Daly in action Down Under

Daly: back competing in Australia after six years

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John Daly makes his first appearance in Australia for six years this week as he tees it up in the European Tour-sanctioned Australian Masters.

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Much of the talk in the build-up to Daly's return has focused on his last trip Down Under and his controversial departure from the Australian PGA in 2002.

On that occasion, playing a week after the death of his mother, the American threw his putter and ball into the lake on the 18th green after a 78.

He was subsequently disqualified for failing to sign his card, fined and ordered to write an apology for verbally abusing a tour official - all after being paid an appearance fee of $200,000.

Since then Daly has become well-known for his turbulent life away from the course with reports of his hard-living off the course and slide down the world rankings on it frequently making the headlines.

However, the 42-year-old remains defiant and, having finished tied for 17th at last week's Hong Kong Open after a closing 62, insists he heads to Australia feeling hopeful about his game.

"I'm just trying to do the best I can, trying to get my golf game back," he stated. "Everybody goes through ups and downs in life, unfortunately mine are more publicized than most.

"Well, everybody has problems and I'm a fighter, I'm a survivor and I'll get through anything people can throw at me.

"I've done a lot of stupid things I take responsibility for but a lot of it came upon me. It's just life. We've got to live it and get through it.

"I like the way I'm hitting the ball, I'm trying to feed off last week, I hit the ball really well. I'm playing again and getting my swing back.

"Here if you just hit the fairways and putt well you can play good, if I keep working hard at it hopefully something good might happen."

Train wreck

Stuart Appleby compared the life of Daly to a "train wreck" but went on to claim that the American possessed the same natural ability as Tiger Woods.

Responding to the Australian's comment, Daly added: "Did anybody survive? I'm still surviving the train wreck."

Appleby is one of a number of Aussies trying to following the footsteps of last year's home winner, Aaron Baddeley, who will not be defending his crown.

Compatriot Robert Allenby - alongside Appleby the two top-ranked players in the tournament - starts the week as favourite to triumph in Melbourne but faces a competitive field which also includes the likes Rod Pampling, Tim Clark, Daniel Chopra, Nick O'Hern, Peter Lonard, Rod Pampling, Craig Parry, John Senden and Scott Strange.

New Zealander Michael Campbell, US Open champion of 2005, has been forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury.