By STU MACDONALD
Well, not in so many words.
Playing in the hot humid South Carolina sun John Daly was blessed and cursed today with the weather. With his morning tee time and playing on opposite tees from Tiger Woods the fan favorite made it around America’s "Toughest Golf Course" (Golf Digest Ranked Kiawah Ocean Number One in Toughest Courses in America, 2012) with a stellar 68. He was blessed because the wind did not blow and make this Dye creation wreck havoc on his driver. He was cursed because the wind did not blow and the heat and humidity made this not only a physical test but a very intense mental test of endurance as well.
Daly started his day by testing and challenging Hole One with his driver. He continued to pound the ball all day and simply said, it worked he was stellar. His short game saved him when his mid irons failed but he never really got in trouble all day. At one time 5 under par and at the top of the leader board, Daly mentioned that with some of his approach shots he had to play a ‘mud ball ‘.
"…some of my drives today made a pitch mark and only rolled five feet. I got a few mud balls today but I’d rather play that way than play when it is dry. It’s playing fair…" Sure it is playing fair for Long John. He was hammering driver 325 and when he needed to throttle back his new RocketBallz 3 wood filled in at 295 to 300, Daly called it his "backup driver"
Daly went on in his conversation to mention that last year he was not able to play enough competitive rounds in a row to get and keep his game in championship tour level shape. " I think just playing, playing competitive and its always better to play four days than two…for me it is about getting in a rhythm…I played solid in Canada except one hole, best ball striking of the year was at the British Open. So when you get on a run it helps the confidence…"
John noted in between lines that last year his European Tour work helped him and he just likes and needs to play. The RBC Canadian Open gave him an exemption last year that helped him start this trend of good golf by playing back on the PGA Tour when many tournaments did not give him a chance.
Daly "… (last year) I got in a rhythm, not quite this good, but good and played well in Canada. Guys just want a schedule. We don’t want to wait to get in tournaments. You sit by the phone a little bit, you want to get on a stretch, get on a run."
Daly was talking about just how darn good all these guys are out here now. From the European Tour to the Web.com Tour guys are only six good weeks from playing on the big boy’s tour and keeping their card. When you know you have 32 some odd tournaments to play in you can get on a roll.
Big John is on a roll now. It started back in Canada in 2011; it was boosted again in Canada at the RBC Canadian Open and has continued into the PGA Championship here at Kiawah Island.
Everybody loves Big John. Heck, even Tiger Woods mentioned today that "…I have always rooted for him. I have always been a John Daly fan and a friend. "
Woods is at 3 under par and three back of the lead and one back of Daly. Maybe, the two will play together on the weekend and bring some "thunder" to Kiawah. If that happens, the fans better get camp out on the beach overnight to get a shot at seeing them together. Two great champions, both great stories and both wanting this Wannamaker, let’s hope it works out.