A season that’s been ravaged by injury and subsequent controversy for John Daly all of the sudden is looking up. Daly fired an opening-round bogey-free, 8-under par 64 at the European Tour’s D&D Real Czech Masters to take the first-round lead alongside Thomas Pieters.
Daly’s summer has been marred by a hip injury that caused him to miss the Open Championship and a subsequent knee injury that forced him to withdraw from U.S. Senior Open after the USGA refused to allow him to ride in a cart.
“Unfortunately, I had to WD from the U.S. Senior Open,” Daly wrote on social media back in June. “The deteriorating osteoarthritis isn’t helping my (right) knee. I fall under the (Americans with Disabilities Act), but the USGA turned down a cart for me this week. Just going to give the knee a rest. Don’t know what’s ahead for me.”
His health hasn’t exactly been great as of late, either. Following rounds of 73-77 at last week’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, Daly again withdrew citing his bad hip. Yet, taking up a sponsor’s exemption on the European Tour this week, Daly went out and turned back the clock.
Big John Daly firing at pins out there ?#CzechMasters pic.twitter.com/h4eooFbKoL
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 23, 2018
Birdies on his first three holes led to an outgoing 5-under par 31. Three more birdies on the incoming nine, including a pured fairway wood into the par-5 12th, led to Daly’s best round in an official event since 2012.
Vintage John Daly…#CzechMasters pic.twitter.com/jPAUSjzGAg
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 23, 2018
Daly last made a cut on the PGA Tour in March at the opposite-field Corales Punta Cana Resort & Club Championship.
John Daly's lowest round on the European Tour for 10 years ✍?#CzechMasters pic.twitter.com/OHHx3haUv7
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 23, 2018
