People News
John Daly makes a comeback
By M&C People
May 10, 2008, 3:39 GMT

The unlikely sports champion who loves Marlboros, McDonalds and many women, golfer John Daly shot a 5-under 67 to nip at the heels of co-leaders Ross McGowan and Marco Ruiz by just three strokes after the first round of the Italian Open.

Daly is baaack.

In his memoir released in May, 2006, "My Life in and out of the Rough," Monsters and Critics editor April MacIntyre reviewed his tome and noted: "This is not your average golf biography. Cut to years later, drunken beatings aside, many fortunes made, many pissed away – literally and figuratively (bourbon maker Jack Daniels gets big props).

If Daly could conjure a slice of heaven on earth, it would feature 'Hooters' waitresses serving iced down Diet Cokes, foamy beer chasers, 'McDonalds' would cater the food, Marlboro Lights would be passed out like tic tacs and slot machines and black jack tables would line the perimeter the poker chips and dough would never run low.

He doesn't have a problem with this, says J.D. His book is designed to be a preemptive tell-all, cashing in on all the cumulative stories that, according to Daly, are no B.S."

ESPN reports that Blue Collar bon vivant Daly enjoyed a seven-birdie first round as he attempts to infiltrate the top 10 of a tournament for the first time in three years.

Daly, currently ranked 609, has not cracked the top 10 of a tournament in three years, had seven birdies and two bogeys. McGowan had eight birdies, one less than Ruiz, who bogeyed the 12th.

Daily briefly was in the lead with six birdies and a bogey on the first 10 holes.

"I moved the ball up in my stance and that was a good day," Daly told reporters, "This is the healthiest I've been in more than a year -- it was brutal with the pain and it's nice to have my swing back."