Tour News

UPDATE: John Daly collapses at Mississippi golf tournament

Published

11 years ago

Aug 30, 2015

Ben Alberstadt

Fan favorite and poster child for golfing excess, John Daly collapsed on a tee box at an outing in Canton, Mississippi.

The 49-year-old was rushed to a Jackson hospital for evaluation.

According to a Reuters report, the club professional, Leigh Brannan, said Daly was having difficulty breathing amid high humidity and temperatures in the 90s. Brannan indicated Daly “was struggling pretty badly right before he collapsed.”

The two-time major winner’s friend, Billy Allen told reporters the golfer’s vital signs are good and (oddly) he’s being evaluated possible rib injuries.

His fiance and caddie, Anna Cladakis, tweeted:

THK you all for ur continued prayers! @PGA_JohnDaly was rushed to hospital after collapsing on the golf course he is stabilized!

Many tests were run–stating it stemmed from his rib injury that caused him to collapse 2day.We appreciate all the msgs! God Bless Everyone

JD just wrapped up a 2014-2015 PGA Tour season that saw him make just two of eight cuts to finish 216th in the FedEx Cup standings.

UPDATE: 3:50 p.m. ET: According to a Golf Digest report, Daly is suffering from a collapsed lung.

And, more surprisingly, according to Golf.com, Daly is back at Deerfield Golf Club playing in the event he left in an ambulance yesterday.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

21 Comments

Pingback: John Daly Wins $150K Bet For Reaching Age of 50
Johny Thunder

Sep 1, 2015 at 3:56 pm

He chose the photo with the cigarette because the only other photos of John he could find, he had a chocolate muffin in his mouth.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for quality journalism and you’re on the internet, you’re on a fool’s errand.

Reply Report comment
JH

Sep 1, 2015 at 10:18 am

I think it is a bit wrong to use a picture of him smoking with the caption that he collapsed. My first thoughts were a heart attack or something related to smoking…

Reply Report comment
- joro
  
  Oct 11, 2018 at 10:49 am
  
  Oh God, another no smoking advocate, but you can drink till you get stupid and kill someone, right ?
  
  Reply Report comment
tbone

Aug 31, 2015 at 11:28 am

Plus what do you think they’re going to say?

Reply Report comment
Booger

Aug 31, 2015 at 11:21 am

I was at the hospital when he arrived. The doctor said “get this man a cig and start him on a diet coke iv stat, he’ll be fine”

Reply Report comment
tbone

Aug 31, 2015 at 9:23 am

I would have thought it would have had something to do with his weight, drugs, or alcohol even if there wasn’t a picture post.

Get your head out of the sand people. John is John – it’s very rare that people truly change.

John is overweight and a chain smoker. 90 degree Mississippi heat will take its toll on you. Give Ben a break.

Reply Report comment
- Dave
  
  Aug 31, 2015 at 9:24 am
  
  did you read what the proximate cause was? NONE of what you mentioned.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - tbone
    
    Aug 31, 2015 at 11:27 am
    
    Usually that type of lifestyle will lead to various types of health issues.
    
    Try taking an objective look at the situation. Overweight man who chains smokes collapses in hot and humid Mississippi weather. If were anyone other than John Daly you would probably say “figures.”
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Jay W. Anderson
    
    Aug 8, 2020 at 4:48 pm
    
    Other than common sense.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Johnny Kim
    
    Dec 10, 2025 at 1:15 pm
    
    A rib injury doesn’t cause difficulty breathing. I’ve strained the rib muscle and have had bruised ribs. No difficulty breathing at all. It’s some B-S that he or his PR person made up. Likely cause is because he’s overweight and smokes.
    
    Reply Report comment
Joe

Aug 31, 2015 at 12:16 am

Exactly. Daly’s life choices are certainly the culprit. You didn’t see anyone else in the field struggling with their breathing before collapsing.

Reply Report comment
- Dave
  
  Aug 31, 2015 at 8:05 am
  
  How many others had a collapsed lung?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Joe
    
    Sep 1, 2015 at 4:49 pm
    
    …how many others had a cigarette for breakfast along with a side of pork and a Budweiser.
    
    Reply Report comment
KT

Aug 30, 2015 at 11:25 pm

Can’t keep a good man down.

Reply Report comment
Chris

Aug 30, 2015 at 11:14 pm

Bubba – This picture seems to really bother you. With that said, I have to ask – is it inaccurate? And do you really think John Daly’s behavior/life choices have no impact whatsoever on his current health?

None of this means he doesn’t have a lot of redeeming qualities and isn’t likable for a lot of good reasons. But it very well might mean his current physical condition is a function of a lot of things – and like the rest of us, he’s very human. Smokers are quite a bit more likely to suffer this type of event and it’s quite plausible he has damaged lung tissue which is more susceptible to collapse than healthy tissue. Given this, the image seems quite appropriate.

Reply Report comment
- tbone
  
  Aug 31, 2015 at 9:24 am
  
  well said.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Clemson Sucks
  
  Aug 31, 2015 at 9:46 am
  
  Chris gets it.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Bert
  
  Sep 2, 2015 at 10:47 am
  
  yep, well said. And if you have a collapsed lung, you most likely won’t play golf the next day, if he did?
  
  Reply Report comment
jakeanderson

Aug 30, 2015 at 4:00 pm

poor mr. daly. a true competitor and inspiring golfer.

Reply Report comment
christian

Aug 30, 2015 at 3:00 pm

Isn’t that Jon Daly in the photo? Where is the prejudice? Isn’t he a fat smoker?

Reply Report comment

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