John Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship as the ninth alternate and has always been a fan favorite, but he will unfortunately be absent from Quail Hollow this week
Golfing great John Daly, who recently said he’s happy to wake up each mornig after so many injuries, won’t be staging any surprises at the 2025 PGA Championship after confirming he’s giving the major a miss. It comes after he hit a new low on the Champions Tour.
Instead, he’s set to tee off at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Alabama, which is the opening major of this year’s PGA Tour Champions. Back in August 1991, Daly left the golf community agape by clinching the PGA Championship as a ninth alternate, seizing his inaugural PGA Tour win with panache.
That groundbreaking moment in Carmel, Indiana, birthed a beloved sports personality known for his eye-catching outfits, playing style and charismatic character. Concern arose, though, when word got out in January that he had undergone emergency surgery on his left hand. Although he’s been back on the links since then, Daly has chosen to bypass Quail Hollow as a result of the schedule conflict.
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“I can go there [PGA Championship] and miss the cut and get $6,000,” he told the Associaated Press (via The Mirror US). “But I’m playing Birmingham. I love Regions. They’re a great sponsor.”
Yet Daly isn’t without his annoyance owing to the the simultaneous dates of the Regions Tradition and PGA Championship. He continued: “But why are they scheduling Regions the same week as the PGA Championship, where I can see Brooks [Koepka] and all the guys?”
The 59-year-old, who holds a lifetime exemption to the PGA Championship, bowed out of last year’s PGA Championship after the opening round due to a thumb injury. This followed on from him missing the cut in eight successive appearances in the tournament.
His most recent appearance beyond the opening 36 holes of any major was at the 2014 PGA Championship, where he tied for 18th. It has been three decades since Daly captured his second major title at the 1995 Open Championship, and since then, injuries and other issues have taken their toll as he recently said: “Waking up is a win for me.”
Golf fans everywhere were heartened upon hearing news of the Arkansas-born star’s recovery after his most recent hospital visit. ‘Wild Thing’ was seen back on the greens in March when he provided an update regarding his health.
“I’m like Lazarus – I keep coming back from the dead,” he said at the Hoag Classic. “I didn’t think I’d been out here for three decades, I’ve only been dead 11 times… 16 surgeries in four years, I’ve lost count pretty much.”
While he might not be keeping pace in the major leagues anymore, Daly could find renewed opportunities for silverware in the seniors division. He made his entry into the over-50s PGA Tour Champions back in 2016 and has a sole victory under his belt.
He clinched a win at the Insperity Invitational in 2017 and finished second in the same competition four years later. However, he hasn’t managed to expand his collection of wins beyond that.
This year’s PGA Championship will certainly feel different without the presence of a tournament icon like Daly. Despite his recent injuries, fans continue to enjoy his vibrant attire and unconventional playing style.
Despite the accumulation of injuries over the years, Daly remains dedicated to the PGA cause and maintains an active role. And many will be hopeful they haven’t seen the last of the beloved figure on a PGA Championship course just yet.
