John Daly has always had a deep admiration for Tiger Woods. He looks up to Woods not only for his golfing talent but for the incredible dedication and discipline he brings to his training. Woods’s daily routine is nothing short of legendary. Imagine this: he starts his day by running 4 miles, then hits the gym, followed by 2-3 hours of practicing his swing. After a round of golf, he’s back working on his short game, runs another 4 miles, and still finds time for a game of basketball or tennis. That’s how you build a career that leads to trophies and titles. But Daly, while impressed, also has a word of caution for modern-day golfers.

With so much focus now on improving fitness and building muscle for golf, Daly worries that the intensity of the training could come at a price in the long run. “Hardcore working out is gonna hurt these guys and they won’t be playing when they’re 55, 60,” he said. Daly, who’s still competing despite his age and knee issues, has seen firsthand how the physical demands of intense training can take their toll. Last year, he played in two majors—the PGA Championship and the Open Championship—but had to withdraw after the first round of both events. He believes that the heavy focus on building strength and muscle can compromise flexibility, which is crucial for golf.

“A lot of guys lose their flexibility,” Daly explained, pointing out that flexibility is key to generating the force needed for a powerful drive. Woods’s constant back injuries are a stark reminder of the physical toll that a rigid workout regimen can take on the body. And it seems Daly’s concerns aren’t unfounded. Wyndham Clark, one of today’s rising stars, recently confirmed the impact of overtraining on flexibility, echoing the same concerns about the long-term effects of focusing too much on strength. Wyndham Clark recently appeared in the latest episode of The Rich Eisen Show. During the interview, he was asked if he saw a lot of guys from golf in the gym.

To which, he replied, “It is getting more athletic these days. We’ve got a nice young wave of players, and everyone’s in the gym, usually.” When asked what the No. 1 workout was for him, the US Open winner revealed, “Usually, it’s just to prevent lower back issues, it seems. But honestly, it’s amazing. When I first got on Tour, I’d say less than 50% of the guys were in the gym, working out, working hard, trying to gain speed, strength, and all the above. Now, in the last couple of years, I feel like 90% of guys are doing that. I feel like you’re missing out if you’re not part of that.”

He went on adding how so many golfers are in the gym, that even the ones who do not look in shape, are trying to work hard to get into form. But he added that with the new wave, the money at stake has increased to a level where they would just want to play golf for as long as possible. “People are realizing, why would I not do everything I can to maximize the time that I have on the PGA Tour,” he added. 

Look at Tiger Woods now. He is just 49, and should still be able to play quite well. However, because of his health issues, he has dropped down to his worst form. So much so that people think that he should give up on golf.

Andrew Chandler calls out Tiger Woods

Rory McIlroy’s former agent, Andrew Chandler, has urged Tiger Woods to retire completely from professional golf, claiming that continuing to play is “damaging his legacy.” Woods, who has most recently been competing in the TGL league, is preparing for the Masters, but has only won one Major since 2008. His participation in TGL has been paused after the passing of his mother, and he has yet to feel ready to return to competitive golf. As time goes on, Woods has been drifting further from contention, with injuries taking a toll on his game. Despite this, the 49-year-old hasn’t made any clear plans to retire.

Chandler, however, already considers him retired and believes Woods should focus on enjoying events on the senior tour instead. He said, “Two of the players on Tiger’s TGL team are retired—[Kevin] Kisner and Tiger don’t play. If I were a betting man, that would have been the best bet in the world. I’m not convinced by this TGL. I think Tiger would be better off stepping away for two or three years, and then starting playing again if he wanted to. I don’t know if Tiger will even be playing in the Majors in 2025, but does it even matter anymore? Do I want to see him at the back of the field? No. If he plays in the Majors, I hope he’s at least semi-competitive, not like he is now.” Chandler suggests that Woods should play a few senior tournaments each year, including the British Seniors Open, which may be held at St Andrews when Tiger turns 50.

Do you train for golf? If yes, how? Let us know in the comments section below!