John Daly is back at the PGA Championship, in the field on a lifetime exemption by virtue of the tournament’s rule that a champion will always get a spot.
Daly hasn’t made the cut at the PGA since he tied for 32nd in 2007. In fact, in 29 career appearances in the PGA – 10th all-time – Daly only made seven cuts.
At Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville in 2024, he’s proving once again that he’s still one of the most popular figures in pro golf. And that seems to be true among the pros, too.
“JD is the man. I’ve always loved being around him. He’s gotten close with my dad, as well. What was it, Bethpage? Him and my dad hung out for a while and my dad got to come out and watch me until probably about the back nine,” said Brooks Koepka on Wednesday after playing a practice round with him, Jake Knapp and Akshay Bhatia.
The story behind this group is that Daly walked up to Knapp on the putting green yesterday and invited him to play with him and Brooks. Knapp rearranged his schedule to play nine in the morning instead of afternoon—couldn't pass that up. I believe Akshay joined on the tee. https://t.co/cBVYtG5t8g
— Gabby Herzig (@GabbyHerzig) May 15, 2024
“He’s been great,” Koepka continued. “We text a lot. We have pretty good communication. It’s always fun. Try to play with him at least once. I think played with him at the British last year and then this year, tried to get nine holes with him.”
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At Valhalla this year, fans flocked to get autographs, and Daly pulled up in his golf cart to the gallery to sign.
Daly, of course, was perhaps the most dramatic winner in the history of the event, driving overnight as the ninth alternate in 1991 to win at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana. He was unable to play a practice round, yet won by three shots.
That victory introduced the John Daly experience to the world and fan interest has seemingly never wavered.
Check out some photos of John Daly at the 2024 PGA Championship.
