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The Loop
Buckle up golf fans, John Daly is the subject of an upcoming ESPN "30 for 30" film
ESPN is in the process of creating a third set of "30 for 30" documentaries. The series has been critically acclaimed and has focused on a wide array of sports.
Just not golf.
There have been 73 full-length "30 for 30" documentaries to date and only one has even touched on golf. "June 17th, 1994" focused on the O.J. Simpson car chase, the World Cup and the NBA Finals, but also touched on Arnold Palmer's final U.S. Open appearance.
Palmer also was the subject of a "30 For 30 Short" titled "The Arnold Palmer" first aired on Grantland.com in November 2012. But that was nine minutes long and focused on the lemonade/iced tea concoction that Palmer popularized. So. . . we're not really counting that. But golf's absence from these films is about to change.
While addressing media in New York -- mostly answering questions about ESPN's recent breakup with Bill Simmons -- ESPN president John Skipper revealed a new batch of "30 for 30" films are in the making. Volume Three will include documentaries on the Tyson-Holyfield fight, the Buffalo Bills' four consecutive Super Bowl losses and, get ready golf fans, John Daly.
Daly, of course, became the stuff of legend when he won the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick as the ninth alternate. He became an instant sensation because of his humble Arkansas roots and his prodigious length off the tee, and added a second major championship by winning the British Open at St. Andrews in 1995.
There's also been a lot of drama in Daly's life away from the golf course. He's estimated he's lost more than $50 million gambling and he's been divorced four times. Just this week, his current fiancee, Anna Cladakis, said she's asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out a lawsuit brought against her by one of Daly's ex-wives. In other words, filmmakers have plenty of subject material.