John Daly makes decision on playing at PGA | Golf News

John Daly has opted not to use his previous champion exemption for the upcoming PGA Championship, with the complete discipline introduced this Tuesday exhibiting no signal of his title.

This marks only the fourth time Daly, 59, will probably be absent from the occasion since 2000. His decision follows a difficult Champions Tour stint, where he completed final at the Insperity Invitational. Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, is trying probably to participate in this yr’s Australian Open for the first time since 2014.

Daly, who triumphed at the Insperity Invitational in 2017, struggled this yr, concluding the 54-hole occasion at a staggering 27-over-par, unable to rating under 80 across the weekend.

Daly’s 2025 season has been something but easy, having given golf aficionados a jolt earlier in the yr with an image from a hospital mattress. The celebrated double main champion disclosed a hand ailment and divulged that he had undergone surgical procedure to deal with it.

“Emergency hand surgery… thankful went great and Doc McClimans for taking care of me. Be back playing in no time!” Daly reassured his followers in January. Just two months post-surgery, Daly was seen gripping a membership again, competing spiritedly on the Champions Tour.

His return occurred at the Hoag Classic in March, ending even-par, tying for 56th place after 54 holes. Upon his comeback at Newport Beach Country Club, Daly confessed that despite his presence on the course, his damage hadn’t absolutely healed.

Daly expressed his enthusiasm about returning to the sport after a difficult period, saying: “It’s good to be back. It’s been a little brutal, but the hand’s about 80 percent. So figured I’d come here. I love playing in the Hoag Classic. Every year, the guys are so great. So we’ll see what happens.”

Daly has had to resort to surgical procedure before to keep his profession on monitor, recalling: “The tendons were all wrapped around each other. [The doctor] doesn’t understand how I played last year.

“But he put it back, connected it to the forefinger or one thing. 16 surgical procedures in 4 years, I’ve misplaced depend just about.”

Since his appearance at the Hoag, Daly has participated three times on the senior circuit, including his most recent event last week. Although he hasn’t committed to the upcoming PGA Championship, he still plans to compete in major tournaments.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the Champions Tour will host its first of five senior majors next week with the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Alabama. Daly has chosen to focus his efforts there instead of the PGA. He explained his decision to AP: “I can go there [PGA] and miss the cut and get $6,000. But I’m playing Birmingham. I really like Regions. They’re a great sponsor.”