"Wild Thing" John Daly set for Fota Island
John Daly on the 11th during round one of the 2012 Irish Open at Royal Portrush. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie
We're hearing that "Wild Thing" John Daly is set to tee it up in the Irish Open at Fota Island from June 19-22.
Currently ranked 625th in the world, the 1991 US PGA and 1995 Open champion will receive a sponsor's invitation.
Daly last played in the Irish Open at Royal Portrush in 2012 and finished tied for 24th behind Jamie Donaldson having previously played at County Louth in 2009 (cut), Druids Glen in 1999 (67th) and Mount Juliet in 1994 (tied 2nd).
Currently suffering from the yips, Daly shot a career high 90 alongside Pádraig Harrington in the second round of the Valspar Championship in Florida in March.
He's scheduled to tee it up in the BMW International Open in Germany, a tournament he won in 2001 by pipping Harrington with a 72nd hole birdie, the week after the Irish Open.
He's also set to play in The Open at Royal Liverpool from July 17-20.
Daly, 47, had a 12 on the par-four 16th in his 90 at the Valspar Championship but insisted: "I didn't give up. I tried."
He took 70 putts over two days, including a four-putt on the second hole in his disastrous second round.
"You're going to have big scores on holes," Daly said. "That's just the way golf is. But when you've got the yips, that's no fun."
Harrington insisted that Daly was not a distraction and showed compassion for his fellow major winner, explaining that he was actually trying too hard.
"He was perfectly fine to play with – very respectful, no issues at all in terms of golf," Harrington said.
"He's waiting to play well to love the game, but he needs to love the game and then wait to play well.
"It's like he's trying too hard. If I was going to say anything, it's that he tries too hard. He's caring too much. I know that's not what people see.''
Daly, who said he needed to find help with the yips. The 47-year-old also said he was treated for plantar fasciitis in his left heel during that event and he was walking with a slight limp toward the parking lot.
"I'm falling apart," he said.
His last good chance to win a tournament was the 2005 American Express Championship at Harding Park, where he three-putted from 15 feet in a playoff against Tiger Woods.
He played in last week's RBC Heritage at Hllton Head but missed the cut by three strokes after rounds of 74 and 75.
