News

Scary knee injury forces John Daly to withdraw from PGA Tour Champions event

October 29, 2017
john-daly-powershares-qqq-championship-2017-saturday-driving.jpg

Ryan Young/Getty Images

Late last week, after having to withdraw after just nine holes at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, John Daly noted on his Twitter feed that arthritis and bone spurs on his knees were giving him problems. Still, he was hopeful that a cortisone shot could get through the remainder of the PGA Tour Champions’ Charles Schwab Cup playoff run.

Unfortunately for Daly, however, it wasn’t enough. On Saturday during the PowerShares QQQ Championship, the 51-year-old fan favorite collapsed after teeing off on the ninth hole at Sherwood Country Club. Unable to put any weight on his right knee, he had to be helped off the course and withdrew from the tournament.

Given how bad this looked, it’s pretty amazing to think Daly was four under at the time and in contention for the title. At day’s end, Bernhard Langer, David Toms and Miguel Angel Jimenez shared the lead at six under. (Equally amazing was the fact he was three under through nine holes the previous week when he had to WD.)

Despite the withdrawl, Daly, who claimed his first senior tour title in May at the Insperity Invitational, should finish the event inside the top 36 on the Schwab Cup points list and be eligible to play in next week’s season finale—if his knee will allow it.