Daly to play ‘through the pain’ in Open after R&A rejects his bid to use buggy at Portrush
Former Open champion John Daly will try to play “through the pain” at Royal Portrush after seeing his request to use a golf cart turned down by the R&A.
Daly, 53, had been permitted to use a buggy in the US Open, approved under the Americans With Disabilities Act, because of a knee problem, but later failed to make the cut at Bethpage Black. The American, who won the 1995 Open at St Andrews, wanted to use the cart for this year’s championship, which begins next week.
However, while the R&A expressed sympathy with Daly over his condition, it said players “walking the course is an integral part of the Championship and is central to the tradition of links golf which is synonymous with The Open”.
Following the response from the Championship Committee, Daly took to social media to express his disappointment and stressed he planned to “give it a shot” over the Northern Ireland course, adding “fingers crossed I can make it thru the pain”.
Daly is permitted to use a cart at events on the PGA Tour Champions circuit because of the degenerative arthritis in his right knee. He wrote on Twitter: “Quite disappointed they do not see it the same way our PGA of America and PGA Tour sees it. Different continents different laws???
“As a proud Open champion, I know what the Open Championship represents and what a special tournament it is. All who have earned the right to compete should be afforded that right to compete and give it their best shot.
“While I trust the R&A’S decision was made with good intentions, I could not disagree more with their conclusions.” Daly confirmed he had been advised he would need “either unicompartment or total knee replacement”. He added: “Before that comes my plan is to give it a shot at Portrush. Fingers crossed I can make it thru the pain.”
The R&A, though, maintained it had made the decision in the interests of all players at this year’s event. A statement read: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we believe it is the right one for The Open.”