Special features

Daly suspended by PGA Tour

American claims to have been disciplined after drunken night out

Last updated: 5th January 2009

Daly: suspended by PGA Tour

Also see

John Daly has claimed to have been suspended by the PGA Tour for six months following a drunken night out last year.

The 42-year-old was reportedly handed the punishment for 'conduct unbecoming' after he was picked up by police in an inebriated state outside a bar last October and thrown into jail to 'sleep it off'.

The PGA Tour, who do not comment on disciplinary issues, did not make public news of the suspension, but have failed to deny the measure after Daly himself broke the story on his personal website.

The American insisted he chose to come clean about his punishment to assure fans and organisers in the States that he had not turned his back on them given he would not be playing any PGA Tour events for the foreseeable future.

"This is the lowest I've ever been," Daly said of his predicament.

"Is it fair that I got suspended? It's not fair in reality, but it's probably fair in perception."

However, Daly - who has not played on the PGA Tour since missing the cut in Las Vegas in late October - feels that PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem could have handled the incident in a more even-handed manner.

"Tim and his staff have to do what they do," Daly said. "But I wish Tim would get to know the facts better before he makes a decision.

"I would love to sit down and have a nice talk with him, tell him what really happened. But it seems perception is reality in the world today."

Daly now plans to expand his commitments on the European Tour, but admits he would rather be plying his trade on home soil.

"There's always light with me," he added. "Right now, my home tour is probably Europe. And I love the European tour. I always have. But my home is in the US and that's where I would rather play."