John Daly Shoots 88, Blames it on Weight Loss, Diet, Schedule

So maybe John Daly's putter isn't the only thing holding him back. He signed for a 16-over, 88 during Friday's round at the Buick Open, barely missing the cut ... by 15 strokes. (If you're looking for a silver lining, how about this: he fired a back-nine 37 after going out in 51. So, yeah, there's that.)

In previous years, when Daly's mental state was more problematic than his golf game, he'd occasionally flirt with 90. And while between-the-ears issues contributed to his second-round meltdown Saturday, they weren't beer or hot wings-induced. Instead, at least to hear John tell it, it had more to do with a demanding schedule and a lifetime of changes squeezed into six months.

"The last two weeks have been the first time in my career I didn't think I could win," Daly told the Associated Press. "I don't have the feel I used to have. I don't have the confidence. I just don't have it. I tried my (tail) off and shot 88. I've thrown in the towel and shot 82 when I quit. But I didn't quit this time. It was a weird feeling."

Daly's coach, Rick Smith, sounded similarly bewildered by what he saw.

"I saw a guy I didn't know existed," Smith said. "What I saw today was scary. It was a literal disconnect. He hasn't eaten or slept in a week. His body needs food, and it's going to the muscle, and the muscle is breaking down to the point he's in a toxic state." ...

"He's gone through it so quickly, faster than most," Smith said. "He hasn't felt well, he hasn't slept. He's starving himself. His doctors says if he doesn't have 80 to 90 grams a day of protein, he'll be in trouble. He needs to eat the right food and get himself back so he can even play golf. Looking at his swing today, it was irrelevant."

And via Twitter, Daly said that (issuing blanket [sic] here) "between playin both tours, practicin 8-9 hours a day it caught up to me bub," before later tweeting, "havin my eyes looked at next week hopin Lasix will correct my stignatism."

I could see how losing a c-note since February, while surviving on solely nicotine and caffeine, might lead to some health problems. In the meantime, the AP reports that Daly will see a doctor in Florida next week before deciding if he will play the PGA Championship at Hazeltine on August 13.

via Waggle Room