John Daly, a famous professional golfer, has encountered many personal challenges throughout his career, including four marriages marked by conflicts and legal battles, particularly over custody issues.
Despite facing severe charges, a court ruled in his favor in a custody dispute. This article discusses all the details of John Daly’s personal life. If you want to know more about it, scroll down for more information.
Who is John Daly?
John Patrick Daly is an American professional golfer known for his powerful driving distance, which earned him the nickname “Long John.”
He won the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 Open Championship. In addition to his U.S. wins, he has claimed titles in several countries, including South Africa and Scotland.
Daly was the first player to average over 300 yards per drive in a season from 1997 to 2008 and led the PGA Tour in driving distance 11 times.
His last PGA Tour victory was in 2004, and since 2016, he has competed on the PGA Tour Champions, winning the 2017 Insperity Invitational.
He is also notable for being the only player from Europe or the U.S. with two major championships not selected for the Ryder Cup.
Beyond golf, Daly has business ventures, including an endorsement deal with LoudMouth Golf Apparel and two music albums.
John Daly’s Battle with Alcohol
John Daly has faced significant struggles with alcohol throughout his golf career, having started drinking around age 8 to 10.
He quit whiskey in 1990 due to its negative impact on his game, but from 1989 to 1993, he was hospitalized four times for alcohol poisoning.
After completing rehab in late 1993, he turned to binge eating to cope, particularly evident during his wins at the 1994 BellSouth Classic and the 1995 Open Championship.
Daly relapsed in 1996, claiming to drink only a few beers, but his excessive drinking returned in 1997, leading to a second stint in rehab and the loss of sponsorships with Wilson and Reebok.
He struggled, experiencing shakes during competitions in 1998 and relapsing again in 1999 after a disappointing performance.
From 2000 onward, his drinking was more controlled. In March 2008, coach Butch Harmon left, citing Daly’s drinking as a significant issue.
Following a public incident in October 2008, where he was found drunk outside a Hooters, Daly committed to sobriety, leading to a positive change in both his game and personal life.
John Daly Health Issues
In a 2014 interview, Daly noted that much of his alcohol struggle was rooted in his upbringing with an alcoholic and abusive father.
In July 1994, John Daly claimed that many PGA golfers used cocaine, asserting that he would be “one of the cleanest guys” if drug testing were correctly conducted, which sparked controversy in the golf community.
In early 2009, he had lap-band surgery and lost over 100 pounds, reaching a weight of 185 by December.
In July 2019, Daly suffered a near-death experience from a brown recluse spider bite that led to sepsis and emergency surgery.
In September 2020, he revealed he had battled bladder cancer and underwent surgery to remove it. Doctors indicated an 85 percent chance of relapse, prompting him to adopt a healthier lifestyle to reduce this risk.
John Daly’s Gambling Struggles
In 1999, John Daly was reported to have lost $51 million to gambling in the mid-1990s, leading him to sell his Mercedes and his house in California.
He often bet $220,000 on blackjack hands and up to $50,000 on football games but never golf. Due to his declining income, he struggled to pay alimony and other expenses at the time.
In 2006, Daly disclosed in his autobiography that he had lost between $50 million and $60 million over 15 years.
This included a $1.5 million loss in October 2005, shortly after winning that amount at a tournament, most of which he lost on a $5,000 slot machine at the Wynn Casino.
John Daly’s Marriages
First Marriage: Dale Crafton (1987–1990)
John Daly married Dale Crafton in 1987. Crafton, a prominent hand model from a wealthy Arkansas family, was a source of support and difficulty for Daly, who was trying to make it on the PGA Tour. He found life in Blytheville, Dale’s hometown, quite miserable.
Reason for Divorce:
They divorced in 1990 due to irreconcilable differences.
Second Marriage: Bettye Fulford (1992–1995)
In the summer of 1992, he married his second wife, Bettye Fulford, and they had a daughter, Shynah Hale. Later that year, he was charged with third-degree assault for allegedly throwing Bettye into a wall at their home near Denver.
The details remain unclear since Bettye did not pursue the matter, and Daly claims in his autobiography that he has never harmed a woman.
Reason for Divorce:
It was finalized in 1995, though specific details of irreconcilable differences are not publicly documented.
Third Marriage: Paulette Dean (1995–1999)
Daly divorced Fulford in 1995 and married Paulette Dean the same year. Their daughter, Sierra Lynn, was born on June 1, 1995.
Reason for Divorce:
The couple divorced in 1999, with no additional details publicly noted.
Fourth Marriage: Sherrie Miller (2001–2010)
On July 29, 2001, John Daly married Sherrie Miller. They welcomed their son, John Patrick Daly II, on July 23, 2003.
On June 8, 2007, during the Stanford St. Jude Championship tour, Daly and Sherrie had an altercation at a restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee.
Daly reported that later that night, his wife attacked him with a steak knife, resulting in cuts and scrapes on his face when he arrived for his second round of golf that Friday afternoon.
He contacted authorities, who responded to his home. However, by then, Sherrie had already fled the scene, taking their son with her.
Legal Issues:
Sherrie later pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and received a five-month prison sentence.
Custody Decision:
On December 17, 2010, in Memphis, Circuit Court Judge Donna Fields granted Daly custody of their seven-year-old son, “Little John. “
Sherrie was jailed for interfering with visitation rights and not complying with court orders. Judge Fields remarked, “She is not following this court’s orders. That is criminal contempt.”
