10 Sep 2009

Daly to miss Australian events

6:31 am on 10 September 2009

John Daly, the personable US golf star whose struggles with alcohol and weight have made him a fan favourite, has pulled out of two tournaments in Australia with a rib injury.

The two-time Major champion was due to play the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship but has been ruled out for the rest of the season after the recurrence of an injury he first picked up at the 2007 Honda Classic.

Daly underwent surgery last week.

During his last visit Down Under in 2008, Daly missed the cut in the Australian Masters, the Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Open over successive weeks.

His visit was best remembered for the headlines he made after smashing a spectator's camera against a tree when the golf fan tried to take his picture from close range at the Australian Open.

The Australian Open is played in Sydney from December 3-6 and will be followed by the Australian PGA Championship in Coolum.

Both tournaments are part of the OneAsia Tour, launched earlier this year with the lofty ambition of rivalling the European and US Tours.