Who is this blonde mullet-headed dude bombing drives all over Carmel, IN?
That’s what plenty of golf fans were wondering back in August, 1991, when a little-know PGA Tour rookie named John Daly burst onto the scene by winning the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club and claiming the Wanamaker Trophy.
The story of how Daly even came to be in the tournament is bananas (see the video below). Entering the week he was the ninth alternate to earn a tee time. As of that Tuesday, Daly was still at his home near Memphis, TN, and didn’t even begin the drive to the Indianapolis suburb until Wednesday.
Championship winner thanks to his booming drives and all-around solid
performance at Crooked Stick Golf Club. (Photo by Mike Fender/Indianapolis Star)
His performance was such that his double-bogey on the 71st hole was not even reason for concern as he carried a 5-stroke lead at the time over playing partner – and eventual tournament runner-up – Bruce Lietzke.
Here is an Indianapolis Star retrospective published in 2021 around the 30th anniversary of Daly’s improbable victory.
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