Why isn’t John Daly playing on Friday at the 2024 PGA Championship?

There was eager anticipation ahead of the 2024 PGA Championship with the news that John Daly would be in action at the Louisiana course after having to miss the 2023 PGA Championship due to complications in his rehabilitation from a knee problem, leading to his withdrawal from the 2023 competition.

It was back in 1991 in Indiana when a 25-year-old John Daly took the golfing world by storm. A late replacement for Nick Price, who withdrew due to the birth of his son Gregory, Daly drove overnight from his home in Tennessee to upstate Indianapolis to compete in the tournament.

Known as the ultimate feel player, often making unwise decisions and relying heavily on his ability to hit the ball with fierce venom, Daly went with his gut and won the crowd over. Mullet-haired and mustachioed, Daly gripped and ripped his way to the top of the leader board and won his first major.

PGA return for the 58-year-old

The 58-year-old Daly was back on the Valhalla Golf Course on the opening day’s action. The Californian born player has played in six PGA events this year making the cut on each occasion but failing to trouble top spots on the leaderboard with just $7,790 earned in prize money in the season so far.

His first round on Thursday was far from vintage as the veteran shot an 82 with nine bogeys and one double bogey as part of his round.

His scorecard meant that Daly was one the worst performing players on Day 1 and the news conveyed by the PGA on Day 2, that Daly would not participate any further at the tournament due to an injured thumb will have disappointed many of the golf fans in attendance at the Valhalla Golf Course looking forward to seeing ‘Big John’ in action.