News

Will John Daly play the RBC Canadian Open, which starts July 23 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.? His website lists the tournament on his schedule, although he also says in a message there that he is “awaiting [news from] the Canadian Open.”

“We know John is interested in playing,” tournament director Bill Paul said. “He has been in touch with us. We will make an announcement on our exemptions [this] week.”

It's a good bet, then, that Daly will play the 100th Canadian Open. Meanwhile, any tournament trying to decide whether to issue Daly a sponsor's exemption faces a problem. So many bizarre things happen to him, many self-inflicted, that it's a crapshoot as to whether his presence will embarrass or enhance the event.

The latest incident occurred last Thursday during the French Open in Versailles. Daly, the winner of the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 British Open, withdrew on the 17th hole because of an injury. He was eight over par.

It was immediately a question of was he or wasn't he? Injured, that is. Or was the injury more to his confidence and self-image, given that he was eight over?

Daly visited the European Tour doctor on site and sent his own breaking news via Twitter. He wrote that he “over-exerted on Hole #7 which caused me to have a SPRAINED LIGAMENT RIB.” He referred to “SERIOUS PAIN.” (His caps.)

The doctor said the 43-year-old Daly will need three days off to recover. Daly said the doctor was surprised he was able to play 10 more holes after hurting himself.

Meanwhile, Martin Kaymer, a 24-year-old German of whom great things are expected, was shooting 62 to take the lead. He'd played the Wednesday pro-am in agony because of a foot blister, and has been wearing a shoe with a hole cut out to give him relief. Kaymer shot 72 in the second round and went on to win yesterday, beating Lee Westwood in a playoff.

It was easy to believe Kaymer was hurting, because he doesn't have a checkered history à la Daly. You want to believe Daly, and, after all, there's the doctor's assessment. But then there's Daly's wild, weird and worrying past.

Some highlights, or lowlights, over the past two years will make the point.

Daly did a TV interview during a round at the Murder Rock Golf Club in Branson, Miss., which he designed, while playing shirtless and without shoes. (See it on youtube.com by putting in “John Daly shirtless interview.”) Daly said he was having fun.

The PGA Tour needs more fun. But does it need John Daly? Does the Canadian Open need John Daly? These are open questions. He remains a draw, for sure. It's impossible to avert one's attention from him.

Another incident: Daly whacked a golf ball off a beer can during a pro-am at the Buick Open last year. The crowd loved it as Daly smashed the ball and then reared back like a jockey on a skittish horse.

Fun? That it was.

What else? Well, Daly spent a night in jail last October after he was found drunk outside a Hooter's restaurant in Winston-Salem, N.C. The police report noted that he “appeared extremely intoxicated and unco-operative.”

Fun? That it wasn't.

The PGA Tour suspended Daly for six months. He played in Australia and has been competing in Europe, while wearing slacks made by a company called Loudmouth. They're blinding. They're vivid. They fit Daly in every way.

He also had stomach surgery and has dropped some 25 kilograms. He tied for second place at the BMW Italian Open. He returned to the PGA Tour last month at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, where he shot 72-68-71-70 to tie for 59th. Daly has been working with Rick Smith, who used to be Phil Mickelson's swing coach. He has a sports psychologist and a new girlfriend after four marriages went south.

Now his website indicates he's coming north in three weeks. That would be after next week's Scottish Open and immediately following the British Open. He's exempt into the British Open until he's 65 because of his win in 1995 at the Old Course in St. Andrews.

It wasn't that long ago that an ad campaign around Mickelson asked, “What will Phil do next?” The question more properly applies to Daly.

“What will John do next?”

Daly told Golf World magazine recently that he doesn't need any more drama, and that he's “had enough drama for 100 lifetimes.”

Daly wants to play golf, and he can certainly play sublime golf. If he shows up at the Canadian Open, will he offer the sublime or the ridiculous?

“What will John do next?”

Good question.