John Daly Responds to Tiger Woods Blasting Him for Using a Cart: It's a 'Different Type of Problem'
Golfer John Daly has gotten a fair amount of grief from the golfing community after being allowed to ride a cart this week at the PGA Championship at the Bethpage Black Course on Long Island, N.Y.
But one criticism in particular from friend Tiger Woods rubbed him the wrong way.
At a news conference before the PGA Championship, Woods was asked about Daly getting approved by the PGA to ride a cart.
“As far as JD taking a cart, well, I walked with a broken leg,” he told reporters Tuesday. Woods was referring to the 2008 U.S. Open, which he won with a stress fracture in his left tibia and a partially torn ACL in his left knee.
“I walked with a broken leg.”
Friendly reminder @TigerWoods is as tough as they come. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/01wyfhQWEa
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 14, 2019
Daly got wind of the remark and responded in an interview with USA Today, saying he wished Woods and other critics had “all the facts” before commenting.
“Might have been a different comment,” he said. “As well as the Golf Channel Wednesday morning, when they bashed me pretty good, and a few others.”
Daly petitioned the PGA to compete in the PGA Championship with a cart, citing the American with Disabilities Act. He has osteoarthritis in his knee and can’t walk the course for more than a few holes, especially struggling to walk downhill.
At the PGA championship practice round at Bethpage and John Daly pulled up next to us in his cart. pic.twitter.com/L43XLEpTTE
— Andy sneller (@SnellerAndy) May 15, 2019
Daly said his injury is not something that can be fixed through surgery.
“He [Woods] got his fixed for some reason,” he told USA Today. “No doctor will replace my knee because of a different type of problem. It’s hard to explain why. I’m not a doctor. I just try to do what they say.
“Osteoarthritis is a tough thing, brother. If my knee was broke, I would have had it fixed. But my situation is totally different. It’s painful as hell is all I can say. As was Tiger’s, I’m sure.”
The winner of the 1991 PGA Championship said he gets no advantage from taking a cart.
“I’d love to walk,” Daly said. “I’ve done it for years. I think it’s a disadvantage to ride, anyway. Trust me, I just can’t.”
In November, Daly, 53, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which caused him to change some habits.
“I don’t snack,” he said. “I’ve cut back on everything except smoking my cigs.”
He’s lost 25 pounds since that diagnosis and cut back on drinking.
“I never was an everyday drinker, especially now,” Daly said. “Might have a couple (of drinks), but not like I’m perceived.”
He said he had no ill feelings toward Woods for his comments.
“Not at all. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with or seen,” Daly said.
Woods tees off Thursday at 8:24 a.m. with reigning PGA champion Brooks Koepka and reigning Open champion Francesco Molinari.
Daly tees off at 12:54 p.m. with former PGA champions Y.E. Yang and Rich Beem.
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