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 Long John returns Erratic Daly rides birdies, crowd into Open contention
Posted: Thursday June 17, 1999 08:35 PM
PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) -- John Daly was back in his element Thursday -- big stick in hand. The long-hitting Daly, who has either missed the cut or withdrawn from eight of 16 PGA Tour events this season, was as surprised as the next guy that he carded a 2-under-par 68 in the first round of the U.S. Open to trail four players by one shot. "I am about as much in shock as everybody else," said Daly, who started his round with three straight birdies. "I got off to a great start and that's something I haven't done in a long time. To birdie the first three holes in the U.S. Open just doesn't happen too much." That's especially true in a tournament Daly contemplated skipping. He was one of nine players to shoot under par in the first round at The Olympic Club in San Francisco last year only to finish with rounds of 75, 75 and 78. He was tired of Opens where narrow fairways and 5-inch rough take the driver out of his hands. But he decided to come to Pinehurst No. 2 after hearing of the wide, flat fairways where he could whale away and hit his favorite club -- the driver. He did just that Thursday, using only one iron off the tee on a par-4. "I think a major championship should be played to where you've got to play golf and not having to hit the 4-, 5- and 3-irons off the tees," Daly said. Daly, who has the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 British Open title under his rather tight belt, is as intriguing, funny and easy to root for as ever. He still battles alcoholism and remains honest about his fight with booze. "There are days when I get down on sobriety," said Daly, who has been seeing a sports psychologist the past month. Daly will wind down after his excellent first round by eating six cheeseburgers, a bag of cookies and drinking milk. "John is coming around," said fellow golfer Payne Stewart. "He has got his composure. I think he is in control of his life and he has thought of a way to play this golf course and he's doing a good of it. More power to him, I think it is great." There still are days Daly has no confidence on the course and has melt downs like his 6-putt on the 18th green at the Memorial two weeks ago that capped a first-round 82 and prompted him to withdraw. But he had his act together Thursday, except for an errant drive on No. 18 that ended up costing him a bogey and a share of the lead. No matter, Daly still received a warm welcome from fans surrounding the final green. He broke into a wide smile and waved. "It's the greatest feeling in the world," Daly said of the fan support despite all his troubles. "Fans have stuck with me through thick and thin, and it was so nice to give them a good round today. It's just awesome." It's anybody's guess -- including Daly's -- how long his success will last this week at tricky Pinehurst No. 2. Or if it will. "The thing with me is I don't know who is going to show up [Friday]," said Daly. "It's kind of scary, but I want to soak this day in and pat myself on the back for a round that I much needed for myself and my self-esteem."
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