John Daly will not be playing in the 148th Open Championship, the R&A announced Tuesday that he withdrew “due to a medical condition.” It is unclear if the medical condition is the arthritis Daly has in his right knee, which caused him to use a cart at the PGA Championship in May, or if the medical condition is referencing his overall status following surgery to remove an infection after being bit by a poisonous spider.
Daly’s request to use a cart, because he has osteoarthritis in his right knee which would make walking the course painful for him throughout the tournament, was denied July 6. The R&A defended its decision by saying that walking is an integral part of the Open Championship.
In a Twitter post from the day his request was denied, Daly said he would try to play through the pain, and that he also may need a total knee replacement (after meeting with an orthopedic surgeon Friday) in the near future, adding “See you in Ireland.”
Sunday, Daly tweeted out another health update. The 53-year-old detailed a trip to the emergency room in which he had to undergo surgery to remove an infection following a spider bite.
Daly’s spot in the Open will go to Kevin Streelman, an American ranked 85th in the world.
