News And Notes

Daly to Sign With Callaway

The biggest mover and shaker in the golf industry is betting that John Daly can finally put his troubles behind him. Ely Callaway, chairman and CEO of Callaway Golf, is expected to sign Daly to an endorsement contract before next week's Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, where Daly will make his first PGA Tour start since withdrawing after the first round of the Players Championship, in mid-March.

Daly, whose previous equipment sponsor, Wilson, canceled a $10 million contract with him three weeks ago, has already visited Callaway Golf head-quarters in Carlsbad, Calif., and tested the company's clubs.

Considering the 31-year-old Daly's history, which includes a recently completed six-week stay as an outpatient at the Betty Ford Clinic in Palm Springs, Calif., for alcohol counseling, one might question the wisdom of Callaway's move. But while he wouldn't reveal the financial terms, Callaway did disclose that a deal with Daly would have three conditions: Daly must quit drinking; he must remain a member of an alcohol recovery program and attend meetings at home and on the road; and he must stop gambling and join Gamblers Anonymous.

Callaway is confident that Daly will meet those conditions. "Our observation, to date, is that John is going to effectively take care of his problems—one day at a time," says Callaway, who has witnessed the effects of alcoholism on friends and family members and has strong feelings about the disease. "We think he understands his problems. I want to find a way to be helpful to John."

New Hip Jolts Archer

Since his right hip replacement surgery 13 months ago, 58-year-old George Archer has walked like a much older man. He took small, shuffling steps last week as he moved from shot to shot at the Cadillac NFL Classic at hilly Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, N.J. But for 36 holes Archer, a 17-time winner on the Senior tour, was as solid as ever over the ball, shooting 67-72 to take a one-shot lead into the final round before fading to 15th with a 77. Sixty-one-year-old Bruce Crampton came on to win the tournament in sudden death over Hugh Baiocchi.

On Friday, with the wind howling at 30 mph, Archer had what he called one of the best wind rounds of his life, a five-under-par gem that gave him a four-shot lead. Archer's new titanium hip works wonderfully, but he has been bedeviled by inflammation in the muscles and tendons around the 12-inch incision doctors made to install it. Occasionally, when he makes a misstep or an awkward turn, Archer gets what he calls "a bolt of lightning" down his right leg. Sometimes the jolts incapacitate him for two days.

Archer felt such a jolt on the 5th hole of the pro-am last Thursday. "I broke my arm when I was a kid, and it never hurt like that," Archer says. "I have a high pain threshold, but it almost makes me cry. Had there been an official around, I might've quit."

Instead he limped through the next 13 holes, bunting his ball with half swings, then iced the hip all night. Stiff and sore on Friday, Archer birdied seven of the first 11 holes. "This injury is so frustrating," says Archer. "Some days you just feel like going fishing. Then you go out and have a round like this. If I couldn't hit the ball, I'd say O.K. and be done with it. But to hit it as great as I am, off one leg really, makes me crazy."