John Daly has made a decision that has caused a stir in the golf world. Instead of participating in the upcoming PGA Championship, Daly will compete in the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Alabama, the first of the five majors of the PGA Tour Champions.
The date match between the Regions Tradition and the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been a key factor in this choice.
I can go there and miss the cut and make $6,000. But I’m going to play in Birmingham. I love Regions. They’re a great sponsor. But why do they schedule the Regions the same week as the PGA Championship, where I can watch Brooks (Koepka) and everybody else?
John Daly
The crowded golf schedule in May and the difficulty of obtaining support on Mother’s Day influenced the decision not to change the dates of the Regions Tradition. The week following the PGA Championship will be the PGA Senior Championship at Congressional.
In addition, Daly is not in his best form after surgery on his left hand in January. His biggest challenges lie in three-quarter shots and putting. His performance at last week’s Insperity Invitational, where he finished with 27 over par, reflects this situation.
Despite his 16 surgeries and bladder cancer, Daly continues to show his fighting spirit on the PGA Tour Champions.
I am like Lazarus, I keep coming back from the dead. Waking up is a victory for me.
John Daly
Rich Beem, another former PGA champion, also decided not to participate in next week’s tournament. Beem, who defeated Tiger Woods in 2002, now works for Sky Sports and feels he didn’t have enough time to adequately prepare for a demanding course like Quail Hollow.
I got beat up last year. Even though I had success at Bethpage (2019), if you lose 10 yards, it’s like losing 100.
Rich Beem
Davis Love III, who is recovering from heart surgery, and Y.E. Yang will also be absent from next week’s PGA Championship.
