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John Daly: 30 Years On...1991 PGA Championship

John Daly: 30 Years On...1991 PGA Championship

John Daly

30 Years On...1991 PGA Championship

Long John. JD and The Lion are some of the nicknames attributed to John Patrick Daly. However, when you consider his electric victory at the 1991 PGA Championship, ‘Wild Thing’ is the most appropriate handle that best describes the American who became a trailblazer of sorts in golf.

Daly’s success at the 1991 PGA played at Crooked Stick Golf Club was as remarkable as it was unlikely. After all, he was embarking on his rookie PGA Tour season and he was ninth and the final alternate heading into the Championship.

Daly made it on the PGA Tour in 1991 after finishing in a tie for 12th at the 1990 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. It was his fourth attempt to earn PGA Tour privileges. Up to the week of the 1991 PGA Championship, Daly had played in 24 events that year. His performances were streaky with 10 missed cuts. Of the 14 events he made to the weekend, only six results were inside the top 20. However, he did display a sign of his enormous talent at the Chattanooga Classic where he finished in a tie for third place at 16-under. It was his best finish on the PGA Tour and it was just three weeks before the 1991 PGA.

The 1991 PGA Championship was staged at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana. Given he was ninth alternate and a slim chance of playing, Daly remained at his home in Memphis, rather than being on site at the event to wait out his luck to get a start. On Wednesday morning he received the call up from the PGA—there was a spot for him if he could get to the course on time. The opening came courtesy of Nick Price who withdrew from the major with his wife going into labour.

Daly drove through the night to get to the course. There was no time for a practice round. He had Price’s caddie Jeff Medlin on the bag and posted an opening round 3-under 69. That was his first sight of the major championship venue. Daly sat two shots off the lead held by Kenny Knox and Ian Woosnam at the close of Day One.

From that point, the rest is history! Daly was invincible powering massive bombs off the tee. When he was in trouble, he recovered with deft touch around the greens and his putting stroke was silky smooth on the slick surfaces.

Daly carded a second round 5-under 67 to lead the field by one shot after 36 holes. He stretched his lead to three shots over Knox and Craig Stadler after 54 holes with a third round 3-under 69. By the time he reached the 17th hole on Sunday, he enjoyed a five shot margin. Daly closed with a 1-under 71 to reach 12-under and score a three-shot win over compatriot Bruce Lietzke.

Daly became an instant crowd favourite. Aged 25, he was the underdog who had an engaging personality with a ‘grip it’ and ‘rip it’ approach to his game.

The 1991 PGA Championship was Daly’s maiden PGA Tour victory. It was his debut start at a PGA Championship. He was awarded 1991 PGA Tour Rookie of The Year.

Daly’s win at Crooked Stick in 1991 will possibly be remembered as golf’s Cinderella Story!

 

WATCH: John Daly at Crooked Stick Golf Club, 1991 | Historic PGA Championship Performances

 

Video Credit: PGA

Photo credit: PGA TOUR Archive via Getty Images 

 

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