GOLF:John Daly has confirmed he has been suspended for six months from the PGA Tour for conduct detrimental to the game's image and has admitted to have reached a low ebb in his 18-year career in golf.
"This is the lowest I've ever been," admitted Daly, who will now focus on the European Tour over the coming months.
"There's always light with me. Right now, my home tour is probably Europe. And I love the European Tour. I always have. But my home is the United States. That's where I would rather play," added Daly.
This is the second time that Daly, 42, has been banned by the PGA Tour. He has also agreed to take time off on a number of occasions in a bid to get his life in order.
Daly's personal life has been anything but down the years, including problems with alcohol and gambling, while he has been married four times.
Golf's self-styled 'Wild Thing' has not played on the PGA Tour since he missed the cut in Las Vegas on October 17th. Ten days later he spent a night in a North Carolina jail after police in Winston-Salem found him in an apparent intoxicated state outside a Hooters restaurant.
Daly was not charged, but his jail photo was widely distributed on the internet.
"The picture didn't help," Daly said. "People think I got arrested when I didn't get arrested. It is what it is. I've got to deal with it and go on. Whatever reason the tour has, maybe a positive will come out of this."
PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw declined to comment, citing the organisation's longtime policy of not discussing fines or suspensions.
But Daly has gone public in an effort "to be fair to my fans and tournament organisers".
He would normally join the tour on the West Coast and Florida swings, but Daly will now play in the European Tour's three-week United Arab Emirates swing, starting with the Abu Dhabi Championships from January 15th.
Daly stated that he was unsure when his suspension began as he only found out through his agent Bob Martin, who was informed by letter from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. Martin commented that he is due to begin playing again on the PGA Tour in the spring.
Daly is hoping to play well enough on the European Tour to earn sponsor exemptions in America when the suspension is lifted.
"John's New Year's resolution is do everything he can to make positive things happen on the golf course," Martin said.
"I hope he can walk the walk. The talk sounds great. But it's going to be him working hard and staying out of trouble, and having success on the golf course."
