As a professional golfer, John Daly has earned a net worth of $2 million. However, this figure should be much higher. Over the years, John has lost tens of millions of dollars due to a terrible gambling problem and multiple divorces.
Early Life
John Patrick Daly was born on April 28th, 1966 in Carmichael, California. He grew up in a middle-class household and moved frequently with his family across various southern states. It was in Arkansas where John began playing golf and started taking his golf career seriously after being inspired by Jack Nicklaus. As a teenager, he won several championships.
Career
In 1987, John Daly turned professional and won his first victory at the Missouri Open. He continued to win throughout the years, including his first PGA Championship in 1991, which caused a widespread frenzy in the golf community as he was considered a serious underdog. In 1993, he placed third in the Masters Tournament, but in 1994 he was suspended for walking off the course mid-round due to alcohol abuse and entered rehab.
Despite his setbacks, John won the Open Championship in 1995, but his drinking habits continued to affect his performances on the golf course. In 2001, he won the BMW International Open, sparking a comeback. He continued to win throughout the next two years before truly marking his return to glory with a win at the Buick Invitational in 2004. However, he struggled with his form over the next nine years, and due to his non-exempt status, he had to rely on sponsorships and invitations to certain events.
In 2016, John became eligible to play on the PGA Tour Champions and started winning events for the first time in many years. As of 2020, he continues to compete in the Champions Tour.
Relationships
John has been married four times and has had multiple issues in his personal life. His first wife was Dale Crafton, and they divorced three years after their marriage in 1987. In 1992, John remarried to Bettye Fulford and was charged with third-degree assault that year after throwing his wife into a wall. They ultimately divorced in 1995.
He then married Paulette Dean in 1995 and had a child together, but they divorced four years later. In 2001, John married his fourth wife, Sherrie Miller, and they had a child together two years later. In 2007, both spouses were involved in an altercation at a restaurant in Tennessee, and Sherrie pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and was sentenced to five months in prison. John was eventually awarded custody of the child.
Business Ventures
Aside from golf, John Daly has also ventured into other businesses. He has an endorsement deal with Loudmouth Golf, a clothing line, and signed another deal in 2014 with Rock Bottom Golf, a discount golf store. He also had a wine label called John Daly Wines, which eventually went out of business, and a golf course design company called JD Designs that has designed courses in several locations.
Music
John Daly has also been active in the music industry. He contributed vocals to Kid Rock’s track “Half Your Age” in 2007 and has released several albums over the years, including “I Only Know One Way” and “Hit It Hard.”
Conclusion
John Daly has had a successful golf career, but his personal life and gambling habits have caused him to lose a significant amount of money. Despite his setbacks, he has continued to compete in the Champions Tour and has ventured into other businesses and the music industry.