‘Long John’ is the nickname veteran golfer John Daly earned because no one could hit the ball further than him. According to Daly’s official stats, in 1997, he became the first PGA Tour golfer to average a drive distance of 300 yards for an entire season. He maintained this remarkable feat between 1999 and 2008, being the only golfer to do so until 2003.

In a video snippet shared by Golf Digest on its official Instagram channel, John Daly is seen enjoying life, drinking beer on the greens, and making a drive using a beer can as a tee. However, fans did not find this act amusing.

In the video, the five-time PGA Tour winner can be heard giving instructions on using a beer can as a tee: “Now the key to the shot is you hit the ball without looking at the can.” His guidance proved effective as the veteran golfer made an impressive drive. Another person in the video humorously remarked, “That’s your best shot today,” adding, “You should do it more.”

The 58-year-old has five PGA Tour victories to his name, but people admire him for many other reasons as well, including his bold statements. His carefree and blunt nature is clearly evident in the video.

Netizens were likely displeased with what they saw in the video, seizing the opportunity to criticize the two-time major winner on multiple accounts.

What were the web users’ reactions to John Daly’s actions in the video?

The 2020 Hall of Famer inductee has been playing golf for nearly 36 years. Although he has won only five PGA Tour events, two of them are majors: the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 Open Championship. Highlighting his achievements, one web user commented, “I thought you folks were better than this crap.“ Another user, finding his ‘beer can trick’ boring, commented, “Yawning.”

In a 2016 interview, Daly reflected on his career. He mentioned that while his 2000s were fairly good, he did not take full advantage of his youth during his prime in the 1990s. In his own words, “I think I wasted my talent in the ’90s, especially towards the later part of the ’90s. All the money was coming in, and I didn’t work hard enough at it. I didn’t do the right things to prepare myself to win golf tournaments. You know, that’s definitely on me, and I admit that … .” Alluding to these circumstances of Daly’s life, a user said, “What a complete waste of talent!” Another expressed their frustration with Daly’s actions in the Instagram video, writing, “Pissed away his actual career.”

Daly acknowledged that he could have achieved much more in the 90s if he had the correct mindset. His late 90s were particularly challenging. For example, in 1999, he only managed to win the JCPenney Classic, with the rest of his season being dismal. During the final round of the 1999 US Open, Daly succumbed to frustration on the par-4 8th hole. He attempted a putt towards a tricky pin, but the ball rolled back. On his second try, it didn’t hold, and rolled back again. In anger, Daly hit the moving ball, incurring a two-stroke penalty. He finished the hole with an 11 after chipping on and two-putting. His bad drinking habits contributed to his downfall during this period. Referring to his younger days and his drinking habits, one user commented, “This man still living in 1999.”

Do you think this resistance and criticism from netizens will persuade John Daly to tone down his antics?