John Daly took no return shot at Tiger Woods. And he says his shot-taking in general is down anyway.
“I never was an everyday drinker, especially now,” he told USA Today Sports on Tuesday. “Might have a couple [of drinks], but not like I’m perceived.”
The lovable ordinary Joe-turned-professional golfer has become a PGA Championship controversy after he was granted use of a cart to play Bethpage Black this weekend. Woods, the most famous and influential golfer there is, let it be known he did not agree with the allowance.
“As far as JD taking a cart,” Woods said Tuesday, “well, I walked with a broken leg. So …”
So, the 2008 US Open champion — who won with a stress fracture in his leg and a partially torn ACL — couldn’t fathom that the Americans with Disabilities Act would rule on Daly’s behalf. Daly said he wished Woods had “all the facts.”
“Might have been a different comment,” said the 53-year-old Daly. “As well as the Golf Channel Wednesday morning, when they bashed me pretty good, and a few others [who criticized me].”
The facts are, Daly has arthritis in his right knee and said he cannot walk much downhill. He also has type 2 diabetes and said he’s cut down on drinking and eating, telling USA Today he’s lost 25 pounds since November. He wants the world to know he’s trying.
Woods could have a procedure to cure things. For Daly, it’s more tricky.
“He got his fixed for some reason,” Daly said. “No doctor will replace my knee because of a different type of problem. It’s hard to explain why. I’m not a doctor. I just try to do what they say.”
Daly has bigger battles than with Woods, toward whom he said he holds no ill will.
“Not at all. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with or seen,” Daly said.