John Daly Cruises PGA Championship With McDonald's and Cigarettes

By the time John Daly was on the fourth hole of his opening round of the PGA Championship he was already on his third cigarette.

Daly, who got a disability exemption to be able to use a golf cart during the tournament at Bethpage Black, ended up averaging about a cigarette per hole on the lengthy course. The nicotine boost didn’t help his game any as the 53-year-old finished with a 5-over 75 on Thursday.

For the 1991 PGA Championship winner — who also had a cup from McDonald’s which he kept refilling with Diet Coke in his cart, putting was the issue that ruined his day in as he averaged two putts (along with one butt) per hole.

Following his round, Daly said his right knee was about the size of a grapefruit after playing 18 holes, even with the cart.

It’s very awkward,” Daly said. “It’s to a point where it’s almost embarrassing. But I love the PGA, and I’m a past champion. There’s no way I could walk it. But I feel like I belong to play since I’m a past champion, and I just feel obligated. I really want to play. Trust me, if I could walk, I would walk,” Daly said. “I’ve always felt like I play better when I walk. I’m not one that wants to ride all the time. It’s just that if I don’t, I’m not going to be able to play.”

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