‘I Play for the Fans’: After His Intense Battle With Health Woes, a Rejuvenated John Daly Makes a Heartwarming Confession

In a familiar sight, John Daly is again one of the top players on the leaderboard. And his splendid gameplay is in front of the golfing community. He has, time and again, tried to uphold his love for the sport along with his skills. And this time, the veteran did not disappoint.

The golf world’s ‘bad boy,’ Daly, has been playing at Sanford International in South Dakota, and his performance is creating buzz. His love and passion for the game are no secret to anyone. Whether it’s him including his nicknames from the golfing world in his cigar line or standing on the field while fighting bladder cancer, the golf great continues to prove time and time again why he’s beloved by the fans!

John Daly is hyping up his fans with his latest confession

The Sanford International is creating buzz because John Daly stands just two strokes behind Steve Stricker. While the former has yet to record a top-10 finish this season, his chances are quite strong given his gameplay at Sioux Falls.

After his splendid 6-under 64 during the third round of the event, Long John devoted his performance to the fans and, as per SB Nation, said, “I play for the fans; I love them. I’ve always loved them, and hopefully, it’ll be fun tomorrow.” Daly believes that what he is today is all thanks to his loyal supporters, and he has no problem flaunting that fact!

Daly carded a couple of eagles in South Dakota and sat at 10-under par. He will face Steve Stricker in the final round and might be on his way to achieving the biggest chunk of the $2 million purse of the PGA Tour Champions event. When speaking about his experience, John called it “great.” And that certainly sums up how he feels about the event; after all, he’s been enjoying it off the course too, alongside Jake Owens at the start of the event!

The last time golf’s ‘bad boy’ finished in the top 10 was last year. He sat tied for eighth during the American Family Insurance Championship. Will he be able to change that? A lot has happened in his life off the course concerning his health, but still, Daly stands firm on the golf course.

Also Read: After a Long Battle With Health Issues, John Daly Makes a Strong Comeback Ahead of the $2M Event

Daly’s deteriorating health and Stricker’s command

In the last two rounds of Sanford International, John Daly made putts but hardly any eagles. As per him, having made two eagles out there helped him recover from a slow start, and he is looking forward to the last round. He is overcoming his drought in sports just like he overcame his severe health concerns.

The PGA Tour veteran has been struggling with bladder cancer since 2020. It demanded his time away from golf, but Daly did come back. Last year, he also underwent knee surgery after repeated reminders by his body while playing golf. To him, a swelling knee was more acceptable than surgery because the former did not stop him from playing for a while.

John Daly certainly deserves to win the Sanford International. But awaiting him in the field is the pro, Steve Stricker. He shot a 4-under 66 on Saturday and will enter the field in the lead on Sunday. Moreover, Stricker is the defending champion this year, having won the event in 2022 and once in 2018.

He has never finished outside the top six in his four last visits to Sanford International. Do you think John Daly will be able to achieve the feat with Stricker guarding the prize purse and trophy? Let us know in the comments below!

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