John Daly (golfer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Daly
Daly at the 2008 PGA Championship
Personal information
Full name	John Patrick Daly
Nickname	Wild Thing, Long John, Big John, JD, The Lion
Born	(1966-04-28) April 28, 1966 (age 59) Carmichael, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in
Weight	250 lb (110 kg; 17 st 12 lb)
Nationality	United States
Residence	Dardanelle, Arkansas, U.S.
Spouse	Dale Crafton ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1990)​ Bettye Fulford ​ ​ (m. 1992; div. 1995)​ Paulette Dean ​ ​ (m. 1995; div. 1999)​ Sherrie Miller ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2007)​
Children	3
Career
College	University of Arkansas
Turned professional	1987
Current tour(s)	PGA Tour (joined 1987) PGA Tour Champions (joined 2016)
Former tour(s)	European Tour (joined 2002)
Professional wins	19
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	5
European Tour	3
Asian Tour	1
Sunshine Tour	2
Web.com Tour	1
Champions Tour	1
Other	8
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 2)
The Masters Tournament	T3: 1993
U.S. Open	T27: 1996
The Open Championship	Won: 1995
PGA Championship	Won: 1991
Achievements and awards
PGA Tour Rookie of the Year	1991
PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year	2004

John Patrick Daly (born April 28, 1966) is an American professional golfer. He plays on the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. Daly is famous for his very long drives off the tee. This skill earned him the nickname "Long John."

He is also known for his unique style and powerful backswing. His two biggest wins were the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 Open Championship. His victory in 1991 was a huge surprise because he was a rookie and the last player to get into the tournament.

Daly was the first PGA Tour player to average over 300 yards per drive for a whole season in 1997. He led the tour in driving distance 11 times between 1991 and 2002.

Later in his career, he joined the PGA Tour Champions for players over 50. He won the Insperity Invitational in 2017. Daly is the only two-time major winner from Europe or the U.S. who was never chosen for the Ryder Cup team.

Outside of golf, Daly has been involved in many businesses. He has a golf course design company and has recorded two music albums. He also appeared in the 2025 movie Happy Gilmore 2.

Early Life and First Swings

John Daly was born in Carmichael, California. His family moved around the southern United States when he was young. When he was four, his family settled in Dardanelle, Arkansas. He started playing golf the next year.

From a young age, Daly admired the famous golfer Jack Nicklaus. When his family moved to Locust Grove, Virginia, he won the club championship at age 13 against all the adult men.

In high school in Jefferson City, Missouri, Daly played both football and golf. He was the team's punter and place-kicker. He won the Missouri State Amateur Championship in 1983. He later attended the University of Arkansas on a golf scholarship.

Professional Golf Career

Daly turned professional in 1987. He played in smaller events before winning tournaments in South Africa and Swaziland in 1990. These wins helped him gain confidence.

A Surprise Major Champion

In 1991, Daly joined the PGA Tour. His life changed when he won the PGA Championship that August. He was the last alternate, getting in only after another player, Nick Price, dropped out.

Without playing a practice round, Daly shot a 69 on the first day. He went on to win the tournament by three strokes. This amazing "zero-to-hero" story made him famous overnight. He was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

Winning The Open Championship

In 1995, Daly won his second major tournament, The Open Championship. This event was held at the famous Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland.

He was behind going into the final round. He played well and finished his round as the leader. Another golfer, Costantino Rocca, needed to make a long putt on the last hole to tie Daly. He made it, forcing a playoff. Daly stayed calm and won the four-hole playoff easily.

Career Ups and Downs

After his big wins, Daly's career had many ups and downs. He was known for being a very emotional player. Sometimes he would play brilliantly, and other times he would struggle.

In 2004, he made a big comeback by winning the Buick Invitational. It was his first PGA Tour win in nine years. He was named the PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year.

After 2006, Daly had a tough time on the tour. He often relied on special invitations from sponsors to play in tournaments.

PGA Tour Champions

In 2016, Daly turned 50 and became eligible for the PGA Tour Champions. He found new success on this tour. In 2017, he won the Insperity Invitational. He continues to play on the senior tour and is still a fan favorite.

Playing Style and On-Course Incidents

Daly is famous for his self-taught, powerful golf swing. He takes the club back much farther than most golfers. This creates incredible club head speed and very long drives. However, this swing requires perfect timing, which made his play inconsistent.

His "Wild Thing" personality sometimes showed on the course. He was known for showing his emotions, both good and bad. For example, at the 2015 PGA Championship, after hitting several balls into the water, he threw his club into Lake Michigan. These moments made him one of the most-watched players in golf.

Life Outside of Golf

Charity Work

Daly is known for his generosity. After his 1991 PGA Championship win, he donated $30,000 to the family of a fan who had died during the tournament. He supports many charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Business and Music

Daly has a partnership with the Loudmouth Golf clothing line, known for its bright and colorful pants. He also has a company that designs golf courses.

He is also a musician and has released two albums. His songs are often about his life experiences. He has worked with other musicians like Darius Rucker from the band Hootie & the Blowfish.

Personal Life

Daly has faced many personal challenges throughout his life. He has been open about his struggles, which has made many fans connect with him. He has been married four times and has three children. In recent years, he has also dealt with health issues, including a battle with bladder cancer in 2020.

Professional wins (19)

PGA Tour wins (5)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Aug 11, 1991	PGA Championship	−12 (69-67-69-71=276)	3 strokes	Bruce Lietzke
2	Sep 27, 1992	B.C. Open	−18 (67-66-67-66=266)	6 strokes	Joel Edwards, Ken Green, Jay Haas, Nolan Henke
3	May 8, 1994	BellSouth Classic	−14 (69-64-69-72=274)	1 stroke	Nolan Henke, Brian Henninger
4	Jul 23, 1995	The Open Championship	−6 (67-71-73-71=282)	Playoff	Costantino Rocca
5	Feb 15, 2004	Buick Invitational	−10 (69-66-68-75=278)	Playoff	Luke Donald, Chris Riley

European Tour wins (3)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	Aug 11, 1991	PGA Championship	−12 (69-67-69-71=276)	3 strokes	Bruce Lietzke
2	Jul 23, 1995	The Open Championship	−6 (67-71-73-71=282)	Playoff	Costantino Rocca
3	Sep 2, 2001	BMW International Open	−27 (63-64-68-66=261)	1 stroke	Pádraig Harrington

PGA Tour Champions wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runners-up
1	May 7, 2017	Insperity Invitational	−14 (68-65-69=202)	1 stroke	Tommy Armour III, Kenny Perry

Major championships

Wins (2)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1991	PGA Championship	3 shot lead	−12 (69-67-69-71=276)	3 strokes	Bruce Lietzke
1995	The Open Championship	4 shot deficit	−6 (67-71-73-71=282)	Playoff1	Costantino Rocca

¹Defeated Rocca in four-hole playoff; Daly (4-3-4-4=15), Rocca (5-4-7-3=19).

Summary of Major Championship Performance

• Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (1992 Open Championship – 1994 Masters)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (three times)

See also

• 1990 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
• Monday Night Golf