John Daly will play in this month’s John Deere Classic near the Quad Cities. Daly burst onto the scene in 1991 when he filled a last minute vacancy in the PGA Championship and went on to win the tournament. His underdog status and booming drives made him an instant favorite with fans and he still remains popular despite a number of personal problems in recent years.
Tournament director Clair Peterson says Daly is in the top five in fan recognition and support. He says avid and casual fans root for Daly as the common guy who has problems like the rest of us. Daly also won the British Open in 1995.
Peterson says there are many great players who haven’t won two majors like Daly. Daly joins a field that includes reigning Master’s champion Zach Johnson, and Peterson says it’s a fantastic field. He says there are 24 players who have won a tour event in the last two years, making it strong from top to bottom.
The opening round is July 12th.