John Daly Shares Troubling Health Update After Skipping Pga Championship

There hasn’t been a professional golfer quite like John Daly on the PGA Tour. Now 59, Daly has made it clear he’s determined to continue his career on the senior PGA Tour Champions circuit this year—despite revealing some troubling personal news ahead of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, the second major of the season.

Although there were rumors he might compete, Daly announced he would be skipping the event, citing scheduling conflicts as the main reason. Instead, he’ll play in a senior event. 

“I can go there and miss the cut and get $6,000, which last year paid $4,000 to players who missed the cut," Daly said. “But I’m playing Birmingham. I love Regions. They’re a great sponsor. But why are they scheduling Regions the same week as the PGA Championship, where I can see Brooks (Koepka) and all the guys?”

Daly will be playing in the PGA Tour Champions' first major of the senior season, the Regions Tradition, taking place next week at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alongside the scheduling frustration, Daly also opened up about ongoing health concerns. Earlier this year, he underwent his 16th surgery—this time, an emergency procedure on his hand, which he's been recovering from since. 

“I’m like Lazarus… I keep coming back from the dead," Daly said. "Waking up is a win for me.”

In addition to his recent hand surgery and the 16 procedures he’s undergone over the years for various health issues, John Daly was diagnosed with bladder cancer in September 2020. Although he underwent a procedure to remove it, he later revealed that there is a high risk of recurrence.

John Daly shares details on his bladder cancer diagnosis.

He did eight straight days of chemotherapy treatment before @SanfordIntl. pic.twitter.com/ZnPRttYMsY

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 11, 2020

Daly is also famously known for his unconventional lifestyle, particularly his reported consumption of cigarettes and Diet Coke. He once admitted to smoking up to 40 cigarettes and drinking 10 to 12 cans of Diet Coke a day—claiming he once reached as many as 26 to 28 in a single day.

Now, Daly says he’s been cutting back significantly and is actively trying to quit smoking. Despite the health challenges, his passion for golf remains strong. 

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