Daly Hits Back At Golf Writer On Twitter
John Daly was so irritated that a Florida newspaper wrote about his PGA Tour disciplinary file that he referred to the writer as a “jerk” on Twitter and posted the writer’s mobile phone number for his followers to call.
The Florida Times-Union reported on Tuesday that the file was now public record through Daly’s unsuccessful libel lawsuit against the newspaper. The file is 456 pages and notes that Daly has been suspended five times and cited 21 times for not giving his best effort.
“Here’s the jerk who writes non-news article on debut of my show – call and flood his line and let’s tell him how we feel,” Daly said on Twitter, adding the cell phone number of golf writer Garry Smits.
The story appeared the day Daly’s reality show made its debut on The Golf Channel.
Smits, the golf writer for the Florida Times-Union, said he received about 30 calls after a series of three tweets late on Tuesday night, and nearly 100 calls by early Wednesday afternoon. Smits said most of the callers hang up, and about 30 left messages.
“His fans are very unhappy,” Smits said.
Daly removed the tweets by mid-morning on Wednesday. Bud Martin, president of SFX World and Daly’s agent, could not be reached for comment. The PGA Tour would not comment on Daly’s tweets.
“Over the haters – To me, this isn’t journalism, it’s paparazzi-like gossip. Please try harder to find some real news next time Gary,” said Daly’s second tweet.
It was followed by, “Gnight all but here’s Gary Smits cell number in case you didn’t get it … non sports writer.”
The PGA Tour does not comment on player discipline, but it was forced to turn over Daly’s file to attorneys for the newspaper’s parent company when Daly sued for libel. The file is now public record.
The lawsuit was dismissed a year ago, and Daly was ordered to pay nearly $272 000 (R2.049 million) in legal fees.
The 456-page file includes several newspaper clippings and incidents that already have been reported during Daly’s tumultuous career. It also included some startling numbers – he was placed on probation six times, ordered to go to counselling or alcohol rehab seven times, cited for conduct unbecoming a professional 11 times and fined nearly $100 000 (R753 000).
Daly has not had his full PGA Tour card since 2006 and has been playing on sponsor exemptions.
With thanks to the telegraph.co.uk
The Real Bad Boy Of Golf
John Daly has a very long rap sheet.
John Daly has been suspended five times and cited 21 times for not giving his best effort, according to a 456-page rap sheet kept by the PGA Tour that is now public record because of libel lawsuit Daly failed to win.
The Florida Times-Union reported on Daly’s disciplinary file, which the tour had to give Morris Publishing Co. during Daly’s libel lawsuit against a columnist who once worked for the newspaper.
The lawsuit was dismissed in March 29.
The disciplinary file grew to 456 pages over 18 years of Daly’s career, starting in April 1991 when the tour said Daly cursed a playing partner and ending in the fall of 2008, when Daly was suspended for six months.
The two-time major champion was placed on probation six times, ordered to go to counseling or alcohol rehab seven times, cited for conduct unbecoming a professional 11 times and fined nearly US$100,000, according to the file.
Most of the incidents have been widely reported, such as Daly trashing a hotel room in 1997 during The Players Championship or getting into a scuffle at Firestone with a 62-year-old man whose son, Jeff Roth, said Daly had hit into him at the World Series of Golf.
Even so, the PGA Tour does not disclose its discipline, and Daly usually makes for good reading.
Despite the file becoming a public record, the tour stayed with its position of not commenting on discipline.
The Times-Union said the file also contains letters from fans and tournament officials, some flattering and some not.
One fan wrote to former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman after Daly was suspended: “I’m disappointed the suspension is indefinite. Please reconsider and get John Daly back so many of us can get enthused about the PGA.”
Another golf fan wrote, “How long does it take for this young man to grow up and remember that thousands of young junior golfers are out there watching him make an (expletive) of himself?”
Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship as the ninth alternate, and won the 1995 British Open at St. Andrews. His last victory was the 2004 Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.
He has not had a full status on the PGA Tour since 2006 and is playing mainly on sponsor exemptions. The Golf Channel is producing a reality show on Daly that was to begin Tuesday night.
Courtesy of stuff.co.nz
Source: Tiger Back At Home
According to a person with knowledge of his personal schedule, Tiger Woods is back at home after a week of family counselling.
Tiger Woods is closer to competing again.
Woods is back home after a week of family counselling in Arizona and is trying to get back into a routine that includes fitness and his first significant practice in 15 weeks, a person with knowledge of his schedule said on Tuesday.
Woods returned to his home near Orlando on Saturday and has been hitting balls on the range at Isleworth, not far from where he ran his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree in a middle-of-the-night accident on November 27 that set off shocking revelations of infidelity.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because only Woods is authorised to release such information, said golf’s No. 1 player still has not decided when he will return to competition.
Woods was photographed hitting balls at Isleworth on February 18, the day before he ended nearly three months of silence by speaking to a small group of associates at the TPC Sawgrass in a 13½-minute statement that was televised around the world. Those photos of Woods were arranged to counter the paparazzi trying to follow his every move since Thanksgiving.
Woods has not practiced in earnest since winning the Australian Masters in Melbourne on November 15 for his 82nd victory worldwide.
“I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don’t know when that day will be,” Woods said in his statement at Sawgrass. “I don’t rule out that it will be this year.”
Woods said he had attended inpatient therapy “for the issues I’m facing” for 45 days, from the end of December to early February. He said he was leaving the next day for more therapy, without saying what kind. The person who spoke to The Associated Press said he went to Arizona for a week of family and marriage counselling with his wife, Elin.
Woods said at Sawgrass of his infidelity, “As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behaviour over time. We have a lot to discuss; however, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us.”
News of him getting back into a routine is sure to begin speculation when he might return to the PGA Tour. Woods announced on December 4 that he was taking an “indefinite break” to try to salvage his marriage.
To date, he has missed only two tournaments he typically would have played – Torrey Pines and the Match Play Championship – although he had been leaning toward playing Pebble Beach this year because it will host the US Open in June.
Woods is not likely to play next week in the World Golf Championship at Doral, where he has won three times.
His next possibility on the PGA Tour is the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, where he is the defending champion and a six-time winner. The Masters, which Woods has played every year since 1995, would follow. Augusta National officials have not indicated whether they expect Woods to compete.
“When he does come back, I hope it’s in the Masters, and I hope he’s in great form,” Masters champion Angel Cabrera said on Tuesday on a conference call.
The fallout from Woods’ sex scandal has been immense. He already has had three sponsors drop him – Accenture, AT&T and, most recently, Gatorade – while other companies like Gillette have suspended promotions of Woods while he takes his break from golf.
When he does return, he will have a different logo on his golf bag, replacing AT&T, if he can find a deal.
With thanks to Golf Digest SA
Tiger Returning To Therapy; Els Unhappy
Tiger Woods will return to therapy, according to a letter from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. Ernie Els speaks out and calls Tiger, “selfish”.
Tiger Woods is to return to therapy after he speaks publicly for the first time about his infidelity, according to a letter from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem that was obtained by The Associated Press.
Finchem’s letter to the PGA Tour policy board and other officials explained why Woods chose Friday to make his first public comments, which are to be televised live by the major networks.
Woods’ statement comes during the Match Play Championship, sponsored by Accenture, the first company to drop Woods as a pitchman.
“As we understand it, Tiger’s therapy called for a week’s break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning,” Finchem said in a letter on Thursday. “Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement.”
Woods is to speak at 11 am EST from the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour.
The letter shed no light on whether Woods plans to return to the tour anytime soon.
Ernie Els was among players who were upset to learn that Woods had chosen the week of a World Golf Championship for a public appearance that was sure to take attention away from the tournament. “It’s selfish,” Els told Golfweek magazine.
Finchem told reporters in Marana, Arizona, earlier this week that he didn’t think Woods’ appearance would undermine Accenture, and that Woods’ handlers “have their own reasons for their schedule.”
In the letter, he said the tour discussed the timing with Accenture and “they understand that the PGA Tour was not involved in determining the timing of the statement.” Finchem also noted that Woods’ comments would be over well before television coverage of the third round from Dove Mountain.
The PGA Tour made available its sprawling, Mediterranean-styled clubhouse for the announcement, and is helping set up adjacent ballrooms at the nearby Sawgrass Marriott for media, where they can watch Woods on closed-circuit TV.
Finchem said in the letter that Woods’ management asked for the facilities, and “we agreed as we would for any member of the PGA Tour.”
With thanks to Golf Digest SA
Tiger Woods To Speak On Friday
Tiger Woods will make his first public appearance since announcing his indefinite leave from professional golf, his representatives announced on Wednesday.
Rocked by a scandal in which he acknowledged infidelity, Woods will speak on Friday afternoon at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The player has not yet announced when he will play his first tournament, although this would likely be the first step in a process to return to competition. According to Woods’ office, the player will make an address but will not answer questions.
“This is all about the next step,” Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent, told The Associated Press. “He’s looking forward to it.”
Woods has not been seen in public since the car accident outside his Orlando home the morning after Thanksgiving, and has not played a tournament since winning the Australian Masters in November.
He announced on December 11 he was taking an “indefinite leave” from professional golf.
Thanks to Golf Digest SA
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