As a golf journalist, writing about John Daly is one of the most satisfying experiences. His personality alone makes research an absolute cakewalk just because of several crazy things he has said and done. He is called golf’s bad boy, but he is the golfing equivalent of a rockstar. From losing millions while gambling to his love for Diet Coke, Daly is not just an icon of the sport but an enigmatic popular culture icon.

But such a lifestyle will catch up with you after a certain point. His numerous health problems and surgeries are also a matter of public record, just like his antics. And with the 2024 Constellation Furyk and Friends coming up, Daly is set to feature in his 16th start overall on PGA Tour Champions in 2024.

This comes at a tumultuous time for him, after Hurricane Helen completely wrecked his home. But he will emerge from this, too, given all that he has endured in the past. He has withdrawn from tournaments in 2024 because of health issues. But we sincerely hope that won’t be the case here. Many of our favorite pros will feature in the competition apart from Daly.

Who else is playing in the 2024 Constellation Furyk and Friends?

The tournament will feature many big names from the world of golf. 2011 Hall of Famer Ernie “The Big Easy” Els, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, 2021 Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker, and 2019 Hall of Famer Retief Goosen are all set to feature.

Els has 19 PGA Tour wins, with over 47 international wins and an impressive 485 appearances, per the PGA Tour website. Miguel “The Mechanic” Ángel Jiménez is famous for his love for cigars and Ferraris and can indulge in such extravagance, thanks to his $18 million in total prize money won.

Stricker is another veteran of the game, having featured in 520 events in a career that spanned almost two decades on the Tour. He has won a jaw-dropping $44 million earned in prize money. Last but not least, Goosen is another grand old man set to feature in the tournament, with $31 million in prize money and 7 PGA Tour wins. With all the fun and frolic, it promises to be a memorable tournament.

However, it is important to consider John Daly’s health issues before he participates in the competition.

John Daly’s various health issues

Notably, Daly is a bladder cancer survivor. He gave a public statement about his condition in September 2020. With bladder cancer, the chance of the disease coming back even after treatment is very high, and regular checkups need to take place to monitor the status. Nevertheless, Daly is out of danger and continues to live normally.

“They put a catheter in me, right in my you-know-what. They put a camera in there. And if they need to treat it, they put a jigsaw in there and cut it out”. Reading this will make you feel heartbroken. Daly was also grateful because the doctors detected the cancer at an early stage. He even cut down on cigarettes and soft drinks to help with his recovery.

This isn’t the only time Daly had to cope with a life-threatening situation. In 2019, Daly was also rushed to the emergency room after he was bit by a brown recluse spider and developed sepsis, as per NBC Sports. Daly has also suffered other serious health complications due to his weight. He had to undergo a lap band surgery in 2009 to combat the issue. He had knee replacement surgery in 2022 for his left knee. In fact, the doctors replaced both his knees, having undergone surgery in 2019 to replace the right one.

In 2024, he again had to undergo treatment for his knee after suffering from Iliotibial Band Syndrome, a condition where a tendon by the same name gets inflamed due to constant friction from the knees or hips. The injury forced him to withdraw from the 152nd edition of The Open.

In May 2024, he withdrew from the PGA Tour Championship after suffering a thumb injury. But his determination to play his favorite sport remains respectable. Who do you think will win the 2024 Constellation Furyk and Friends? Let us know in the comments!