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John Daly lead the PGA Tour in Sponsor's Exemptions in Regulation this year (new statistical category), but the generosity of tournament directors wasn't enough to secure him a place in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Daly's best finish was a T24 at the Puerto Rico Open.
Instead of sitting on the sidelines wallowing in his own self-pity, Daly procured a Sponsor's Exemption to this week's Nationwide Tour stop - The Knoxville News Sentinel Open. Isn't it curious that a newspaper is sponsoring a golf tournament given that ad revenue has sharply declined in that industry?
Carrying momentum from his showing at the Wyndham Championship, where he carded four consecutive rounds in the 60s to finish at 11-under, Daly posted an opening round 67 at Fox Den Country Club Thursday. He is 5-under par, and just one shot off the pace.
"I made a few putts and had a lot of opportunities," Daly told the News-Sentinel, which is covering the tournament it's sponsoring. "Me and (caddie) Dave (Rawls) were looking at each other coming up the last hole and we were going, 'Wow, we really could have been low today.' I hit the ball really good."
This isn't Daly's first impressive showing out of the gates in 2010. He shot a first round 66 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in May, and matched that number on Thursday at the Open Championship. But his track record suggests that these first round scores are abberations, and he's just as likely to withdraw or quit before we reach Sunday afternoon.
Playing on a Lifetime Exemption by virtue of his 1991 win at Crooked Stick, Daly made a brief appearance at this year's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. He withdrew on Friday evening, citing a shoulder injury. Daly was 9-over-par through 25 holes.
A week later at the Wyndham, he was confronted with accusations that he may have been faking the injury. This was his reply.
“All I know is I’ve never ever faked an injury on this tour,” the two-time major winner told Reuters. "I have quit plenty of times, but never have I faked an injury and the guys here know it."
I can attest to that. A few weeks ago I followed Daly as he concluded his Sunday morning round at the Greenbrier Classic and he definitely mailed it in. His 76 tied for the highest round of the tournament on the weekend, and it was evident by his effort that he just wanted to pack up and get out of dodge. Stuart Appleby shot a 59 later in the day, and conditions were perfect for scoring.
I don't think John Daly will ever win again on the PGA Tour, but the Nationwide Tour is another animal all together. Click here to follow his progress. Daly tees off at 1:40 p.m.
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