John Daly Preparing to Return

Here is some news that will make you want to leave work Monday and go get some wings and a beer. John Daly has announced he is getting set to return to the European Tour in April and "reclaim his place in the game." In related news, I pulled an ab muscle today laughing.

According to Bud Martin, Daly's manager with SFX World, Daly has spent the time since his last start in December working on his game and his body to prepare for a comeback that will likely start in late April on the PGA European Tour.

Although Martin said he is still negotiating with European officials, the plan is for Daly to play three or four events in Europe. After that, however, it is unclear when he will be able to return to the PGA Tour.

Maybe the best part of all this is that Martin claims Daly lost 40 pounds and has been working with coach Rick Smith to fix his golf swing. Daly is said to be 100 percent recovered from the rib injury that bothered him last year, and he's also promised to never pass out at a Hooters again. Okay, the last part was a lie but I'd love to be able to wager on that in Vegas.

Hey, I'm all for a Daly comeback. I think the guy is good for the game because, like Boo Weekley, he makes even the most overweight, municipal-golfing hackers feel like they can relate to the pros. Not a lot of sports have that and it is what differentiates golf from, say, the NFL (well, except for Andre Smith, but whatever). I just think Daly will have to undergo more than a crash diet and a swing change. The guy appears to have a drinking problem. He doesn't seem to care a lot for his own well being and that isn't exactly a good thing when you play the most mentally demanding game in the world.

When Daly serves his six month suspension from the PGA Tour and returns to America to play some golf, I'll be rooting hard for the guy. I just have heard him cry "wolf" one too many times to believe it just yet.