Golf: Plane-shy Daly pulls out of Asian Open

Former Open champion John Daly has pulled out of this week’s BMW Asian Open in Taiwan due to his fear of flying.

Daly cited the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on September 11 and the recent crash in Queens, New York, as the reasons behind his decision.

The 35-year-old American has also withdrawn from next week’s Omega Hong Kong Open.

‘‘I was looking forward to playing in both events but in the present climate I do not feel comfortable flying,’’ said Daly.

His Open triumph at St Andrews in 1995 was his second major title after his incredible win in the 1991 USPGA championship where he got into the tournament at the last minute after being ninth reserve.

‘‘I am disappointed and must apologise to the golf fans in Asia and both BMW and Omega, but I’m sure they understand my feelings.’’

Daly has never been a fan of flying at the best of times but was persuaded to make the trip to Cologne to play in the German Masters in October by tournament promoter Bernhard Langer.

‘‘Nobody wants to travel in the States commercially,’’ Daly said at the time. ‘‘Bernhard and I travelled privately. It’s the only way to travel right now.

‘‘I’m still scared to get on a commercial airliner. I don’t care what people say - it’s the safest way to travel and the security we have now - but I still don’t believe it.

‘‘If they get into our airplanes they can do it again. They can find other ways.’’

Daly was the first high profile American-based player to travel to play in a European Tour event since the terrorist attacks, days after the Ryder Cup was scheduled to have been played at the Belfry.

But he added at the time: ‘‘For myself I wouldn’t care if I never fly commercially again.

‘‘I’ve never felt they’ve been that safe anyway. Apart from looking at the people getting on the plane, how about looking at the people putting things on.

‘‘That has always scared me the most, the food and beverage people and the baggage claim guys. I’ve always sat by the window and look down and see what they’re doing. Nobody ever thinks about that.’’

Six-time major winner Nick Faldo will take part this week however along with former Masters champion Vijay Singh, Jose Maria Olazabal and New Zealand’s Michael Campbell who lost out in a play-off with team-mate David Smail in the World Cup in Japan on Sunday.

The two events Daly misses are the closing events of the 2001 Asian Tour and the opening legs of the 2002 European Tour.

Prize money won this week will count towards the 2002 Order of Merit, won this season by US Open champion Retief Goosen.