Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : The Naked Truth - Big Kahuna a Myth -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (48325)	6/21/1999 11:39:00 AM
From: accountclosed	Respond to of 86076

Daly loses control in final round Andrew Both golf.com columnist PINEHURST, N.C. -- When John Daly had a 10 at the final hole of the first round at the Memorial tournament on June 3, little did he think it wouldn't even be his worst single-hole score of the month. Seventeen days later, Daly topped that miserable Ohio effort when he ran up 11 strokes at the par-four eighth during the final round of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. The man who seemingly can't help but self-destruct, did so again, and again it is difficult to excuse his actions as he deliberately and with premeditation hit a moving ball. "I don't consider the U.S. Open a major ... Yesterday was ridiculous. That's what the USGA does, embarrass guys." --John Daly After shooting 83 to finish at 29-over 309, Daly claimed he hit the moving ball to make a protest statement to the USGA. He said he didn't consider the U.S. Open a major and probably wouldn't bother playing at Pebble Beach next year. Here's how his 11 unfolded. After a drive, he hit his second shot over the green, down the steep bank. He used a putter for his third shot, but his ball didn't make it up the bank, rolling back down. Before taking his fourth shot, Daly told his caddie of his plan: "If that ball comes down the hill again I'm going to do what Kirk Triplett did last year (hit a moving ball and) take a two-shot penalty," he said. Daly used a putted again, but again the ball didn't make up the hill. He didn't allow for it to roll too far back, belting it across the green while it was still moving, thus incurring a two-stroke penalty. (Daly is pictured discussing the violation with USGA rules official Ben Nelson.) Now playing his eighth shot, he chipped onto the green, then three-putted from 20 feet. After the round, Daly tried to portray himself as someone "standing up for the" other players. "I don't consider the U.S. Open a major," Daly said. "Now I know why Bruce Lietzke doesn't play it. "Yesterday was ridiculous. That's what the USGA does, embarrass guys. I hit the ball great this week but the U.S. Open is not John Daly's kind of golf. "I don't know if I'll be playing at Pebble Beach next year. I'm not going to go to Pebble and watch the USGA ruin that golf course too." Tom Kite, with whom Daly played, didn't buy the comment that Daly was making a statement on behalf of the players. "I don't interpret his actions the same way," Kite said. "I don't see many players complaining about the course." Asked if there was any excuse for what Daly did, Kite continued: "It doesn't help your score when you do stuff like that. I wouldn't say there's no excuse. People have different breaking points. Everybody in this tournament has been frustrated. "When he slapped it out on the fairway, he said 'sorry about that Tom'. There's not much you can say." Because Daly is a recovering alcoholic, people tend to cut him more slack than the average player, but it's becoming harder and harder to condone his actions. He completely lost the plot at the Memorial, six-putting for the aforementioned 10 as he carelessly slapped at his last five putts, hardly bothering to line them up. He said later that he was still fighting "inner demons", but he's not the only player to battle personal problems. Nobody denies that golf is a frustrating game, but the bottom line is that the successful players vent their frustration in ways that don't ruin their score, or their reputation. As Wayne Grady, who played with Daly at the Memorial, said: "You've just got to keep trying or give it up, one of the two." Daly needs to make a decision one way or the other, because at the moment he is in no-man's land. pinehurst99.com