John Daly’s story about beating Tiger Woods despite playing while still drunk

He will undoubtedly be frustrated by his latest absence, which has come following Achilles tendon surgery earlier this season.

It was, however, Daly who was seemingly impeded when the two legends came together for a match once upon a time.

Recalling the encounter, he told Tucker Carlson in 2023: “I was still drunk! That was a funny story. It was 1994.

“We had the roundtable in Sherwood and I had my bottle of Jack Daniels. TW comes out in a suit and I say where are you going?

“He said I have a guitar on stage for you. You have got to go to the dinner. I am barefooted, I have my shirt tucked up. I have s— spilt all over me. Drunk. He played a trick on me.

“I stumble over there, there is a chair and a guitar but it had nylon strings, like Willie played. He did not know.

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images
“You get your phone and you can [use it as] a little guitar tuner. I tuned it up and got a standing ovation. I said I will see you guys tomorrow! T, I will see you early in the morning.

“The funny thing about Tiger was when I got on the tee I had my caddie bring me a Crown or Jack and Coke. He is walking and walking through all the cactuses and stuff going down this hill.

“I grab my three iron go on the tee and to make a long story short I shoot like 65, Tiger shot like 71. He just shook his head the whole day.”

Tiger Woods vs John Daly PGA Tour record

Whether the story played out exactly like Daly recalled it may be questioned, but their contrasting characters certainly hold up.

Daly has constantly shown his playful attitude towards the sport over the years, while Woods has largely been a well-drilled machine during his career.

But both players are much-loved by golf fans, many of whom would undoubtedly love to see a rematch between the pair.

Woods has always refused a golf cart despite his troubles, while Daly has had his injury issues too, having withdrawn during Regions Tradition in May.

Tiger Woods

John Daly

1996
Year joined
1991

378
Events played
548

82
Wins
5

339/378
Cuts made
276/548

$120,999,166
Official money
$10,270,681

Tiger Woods vs John Daly PGA Tour stats
He has, however, since taken on both the American Family Insurance Championship and the Kaulig Companies Championship.

Daly won five times on the PGA Tour, a long way short of the 82 achieved by Woods, who is level at the top of the all-time list with Sam Snead.