Daly looking forward to Scottish double date

John Daly doesn’t have a lot of places to grip it and rip it anymore, but he’s got the Open every year as the 1995 champion and another date later this month in Aberdeen,

The Wild Thing has agreed to play in the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay at Murcar Golf Links, two weeks after he plays the Open where he stunned everyone – except, famously, then R&A secretary Sir Michael Bonallack who had a bet on him – with victory in 1995.

“I am really excited to be playing Paul’s inaugural European Tour event,” he said. “I love match play and it is a format that we do not get to play enough of on tour.

“I am looking forward to a week in Aberdeen and hopefully playing really well in front of all the fans.”

As for the Open, he fancies emulating the man who he regards as the greatest ever player, the departing Tom Watson.

“Tom, for me, is the greatest player who has ever played because of his longevity,” said Daly. “What he did in ’09 at Turnberry when he was nearly 60 was unbelievable, and even now he is still winning tournaments on the Champions Tour, playing guys who are 15 years younger.”

As for his own game, Daly always feels he has a chance, especially on the Old Course.

“As long as I’m competitive, I will keep coming back,” he said.

“It’s the best tournament we play, without a doubt. To win this one, you have to beat the very best and in conditions that are alien to those we play in every other week.

“That’s why winning here in ’95 is the highlight of my career. The PGA in ’91 and all that went with it was awesome, don’t get me wrong. But man, that week in ’95 will never be beaten.

“The fact I played so well is part of it, but mostly because of where I played so well.

“This ain’t called the Home of Golf for nothing and if any of the guys out here could choose where to win a tournament, they’d go for St Andrews.”