GOLF

Watch: John Daly tops opening tee shot at PGA Tour Champions event

Adam Schupak
USA TODAY Sports
March 24, 2024, 11:41 a.m. ET
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: John Daly of the United States tees off the second hole during the first round of the Hoag Classic Newport Beach at Newport Beach Country Club on March 22, 2024 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Nerves on the first tee – we’ve all had them. Even two-time major winners such as John Daly.

We've long become accustomed to JD hitting tape-measure drives, which is what made the following swing so startling. On Friday, the 57-year-old got off to an inauspicious start, topping his opening tee shot during the first round of the 2024 Hoag Classic, a PGA Tour Champions event held at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, California.

We’ve pretty much seen it all from The Wild Thing during his rollercoaster career but topping his opening tee shot may have been a first. Daly looked anxious to hit and nearly did so before the first-tee announcer had a chance to call his name. Daly backed off the tee shot when his name was announced and re-started his routine. Daly made “Grip it and Rip it,” a household catchphrase among golfers and led the PGA Tour in driving distance 11 times, but Long John was short of the forward tees with his dribbler off the tee, at least on this occasion.

Daly, who has been struggling with injuries all season, shot 74-75 and was in last place out of the field of 77 heading into Sunday's final round. Earlier this season, Daly needed an injection in his left hand after his osteoarthritis flared up, and he shot 87 at an event in Morocco. But no matter what, Daly always entertains. The video below shows his one-of-a-kind pre-round warm-up routine. Unfortunately, it turns out he wasn't ready to roll this week, unless they were referring to his opening topped shot, which is destined for a long future in golf bloopers. Here's hoping better days are ahead for Big John.

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