John Daly will be able to compete in next week’s PGA Championship at Bethpage Black thanks to a special approval made by the PGA of America that will allow Daly to ride in a cart.
The 53-year-old Daly suffers from arthritis in his right knee that he says keeps him from walking more than six holes on the golf course, according to a report from The Associated Press’ Doug Ferguson.
Daly Vows To Never Play A USGA Event
“I hope I don’t get a lot of grief from the fans,” Daly told the AP. “My knee is screwed. I had the meniscus cut out. I have osteoarthritis so bad … I can walk up a hill, I just can’t walk down one.”
John Daly has been approved to use a cart in the PGA Championship because of an injured right knee.
He will be the first player to ride a cart at a major since Casey Martin in 1998 and 2012. https://t.co/eWirDlYtkU pic.twitter.com/qiar7xpJJe
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) May 8, 2019
Daly was denied the same request at last year’s U.S. Senior Open by the USGA because the governing body said that the information Daly submitted with his request was not enough to give him a cart, and Daly refused to provide additional information.
As a result, Daly vowed to never play in another USGA championship again.
“Just not worth it to me,” he said.
Applying to the PGA of America for a cart this year under its Americans with Disabilities Act policy, Daly’s “request was reviewed and approved,” according to a PGA statement. He will be assigned a cart with no roof next week on Long Island.
Daly will become the first competitor to ride a cart in a major championship since Casey Martin in the U.S. Open at Olympic Club in 1998 and 2012.
Daly is playing under a lifetime exemption in the PGA Championship as a result of his unlikely 1991 victory at the major held at Crooked Stick where he got into the field as the ninth alternate.
