'I'll be staying off the Guinness'

Next up for John Daly is the 3 Irish Open this week, ordinarily a cause for a weeklong party. Not this time, he said.

"I'm part-Irish and it feels like home there," he told Irish Central. "Over the years I've had every drink they've got, but because of my (lap-band) surgery I can only sip whiskey now and I'll be staying off the Guinness."

Daly tied for second in the Italian Open last week and is buoyed by how well he's hitting the ball.

"I love the way I am hitting the ball," he said. "I've never really had a teacher, but Rick (Smith) has been keeping things simple. I'm making sure I finish the backswing (the longest in golf still) and the follow through. I'm very happy and Ireland should be a blast."

-- John Strege