There will be no cart controversy at TPC Harding Park.
On Sunday night the PGA Championship announced that John Daly has withdrawn from the event.
Daly rose to fame at the 1991 PGA Championship, capturing the Wanamaker as a ninth alternate at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Ind. However, Daly, 54, has made just three cuts this century at the event, and—as is often the case in his career—has made headlines at the tournament in recent seasons for matters other than his play.
During the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits Daly was caught firing a club into Lake Michigan en route to carding a 10 on a par 3. At last year’s PGA Championship at Bethpage, Daly caused a stir by using a cart during competition. Though he was granted permission to do so under the Americans with Disabilities Act, others felt Daly’s knee injury didn’t fall in the spirit of the law. Daly was unhappy with the response—particularly from a jab by Tiger Woods and criticism from the Golf Channel—stating he wished people had “all the facts” about his problem.
“Might have been a different comment,’’ Daly said to USA Today Sports. “As well as the Golf Channel Wednesday morning, when they bashed me pretty good, and a few others [who criticized me].” Daly ultimately missed the cut at Bethpage Black.
The PGA Championship stated health concerns as the reason for Daly’s WD. The two-time major winner played Sunday at the PGA Tour Champions’ Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Mich., finishing T-58.
Denny McCarthy will take Daly’s place in the PGA Championship field.