GOLF: John Daly gave the European Tour a huge lift yesterday by becoming its newest member.
In love with golf again after years of drinking, gambling and divorcing - he got married for the fourth time last summer - Daly has committed himself to at least 11 tour events.
The first is the Heineken Classic starting in Melbourne on Thursday, and after flying in from the Phoenix Open where he finished fourth on Sunday, Daly explained his decision.
"The world rankings are so important now, and I think dividing my time between America and Europe can help me," he said.
Last year Daly ended six barren years by winning the BMW International in Munich and also finished third in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. He still did not do enough elsewhere to guarantee himself a place in the Masters in April.
Daly's performance at the weekend improved his ranking to 47th. At the start of last year he was 507th, and if he can stay in the top 50 for another month a place at Augusta will be his.
Meanwhile, Colin Montgomerie, who pulled out of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia last week with a recurring back injury, has been told by specialists he is not suffering any long-term damage.
But the Scot, although relieved to hear his problem can be cleared up through intensive treatment, is not making any decision yet about his return to tournament golf.
Montgomerie's manager Guy Kinnings said: "While we will not tempt fate by announcing a definite return date for Colin at this early stage, we . . . do not believe that Colin's schedule for 2002 will be disrupted in a significant way."
