Golf's beloved wild child, John Daly, has carved his name into the history books for all the wrong reasons, suffering a catastrophic meltdown to record a staggering 19 strokes on a single par-five hole at the Trophy Hassan II in Morocco.
The two-time major champion's nightmare unfolded on the 18th hole at Golf de Rabat during the second round, an ordeal that involved an astonishing six shots from a single greenside bunker. The spectacular collapse resulted in a quintuple-bogey 10 on his first nine, followed by a 14-over-par 47 on the second, leading to a soul-destroying round of 90.
A Hole From Hell
Daly's ordeal on the 538-yard closing hole began poorly and rapidly descended into farce. After finding trouble off the tee, his attempts to extricate himself from a greenside bunker became a study in frustration. Time and again, his clubface met the sand, only for the ball to roll back to his feet or embed itself further, leading to a scorecard that will live in infamy.
This disastrous 19 surpasses the previous PGA Tour Champions record of 18, a dubious honour previously shared by three players. It also edges closer to the all-time professional tour record—a nightmarish 20-shot hole recorded in a minor event in Colombia.
A Record of Resilience, Not Results
Known as much for his grip-it-and-rip-it philosophy and colourful personality as his past glories, the 59-year-old Daly took the historic setback with characteristic humour and grace. Despite the humiliation, he refused to withdraw from the tournament, displaying the resilience that has long endeared him to fans worldwide.
"It is what it is," Daly reportedly shrugged, embodying the same nonchalant attitude that has defined his tumultuous and thrilling career. His decision to finish the round, despite being miles off the cut line, was a testament to his old-school grit.
Beyond the Scorecard
While the number 19 will dominate headlines, the incident highlights the immense challenge and occasional cruelty of the game at the highest level. It serves as a stark reminder that even legendary champions are perpetually one bad swing away from disaster, a humbling truth that resonates with amateur golfers everywhere.
Daly's unwanted record is unlikely to be broken anytime soon, securing his place in golf lore not just for his powerful drives and major wins, but for a moment of human struggle against the sport's relentless demands.
