John Daly is an American professional golfer known for his driving distance, unique playing style, and notable wins. Born on April 28, 1966, Daly turned professional in 1987 and established himself on the PGA Tour with a reputation for long drives and an unconventional approach.
Career Highlights
In 1991, he won the PGA Championship after just barely getting into the tournament as a late replacement. Despite not knowing the course well and being a newcomer, he played very well and beat experienced players by three shots. This was a surprise “zero-to-hero” victory because he went from unknown to champion very quickly.
He has accumulated five PGA Tour wins and more international victories across South Africa, Swaziland (Eswatini), Scotland, Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and Canada.
John made history in 1997 by becoming the first player on the PGA Tour to average more than 300 yards on every drive for an entire season. He was the longest driver in the PGA Tour 11 times between 1991 and 2002, except for 1994 when someone else led. This means he consistently hit the ball farther than all other players during those years.
The most recent time he won a PGA Tour golf tournament was in 2004, and that victory happened in San Diego. Specifically, John Daly won the 2004 Buick Invitational in San Diego, which was his first PGA Tour win in almost nine years.
Since 2016, Daly has competed on the PGA Tour Champions, winning the 2017 Insperity Invitational.
He is notable for being the only male golfer from the U.S. or Europe to win two major championships but never be selected for the Ryder Cup since its start in 1927.
Career Stats
- Over his career, Daly has made 1,292 starts with 35 top-ten finishes and 5 wins on the PGA Tour.
- John Daly is famous for hitting golf balls very far, especially his long and powerful drives. He was the best player on the PGA Tour many times at driving distance, and he was the first player to average over 300 yards per drive in a season. This means, on average, his golf ball traveled more than 300 yards every time he hit it off the tee during a whole year of playing.
- Daly has a colorful personality both on and off the course, including recorded music albums and business ventures such as golf course design and golf apparel endorsements.
Relationship
John Daly has married four times in his career, with his wives being Dale Crafton, Bettye Fulford, Paulette Dean, and Sherrie Miller. He divorced Sherrie Miller in 2007. Since then, John Daly has been in a long-term relationship with Anna Cladakis, whom he met in 2007. Daly and Cladakis got engaged in 2014 and have been together since, though they are not officially married yet. Anna Cladakis is an entrepreneur and has played many roles in Daly’s life, including caddie and business partner.
Net Worth
As of 2025, John Daly’s estimated net worth is about $2 million, which is significantly lower than what might be expected for a professional golfer of his stature. This relatively modest net worth is largely due to his past gambling losses estimated at nearly $55 million, and expensive divorce settlements. Despite his financial setbacks, Daly has earned around $12 million in career tournament earnings and has made additional income from endorsements with brands like Callaway, Loudmouth Golf, and Wilson Sporting Goods. He also continues to stay active in golf, competing in the PGA Tour Champions and engaging in business ventures.
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