Daly: I'll stay around until talent runs out

MASTERS week has rarely been kind to John Daly.

On the eve of the 1993 tournament, he was served with divorce papers by his second wife, Bettye, yet still managed to finish third. He missed the 1997 renewal because he was undergoing alcohol rehab. This week, his fourth wife Sherrie and her parents entered guilty pleas on federal money laundering charges. Sherrie and her mother, Billie Miller, received five years probation and six months house arrest.

True to his nature, Daly was sympathetic proclaiming: "I've seen everything. You can't win in federal court. You're going against the government of the United States. You've got to make a plea (of guilty) because they're not going to let you win. You don't beat a federal judge and the FBI.

"So I told Sherrie that she had to look out for what's ahead of her. If they offer probation or house arrest then you've got to take that. I know you're not guilty of anything. But you're not going to win. It's guilt by association."

Daly has shown remarkable reserves of stamina to get here. After shooting 80 in the fourth round of the Players Championship it looked like his chance was gone. He needed to hang on to the top ten placing on the US money list he enjoyed due largely to a magnificent win in the Buick Invitational in February to get in. He did so, receiving confirmation of the good news drove his massive and quite luxurious RV motorhome up Interstate 95 on his way to South Carolina.

It was a good break and in spite of all his troubles, not the only one he has enjoyed in his turbulent career.

"I'm not the most religious man in the world but I think the good Lord up there has blessed me," he agrees. "I must have had 12 lives. There's a reason why I'm still here and there's a reason why I'm here this week. He's only going to give me what I can take."

The fans love John Daly. Despite his many flaws he's a down to earth character, one who personally sells merchandise in the car park of the Hooters restaurant on Washington Road. That kind of thing endears him to the common golfers.

"Every time I come here I feel like I'm playing in my home town," says Daly. "I get along with everybody. I'm easy. My crowd is like the Hooters crowd, sort of country style with hearts of gold. They can relate to the problems I've had and I can relate to theirs."

But there are others who will do Daly down at every opportunity. Like the best friend since first grade who betrayed him during the winter by writing a letter assisting his third wife, Paulette, win a custody case involving their 8 year-old daughter Sierra. "I don't know why he did it. When you can't rely on your best friend like you thought you could, that's pretty sad," he says.

This week can only get better. Fuzzy Zoller has always looked out for Big John and he's here as a former champion. His brother Jamie turned up because Daly needed him as did his music pal Johnny Lee who's staying in the motor home and writing some songs. As a former winner, Daly's in both the British Open and US PGA Championships for the rest of his serious golfing life. Not so the Masters.

"It's cool about the PGA and the Open and it sure would be nice to be in this one, too", he smiled. "The least I hope for is a top 16 finish so I'm guaranteed a return trip. I'm not going away until I don't have the talent to play any more. I've had a lot of people step in my face and ask how the hell I do it. I take it in my stride and try to learn from my mistakes. It's all about trying to find good people around you."

All the indications are that John Daly is still searching!