‘I Feel Like I Let Arnold Down’: An Embarrassed John Daly Once Apologized to Arnold Palmer for Getting Disqualified From His Event

John Daly has been a prominent name in the golf world. However, apart from his impressive game, his prominence has also been because of his controversies. Those controversies have affected his personal as well as professional life. Walking down memory lane, one such controversy took place at the 2005 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Back in the time, Daly was invited to play in the 2005 Arnold Palmer Invitational. While he had just played one pro-am at Bay Hill, a situation led to him being disqualified from the pro tournament afterward. Disturbed by the news, he not only went on to clear the air about the situation but also apologized to Arnold Palmer.

John Daly elucidated his bad day at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

John Daly was disqualified from the tournament after failing to play the second pro-am at the event. Upset by the tournament decision, Daly, while conversing with the media said, “Hasn’t been a good day.” That wasn’t all. Going ahead, he further added, “This is the last thing I needed in my life. I feel like I let Arnold down.”

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As mentioned earlier, Daly played in the first pro-am tournament. However, owing to confusion, he missed the second pro-am. As per the officials, the decision of him being disqualified was taken owing to the tournament rules, which stated, ‘a player, missing the pro-am was considered ineligible to play in the tournament.’

As per reports, the Wild Thing had to play his second pro-am on Wednesday. Requesting a morning start, on Tuesday, he called the officials to confirm his tee time for Wednesday’s play. In response to this, he received a time of 9.47 a.m. However, little did he know that the time given by the official was the start time of his first round on Thursday i.e. 17th March 2005.

Expressing his disappointment over the incident, he said, “I didn’t even know that was my Thursday tee time.

“I should have looked into it. It stinks for me.”

Daly received a sponsor exemption to play in the 2005 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Something, that left him in an, even more, embarrassing state. Going ahead, he further asserted, “I want to do anything I can for the tournament as a sponsor exemption. I wanted to meet the people I was playing with in the pro-am.

While he expressed his dejection for not being able to play in the tournament, his biggest regret remained disappointing Arnold Palmer. Heading toward the end, he closed his statement by saying, “I love Arnold Palmer to death. I called and talked to him and apologized.”

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This isn’t the only time that Daly stood disqualified in tournaments. Over the years, the 2-time major championship winner received numerous disqualifications from tournaments for various reasons. 17 years after the incident, Daly today is a PGA Tour Champions player. He last played at the Constellation Furyk and Friends, having a T19 finish.

What are your views on his disqualification? Do let us know in the comments below.