IT IS clearly a matter of regret that the considerable talents of John Daly will be missing from next week's US Masters. Instead of taking his place in the elite field for a sixth successive year, he will be on a projected six-week stay in the Betty Ford Clinic, drying out from a recent alcoholic binge.
Daly, who has never missed a cut at Augusta National since his debut in 1992, was tied third behind Bernhard Langer in 1993. Referring to the drying-out process, he said this week: "I actually wanted to do this two months ago when I started drinking heavily again. But I wanted to get through the Masters. It's my favourite tournament in the world."
His form this season has been decidedly patchy, with earnings of $69,600 from six tournaments. Surprisingly, the sometimes Wild Thing has broken 70 on only three occasions in 20 rounds at Augusta. And he is currently feeling so low that he fears he may never have the chance of another Masters challenge.
"I will stay here (in the Betty Ford Clinic) for as long as it takes and if I don't feel I can keep from drinking, I'm through," he said. "I might not play golf again. Doing it this way, maybe I'll understand it more. I've got to get better . . . sober up again."
Daly will learn that others have travelled his painful route and managed to resume their careers better than ever. There are leading professional golfers who have done so, quite apart from prominent showbusiness personalities.
During an interview session at the British Open a few years ago Daly was asked if he were involved in a recovery programme to help him stay sober. To the delight of certain sections of his audience he make a joke of the idea.
By his own admission there was nothing particularly funny about his drinking during last week's Players' Championship in Florida. Indeed, on waking up in hospital he was told that his blood-sugar level was dangerously low. Now, however, with the right mental attitude, he can learn that far from threatening his career, the episode can result in a bright, new beginning.
"GOLF is not taught as it is learned. It is taught more as a science or as a prescribed set of calisthenic exercises, whereas it is learned as a game. "- Bobby Jones.
"Golf is the most over-taught and least-learned human endeavour. If they taught sex the way they teach golf the human race would have died out years ago." - Jim Murray, Los Angeles Times.
TIGER WOODS won't be staying with his amateur pals at Augusta next week. It would hardly seem right, now that he has contracts valued at $60 million. Still, one senses that he will miss the camaraderie of the Crow's Nest.
That's where Ireland's Garth McGimpsey stayed when he played in the Masters of 1986 and 1987. Describing the accommodation at the Augusta National clubhouse, Woods said: "Basically it's like a dorm room. In all, there are three rooms like A, B, C, with five or six beds each."
"It's like a common room and there's only one bathroom. But it's really interesting because you've got your amateur buddies, and guys you know but have never played a lot with. After a day's golf it's kinda nice to go home to."
And what of this year?
"Well, I can't stay there anymore," he replied. "Once you're a pro, you can no longer stay in the Crow's Nest. So I'm glad I took advantage of it when 1 could, staying in a place where all the great amateurs have stayed. Now, I'll be off the course, just like any other pro.
ARISING out of last week's piece about Johnny Miller's visit to Ireland in 1965, further details came to light while I was in Enniscrone last weekend. Frank McCarroll informed me that he actually played with Miller when the Brigham Young team competed against the British Universities at Royal Portrush.
"He shot 70 to my 73 and was one of the finest putters I had ever seen," recalled the former Irish international. "If I'm not mistaken, he made quite an impact on the US Open only a year later.
Indeed he did. As a 19-year-old and still at college in 1966, Miller shot rounds of 70, 72, 84 and 74 for 290 and a share of eighth place behind Billy Casper at the Olympic Club in his native city of San Francisco. Incidentally, McCarroll was unable to play for the Irish Universities against Brigham Young at Portmarnock due to dental exams.
NOW THAT the Spanish solution to a European Ryder Cup problem has been rejected, is it not time that the entire selection process was reviewed? Andrew Chandler thinks so. The former tour player, who now manages Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley among others, has come up with an interesting proposal.
"Pick the top-10 players off the Sony World Rankings," he said yesterday. In that way, it wouldn't matter where Ryder Cup aspirants competed in Europe, the US or elsewhere.
Were the European team to be picked on that basis, this week's 10 automatic qualifiers would be: Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Jesper Parnevik, Costantino Rocca, Ian Woosnam, Sam Torrance, Lee Westwood, Per-Ulrik Johansson and Darren Clarke. Skipper Seve Ballesteros could then pick two Spaniards, Jose-Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Martin as his wild cards.
Interesting, isn't it?
MORE THAN 2,700 rulings on the eligibility of clubs have been made by the US Golf Association over the last 10 years. They can therefore be forgiven for getting one wrong - which they did with King Cobra stainless steel metal woods.
The mistake, made in 1992, has been admitted by Frank Thomas, technical director of the USGA. "In a recent review of rulings, we discovered that we missed one of three required face marking measurements on the club," said Thomas.
"But for that error, we would have had to tell the manufacturer that the club didn't conform at the time it was submitted. Cobra have assured us that the manufacturing process has been changed to ensure that all future versions of the club will be conforming."
In response, the USGA have taken the unprecedented step of granting a 10-year grace period to the clubs in question.
Reed Mackenzie, chairman of the USGA's Implements and Ball Committee, concluded: "As far as I'm aware, this is the first time we've faced this particular situation and we certainly don't intend to unduly penalise the manufacturer, much less the golfers who own such clubs."
THE MASTERS was only eight years old when America went to war with Japan after Pearl Harbour. Petrol rationing and other restrictions meant closure for Augusta National. Whereupon the ever-practical club chairman, Clifford Roberts, decided to graze cattle on the sacred turf.
He reasoned that the club might profit from the sale of steers which on the way to maturity would become four-footed, cost-efficient lawn movers. By the time the war was over, however, Roberts had lost $5,000 on the operation, not to mention some extensive replantings eaten by the guests when the Bermuda grass went dormant.
But, as we have suggested, Roberts was a practical man. He duly recouped the loss through the sale of turkeys which were raised on the club grounds.
In brief: John Giles, the former Leeds and Ireland star, is supporting the Diamond Golf Classic in aid of St Cronan's School at Druids Glen on September 2nd. Details from (01) 2869959 ... Ray Cawley, who has a background in event management, has been appointed general manager of Kinsale's Old Head Golf Links, which will soon be open to the public.
Teaser: In the light of Davis Love's experience at Sawgrass last Sunday, I thought this might be interesting. After a player addresses his ball, the ball moves backwards. Before the player can remove his club, the ball is stopped by the clubhead. What is the ruling?
Answer: The player incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2b and the ball must be replaced. Rule 19-2 (Ball in motion deflected or stopped by player, partner, caddie or equipment) does not apply in these circumstances.
