Golfing legend John Daly suffered a spectacular and public collapse at the Sanford International, posting a humiliating 90 in his final round that sent shockwaves through the PGA Tour Champions event.
The two-time major champion, known as much for his grip-it-and-rip-it style as his colourful personality, endured a nightmare Sunday at the Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls. His scorecard was a brutal read: a staggering 15-over-par that included a devastating 12 on the par-4 16th hole alone.
A Final Round to Forget
Daly's performance was a far cry from the form that made him a fan favourite. The round quickly unravelled, transforming from a competitive outing into a gruelling battle for survival on the course. His 90 was a full 19 shots worse than his opening round and left him anchored to the very bottom of the leaderboard.
The infamous 16th hole became the symbol of his meltdown. What began as a poor tee shot quickly snowballed into a comedy of errors, requiring multiple attempts to escape the treacherous rough and find the green. The resulting 12 on his scorecard was a painful low point in a career that has seen many highs.
From Champion to Chump
The stark contrast between Daly's past glories and this performance could not be more pronounced. The man who once conquered St. Andrews for The Open Championship and won the PGA Championship was reduced to a figure of sympathy, struggling to complete his round as his game completely deserted him.
This result marks one of the worst professional performances of his long and storied career, raising questions about his future competitiveness on the senior tour. Finishing a massive 27 shots behind the eventual winner, Steve Stricker, Daly's weekend was nothing short of a competitive disaster.
A Sobering Reality Check
For fans and pundits alike, the spectacle was a sobering reminder of golf's cruel and unforgiving nature. Even legends of the game are not immune to days where nothing goes right. Daly's humiliation serves as a stark testament to the immense challenge professional golf presents, even to its most iconic figures.
The image of the 57-year-old trudging off the 18th green, his hopes for a strong finish long since evaporated, will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable—and cringe-worthy—moments of the PGA Tour Champions season.
