Butch Harmon Dumps John Daly

by Mulligan Stu on Mar 11, 2008 8:36 PM EDT Comment 2 comments

Ladies and gentlemen, the leader in the clubhouse for 2008's Least Surprising Development: Butch Harmon has apparently had enough of John Daly.

The Golf Channel's Brian Hewitt wrote today on the network's Web site that Harmon told him, "I don't even want to be associated with (Daly) now."

Hewitt reports:

The pair started working together earlier this year in hopes of restoring the form that helped Daly win two major championships in the '90s. But when Harmon became aware of, among other things, recent published reports that Daly's problems with alcohol abuse had resurfaced, he became frustrated.

"When I started working with John the understanding was that I would help him with his golf game if he helped himself," Harmon told GOLF CHANNEL Tuesday. "Quite frankly I don't see any reason for us to continue going down that road."

Update: Harmon isn't pulling punches. The AP's Doug Ferguson reports:

John Daly has been cut loose by swing coach Butch Harmon, who said Tuesday he was not going to waste his time with a two-time major champion who is more interested in drinking than working on his golf game.

"My whole goal for him was he's got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life," Harmon said from his golf school in Las Vegas. "And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk."

I hope Harmon pounds Daly relentlessly over the next couple days. This might be the last chance to get through to Daly.

0 recs | Comment 2 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

very sad

From everything I know of Butch Harmon, he is generous and compassionate to an extreme. He has faced a lot of his own demons - some that he shares with Daly -- so he knows what it takes to overcome them.

You can be very sure that Harmon made those statements with a heavy, but resolved heart - with no regrets. (you can also be sure that a lot more was said than the spectacular lines "Fergie" had room to report)

It's a shame Daly can't, or chose not to see that Harmon could and would have done everything possible to help Daly - personally and professionally.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 11, 2008 9:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Too bad he isn't seeing the light

It's a shame that JD's excesses are taking priority in his life once again. Hopefully he gets on track, but at his age, I have to wonder how much longer he can go on like this.

by Double Eagle on Mar 12, 2008 8:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs