John Daly's Heart Behind the Wild Persona

In 1992, after his stunning PGA Championship win, John Daly had become

golf’s wild man—a fan favorite for his monster drives and unpredictable personality.

But a story from the following year revealed a softer side. During a tournament

in Colorado, a young fan told Daly his dad loved golf but couldn’t afford clubs.

Without a word, Daly took them to the pro shop, bought the man a full set of clubs,

a bag, and shoes—over a thousand dollars’ worth—and told him, “Go grip it and

rip it.” Then he went right back to the range, acting like nothing happened.

For all his chaos, gambling, and late-night antics, moments like that showed why fans