here playing with him in the holidays,” John II said. “I guess that’s what happens, when you win.”

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PNC Championship: Tiger Woods, son Charlie wow the crowd, but John Daly, son John II win

And you thought Tiger Woods’ son Charlie stole the show at last year’s PNC Championship.

And you thought Charlie Woods stole the show a year ago at the PNC Championship.

Believe it or not, he did himself one better this time around, much to the delight of his teammate and dad Tiger Woods.

Team Woods sported the Sunday red at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando for the final round. Did we expect anything else?

Then Tiger and Charlie went out and joined in the Sunday birdie-fest at the silly season, hit-n-giggle event.

The Woods opened birdie-birdie-eagle and then put together a remarkable run of 11 straight birdies starting on No. 7. The shot of the day came off the tee shot by Charlie on the par-3 17th, a tricky hole with water down the left side. Charlie stuffed it to about six feet, much to the delight of the fans and commentators alike.

Charlie then drained the putt to get the team to 25 under and a tie for the lead. The 11 birdies in a row was a tournament record.

But moments later, John Daly stuffed his approach shot to about three feet on the 16th hole. He then made the birdie putt to nudge back his team ahead by a shot at 26 under. John was playing with his son John Daly II, who plays college golf at Arkansas and sported the Razorbacks logo on his shirt and hat Sunday.

On 18, needing an eagle, Charlie went into a bunker and Tiger rolled off the green to the right. They went with Tiger’s lie and each chipped aggressively, trying for eagle, but each missed and then they each missed their birdie tries. A closing par gave them a 57 and left them at 25 under, a shot back.

“What a blast,” Tiger told Golf Channel after the round. “We had a blast all day.”

Tiger said Team Woods had a goal of no bogeys this year and the team accomplished that goal.

“We got on a run, which was great, and Charlie was making some putts.”

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Team Daly made par on the 17th to keep a one-shot lead. On 18, John and John II closed it out with a birdie to win by two. The 27-under finish is a tournament record.

John won five times on the PGA Tour and his last win anywhere was at the 2017 Insperity Invitational on the PGA Tour Champions.

Stewart Cink and son Reagan were right with Tiger and Charlie throughout the day but like the Woods, couldn’t quite close the gap on the Dalys. The Cinks finished 24 under. Defending champs Justin Thomas and father Mike shot a 60 and also finished 24 under.

Nelly Korda, the top-ranked women’s golfer in the world, teamed up with her father Petr to shoot 63-64 to post 17 under and finish 12th.

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Watch: John Daly as Santa Claus at the PNC Championship banquet is both festive and hilarious

‘Twas the night before the PNC Championship and all through an Orlando-area banquet hall …

‘Twas the night before the PNC Championship and all through an Orlando-area banquet hall … not a golfer, family member or staffer was able to keep a straight face when Long John arrived.

John Daly stole the show at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes in Orlando on Friday night, using his snow-white facial hair and ample belly to produce a spot-on St. Nicholas that spread holiday cheer as well as a few adult beverages.

Daly is part of what’s certain to be an entertaining field at this weekend’s event, one which was originally called the Father-Son Challenge. It has since expanded to include pro golfers and a parent or child. One prerequisite is that each group has a major championship winner.

PNC: Saturday tee times | How to watch

When he’s not playing Santa Claus, Daly can proudly boast two — the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 British Open — and he’ll be paired with his son, budding golfer John Daly II. If the elder Daly had any ill effects after Friday’s festivities, he’s had plenty of time to sleep them off — he’s not due on the first tee until 12:06.

Here’s a look at Daly’s fun Friday:

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Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas highlight a stacked 2021 PNC Championship field

Thanks to Tiger Woods’ commitment last week, the field at this week’s PNC Championship is now 20 teams.

On December 8th, Tiger Woods announced that he, and son Charlie, committed to play in this week’s PNC Championship, just 10 months after his car accident.

Incredible.

The last time we saw Woods play golf on television was at this event back in 2020. Time really is a flat circle.

However, the Woods-duo isn’t the only big-name partnership headed to Florida. Defending champions Justin and his father Mike Thomas will look to triumph again. Bubba Watson will be playing with his father-in-law, while Nelly Korda will be playing with her dad, Petr.

HOW TO WATCH: Tiger, Charlie and the PNC Championship

Here’s a look at the 20 partnerships at this year’s PNC Championship, which requires that each team have a major champion. The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes is the host venue.

John Daly withdraws, Steven Alker leads after first round of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic

If you’ve never heard of Steve Alker, you’re not alone, but he had quite the day.

It didn’t take long for one of the premier names on the PGA Tour Champions to withdraw from the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, as John Daly called it quits after playing his first eight holes 1 over. No reason was given, but have to figure fans at The Country Club of Virginia are sad to see him go.

Steven Alker, on the other hand, had quite the day. He teed off on 10 and got right to work with back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13. Alker would make the turn with a blemish-free 5-under 31. He then birdied four of the first five holes on his back nine for a day total of 9-under 63.

If you’ve never heard of Alker, you’re not alone. The New Zealander spent most of his career on PGA Tour Australasia and Korn Ferry Tour (Web.com at the time). He does have a notable finish in a major championship, with a T-19 at the 2012 Open, an event won by Ernie Els.

“It’s a new chapter for me coming from Korn Ferry and playing with those young guys; big, strong, hitting it forever,” Alker said after his round on Friday. “So in places I was competitive out there, but I’m kind of maybe a little more competitive out here. But as I said, my game’s just coming around at the right time.”

“Out here I find with the three days, you’ve got to get a hot start, otherwise you’re kind of on the back foot of it,” he went on to say. “Only two to go. It’s kind of like playing the weekend really now, just keep going at it.”

Last week Alker finished in a tie for 16th at the SAS Championship, but before that, posted six straight top 10 finishes on the Champions Tour.

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Bernhard Langer, who currently leads the Charles Schwab Cup, played well on Friday keeping the bogeys off the card. After a pedestrian 2-under 34 on the front, Langer made four birdies coming home for a 6-under 66.

“It’s just been more solid play. I haven’t had a lot of Ws, but I’ve put myself in contention a number of times, lots of top-10s, top-5s, just knocking on the door,” Langer said Wednesday when asked about his lead going into the playoffs. “Very consistent play for the last, well, it’s been two years really because we had the super season going.”

He’ll enter the second round T-3, three shots back of Alker.

Notable names in the field and their position: Jim Furyk (3 under, T-17), Ernie Els (2 under, T-26), and Phil Mickelson (1 under, T-31).

Shot of the day

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