The PGA Tour plans to restart its season June 11 after halting due to the coronavirus pandemic. Each day until then, we'll highlight key moments, people, or facts relating to where we are in the countdown.
Given John Daly's popularity in the game of golf and his two major championships, the fact he only has five total wins on the PGA Tour might come as a surprise to some.
The long-hitting Daly burst onto the scene in incredible fashion in 1991, claiming the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick despite being the ninth alternate and joining the field at the last minute after Nick Price's wife went into labor. That win, the first at a major by a rookie since 1976, helped Daly claim the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year.
While Daly posted a win at the 1992 B.C. Open and 1994 BellSouth Classic, the majors proved difficult; he claimed just one top-10 finish over his next 14 starts after the win at Crooked Stick. However, that all changed with a trip to the home of golf in 1995.
With zero top-10 showings on the season and two missed cuts in the three events leading up to the 1995 Open Championship, Daly wasn't exactly a trendy pick to win his second major championship. That didn't deter the California native from making a charge at the hallowed grounds, chasing down Michael Campbell in the final round to take a one-shot lead into the clubhouse.
The only man with a chance to tie Daly was Costantino Rocca, who trailed by one heading up the historic 18th hole. The Italian appeared to be in good shape with his drive coming up just short of the green, but all appeared lost after he fluffed his chip to leave him 60 feet for birdie. Somehow, he miraculously made the putt to force a playoff with Daly.
Daly was unbothered by the wild event, easily emerging victorious in the playoff for his fourth of five career PGA Tour victories. It took nine years before Daly claimed another Tour title, with the 2004 Buick Invitational serving as his final win on golf's top circuit.
