John Daly pulls out of PGA Championship after brutal opening round

John Daly, who won the 1991 PGA Championship, withdrew from the 2024 edition at Valhalla, citing an injury.

Among the chaotic news revolving around Scottie Scheffler on Friday morning, former PGA Championship winner John Daly withdrew from the tournament.

The PGA of America, which organizes this event, announced in a statement that Daly pulled out because of a thumb injury.

Daly, a two-time major champion, won the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick—his first PGA Tour victory. He made it into the field that week as the ninth alternate, thanks to many players pulling out of the tournament early.

All these years later, Daly will head home early after posting an 11-over 82 at Valhalla Golf Club, the second-highest score on Thursday among the 156-man field.

During that first round, the legendary golfer went through two packs of cigarettes, four Snickers bars, and two Cokes, according to Gabby Herzig of The Athletic. Those things are not unusual for Daly, as he downed 12 Diet Cokes during a round in 2008.

Daly is the only player in the field permitted to use a golf cart during play under the Americans with Disabilities Act. He uses it for his arthritis.

The five-time PGA Tour winner primarily plays on the Champions Tour nowadays, and he has seven starts this year. His best finish came at last week’s Regions Tradition, where he tied for 60th. He also withdrew from the Chubb Classic in February.

This week’s withdrawal marks the third time he has pulled out of the PGA Championship.

Daly has not made the cut at this major since 2012.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.