John Daly Becomes Second Past Champion To Withdraw From 2024 Open
The 1995 Open champion is out with a knee injury
John Daly has become the latest past champion to withdraw from the 152nd Open.
The 1995 St Andrews champion pulled out of the championship on Friday morning due to a knee injury.
Disappointed on missing out @TheOpen b/c of a knee injury. watching from afar isn't the same, but know I tried my heart out to get thru it. Was at physio this morning and made the decision to ice & rest it! Thk u to all my fans and @RandA for a week @RoyalTroonGC… pic.twitter.com/1i8rt8eLPZJuly 19, 2024
Daly carded an 11-over-par 82 on Thursday at Royal Troon, which was the same score as Ernie Els who also withdrew. Els cited a back injury.
The American, who also won the 1991 PGA Championship, was due to begin his second round at 1:37pm local time (8:37am) alongside amateur Santiago de la Fuente and Aaron Rai.
Daly has struggled with his knees in the past and regularly takes a cart during the PGA Championship and PGA Tour Champions events. He has had surgery on both knees and also has had his left knee replaced in December 2022.
"For me, I've had probably more surgeries probably than Tiger," he said in 2022. "They just keep adding up over the last five years. But I get this metal put in this knee, hell, I got more metal than the Bionic Man does."
The 58-year-old now has just two Opens left before his exemption runs out, with his final appearance in golf's oldest Major set to be at Royal Birkdale in 2026.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
The Arkanas native hasn't made the cut in The Open since Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2012 where he was an impressive T18th.
As well as Daly and Els, France's Romain Langasque also withdrew from the tournament. He called it a day after seven holes of round one.
Daly has played 11 events on the PGA Tour Champions this year, with one top-25 finish. His last victory came in May 2017 at the Insperity Invitational, although he did win the PNC Championship with son John Daly II in 2021.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
Nelly Korda Joined By Tennis Star Brother Sebastian As He Watches Her Win For First Time
Sebastian Korda made it to Pelican Golf Club in time to witness Nelly Korda claim her seventh victory of the season in the Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
By Mike Hall Published
-
How Did One Pro Secure A $1 Million Payday Without Playing The Penultimate LPGA Tour Event?
Jeeno Thitikul may not have featured at The Annika Driven by Gainbridge, but the former World No.1 secured a $1 million payday via the Aon Risk Reward Challenge
By Matt Cradock Published
-
'Provisional Support' Given To Portmarnock As First Open Outside UK Moves A Step Closer
There could soon be a new links on the Open rota, as golf's oldest Major looks set to be played outside the UK for the first time
By Michael Weston Published
-
Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion Confirms He Will Give Up Major Starts In Favor Of Immediate DP World Tour Chance
China's Wenyi Ding confirmed he will be leaving college and giving up starts at The Masters and The Open Championship in favor of immediately starting his pro career
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Irish Venue Moves One Step Closer To Debut Open After Government Agrees To Explore Bid
Portmarnock could become the first course in the Republic of Ireland to host The Open Championship if the Irish government submits an official bid
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'I'd A Great Chance Of Winning This Open' - Shane Lowry Admits Troon Near Miss Will 'Hurt'
Shane Lowry thought he'd be heading back to Royal Portrush next year as Open champion again as he felt he was playing well enough to win at Troon
By Paul Higham Published
-
'It's Something I've Always Wanted' - Xander Schauffele Reveals Grand Slam Ambition After Open Victory
Xander Schauffele says he's always had an eye on winning a career Grand Slam even before he became a quick-fire double Major champion
By Paul Higham Published
-
'Nonsense. That's Links Golf Courses' - Paul McGinley Says Shane Lowry Will 'Regret' Open Set-Up Comments
The Golf Channel analyst labelled Lowry's call to have a couple of tees pushed forward on Saturday "nonsense" after the 2019 Open Champion was mildly critical of how the R&A had set Royal Troon up in bad weather
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Watch The Moment World No.1 Scottie Scheffler Tops A Tee Shot At The Open
The American had a moment to forget on the final hole of The Open at Royal Troon
By Mike Hall Published
-
‘I Just Looked At It As A Normal Sunday Of A Normal Golf Tournament’ - Thriston Lawrence Explains ‘Calm’ Mindset To Finish Fourth At The Open
The South African admitted he was far from overawed at the occasion as he claimed his best-ever finish at a Major with fourth at The Open
By Mike Hall Published