John Daly did not win the long-drive competition that kicked off PGA Championship week at Valhalla on Tuesday, but at least the two-time major champion “scripted” in a virtual paint palette of colors brought it.
John Daly’s pants show whiny Bubba Watson how it’s done at PGA long-drive competition
John Daly might not be the reigning Masters champion but the Loudmouth-wearing two-time major winner seemed to have a lot more fun during the PGA Championship’s long-drive contest than a certain green-jacketed big baby named Bubba.
Andrew Redington
Don't worry about @mkaymer59 and @gfcgolf in the fairway, John Daly will just drive it over them. #PGALongDrive pic.twitter.com/kQdo6Pnksg
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 5, 2014 Daly, whose pants make a splash wherever he lands (his SpongeBob SquarePants trousers were the hit of the British Open), has an 8:30 a.m. ET tee time on Thursday off No. 1. The 48-year-old bomber who answers to the nickname, “Long John,” got into the spirit of the warmup for the actual tournament, as did a field of heavy hitters not named Bubba Watson.
Watson, for reasons known only to him and his maker, decided to boycott the event. Brendan Porath provides the details of Bubba’s embarrassing and disrespectful performance, but suffice it to say, the two-time Masters champion who’s No. 1 in driving distance on the tour and could have put on quite a show for his fans, was a big baby about the whole thing — and that’s being kind.
Bubba’s boohooing notwithstanding, a grand time seemed to be had by all participating in the contest that the PGA brought back for the first time since Jack Nicklaus went deep in 1964. There was Watson’s pal, Rickie Fowler, blasting his drive 328 yards and flexing his biceps for the cheering throngs, according to the Associated Press.
The blast from the tee at the par-5 10th from Daly, who once reigned supreme as the longest driver on tour, carried all of 314 yards — not enough to earn bragging rights or the exceptionally cool money clip inspired by the one Nicklaus cadged back in 1963 and still uses. That honor went to Louis Oosthuizen and his 340-yard corker.
#PGALongDrive winner will receive a very similar money clip to the one @jacknicklaus still carries from 1963. pic.twitter.com/Qa2Qvhfnsl
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 5, 2014 “What did he hit, a hybrid?” an onlooker was heard to remark about Daly’s shorty, according to the AP.
Phil Mickelson, in the company of his usual group of proteges — Fowler and Ryder Cup partner Keegan Bradley, as well as Brendan Steele — thoroughly enjoyed the new contest as only Lefty can.
“We all loved it. We all had fun with it. I thought it was great,” he said. “They had the feedback right there to tell you how long each drive was. I thought it was terrific, I hope they keep doing it.”
Padraig Harrington, who’s slated to join Mickelson and the still-absent Tiger Woods on the 10th tee Thursday at 8:35 a.m., went all Happy Gilmore with his attempt, which missed the fairway. A second effort, which did not count in the official tally, went 335 yards, which reportedly had Paddy rueing his Happy imitation.
Rich Beem’s towering drive settled in at just 291 yards — the same distance local favorite, Kentucky native Kenny Perry, was able to achieve, but that didn’t stop the 2002 PGA champ from raising his arms in a victory salute.
All in all, most folks on the premises seemed rather pleased with the day’s festivities, which Adam Scott (320 yards), deposed last week by Rory McIlroy (0 yards, thanks to an errant tee shot) as the top-ranked player in the world, pretty much summed up for the enjoyment-impaired.
“Surprised myself. I got one out of the middle and probably got 30 yards of run on it,” said Scott with a smile. “It was fun.”
And that, Mr. Watson, is how it’s done.
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