John Daly's Hospitalization: What We Know So Far

why is john daly in the hospital

John Daly, the 59-year-old golfer, underwent emergency hand surgery in January 2025. This was his 16th surgery in four years, due to tangled tendons. Daly has also battled bladder cancer, which was in remission as of February 2025. In a September 2020 interview, he vowed to improve his infamous diet and lifestyle, including quitting smoking. Daly has continued to play golf, competing in the Champions Tour's Hoag Classic in California in March 2025. However, he decided to skip the 2025 PGA Tour Championship to focus on his recovery.

Characteristics Values
Reason for hospitalisation Emergency hand surgery
Date of surgery 14 January 2025
Age 58 or 59 years old
Number of surgeries 16th surgery in four years
Type of surgery Emergency hand surgery
Surgeon Dr. Frederick (Mick) McClimans
Location Tampa, Florida
Recovery Returned to golf in March 2025
Health issues Bladder cancer, diagnosed in 2020
Cancer status In remission as of February 2025

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John Daly's 16th surgery in four years

John Daly, the iconic golfer known for his unconventional attire and smoking habit while on the course, has recently undergone his 16th surgery in four years. The procedure was performed on his left hand in January and was the result of tangled tendons, an inflammation of the tendons between muscles and bones.

Daly, a two-time major champion, shared a concerning health update in May 2025, revealing that he would be missing the upcoming PGA Tour Championship while recovering from his latest surgery. The 59-year-old golfer took to Instagram to share a photo of himself in a hospital bed, expressing gratitude to his doctor, Dr. Frederick (Mick) McClimans, for getting him "mended back."

Despite his health struggles, Daly remains determined to continue his professional golf career. He shared that his hand is about 80% recovered and that he will be competing in the Regions Tradition, one of the five major senior golf championships on the PGA Tour Champions. Daly also battled bladder cancer, which was in remission for four years as of February 2025. He opened up about the frightening experience of his cancer diagnosis in 2020, recalling how he was "peeing blood, puking blood."

Daly's 16th surgery has impacted his performance on the golf course. He noted that he has been facing challenges with three-quarter shots and putting. His results in 2025 reflect this, with finishes of tied 56th, tied 75th, tied 50th, and 77th. Despite this, Daly remains positive and resilient, comparing himself to Lazarus and stating that "waking up is a win."

The golfer's health update has sparked conversations around the clash between the PGA Championship and the Regions Tradition, with Daly questioning why the two events are scheduled concurrently. He also highlighted the financial aspect, mentioning the prize money for players who don't win the PGA Championship.

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His determination to continue playing golf

Despite his ongoing health struggles, legendary golfer John Daly has expressed his determination to continue playing the sport professionally. The 59-year-old, who has won five PGA events, including two majors, is known for his unconventional attire and smoking on the golf course. Daly underwent emergency hand surgery in January 2025, marking his 16th surgery in four years. Despite facing challenges in his recovery, Daly returned to the golf course just two months later, competing in the Champions Tour's Hoag Classic in California.

Daly has been open about his health struggles, including his battle with bladder cancer. In 2020, following his cancer diagnosis, Daly vowed to improve his infamous diet and lifestyle, cutting back on Diet Coke and attempting to quit smoking. During an interview, he shared his gratitude that doctors caught the cancer early and acknowledged the possibility of it returning. Daly's resilience and positive outlook are evident as he compares himself to Lazarus, stating, "I keep coming back from the dead."

Daly's determination to continue playing golf is admirable, and he has stated that he will not let his health issues stop him from pursuing his passion. Despite his recent emergency hand surgery, Daly plans to participate in the Regions Tradition, one of the five major senior golf championships on the PGA Tour Champions. He expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament and his eagerness to compete against other golfers, including Brooks Koepka. Daly's perseverance and dedication to his sport are inspiring, and he serves as a testament to the power of resilience and a positive mindset.

Daly's health issues have not deterred him from maintaining a busy schedule. In addition to the Regions Tradition, he has also committed to playing in Birmingham, expressing his appreciation for the sponsors of the tournament. Daly's determination to continue playing golf, despite the challenges posed by his health, is a testament to his passion for the sport and his commitment to his career. He has embraced the opportunities that playing golf provides, including the chance to compete against renowned golfers and connect with sponsors.

Daly's journey has not been without setbacks and challenges. He has faced difficulties in his recovery from surgery, admitting that his hand is still not at full capacity. Additionally, he has struggled with his performance since his comeback, with his results for the 2025 season falling short of his previous standards. However, despite these challenges, Daly remains committed to his craft, continually pushing through obstacles and striving for improvement. His determination to continue playing golf serves as a source of inspiration for others facing adversity, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and a resilient mindset.

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Previous bladder cancer diagnosis

John Daly, the professional golfer, has had a series of health issues in recent years, including a battle with bladder cancer. In 2020, Daly received a bladder cancer diagnosis, which he discussed in a September 2020 interview with the Golf Channel. He revealed the frightening details of his symptoms, including "peeing blood" and "puking blood". He also spoke about the impact of the diagnosis on his lifestyle, vowing to improve his diet and quit smoking.

Daly has been open about his struggles with alcohol and smoking, and he acknowledged the need to make changes for his health. He admitted to previously smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day and consuming excessive amounts of Diet Coke, sometimes reaching 26 to 28 cans in a day. Despite his efforts to improve his health, Daly has acknowledged that his cancer could return. However, he expressed gratitude that the doctors caught it early.

In February 2025, Daly shared some good news about his health journey, announcing that his cancer had been in remission for four years. This positive update came after a challenging period of health scares and hospitalisations. Daly has undergone 16 surgeries throughout his career, including the bladder cancer surgery in 2020 and, most recently, emergency hand surgery in January 2025.

Despite his ongoing health struggles, Daly remains determined to continue playing golf professionally. He has stated that he is "not ready to give up" on the sport, even though he has had to skip some tournaments during his recovery. Daly's resilience and positive attitude shine through as he compares himself to Lazarus, saying, "I keep coming back from the dead. Waking up is a win for me."

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His struggles with alcohol

John Daly, the American professional golfer known for his driving distance off the tee and his unconventional attire and attitude, has had a well-publicised struggle with alcohol. In an interview with Graham Bensinger in 2016, Daly detailed how he used to play his best golf drunk. He claimed that the golf course records he broke all came while playing drunk, shirtless, and barefoot, and that there were several nights on the PGA Tour where he wouldn't get back from a long night of partying until 7-7:30 a.m., with an 8 a.m. tee time.

Daly's drinking affected his performance during the 1997 season. He withdrew from the U.S. Open after a first-round 77 due to his physical conditioning and Delirium tremens. At the 1997 Players Championship, he shot a round of 76 and then spent three hours drinking at a nightspot before destroying his hotel room. He was hospitalised for chest pains and withdrew from the tournament.

Daly has admitted that he would drink anywhere from a case of beer to 35-40 beers a day, followed by whiskey. In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show in 2014, he said that much of his past struggle with alcohol was due to growing up with an alcoholic and abusive father. After this interview, Daly committed to stop drinking alcohol, which resulted in a resurgence of his game and a positive change in his personal life.

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His health update in May 2025

In May 2025, golfer John Daly shared a health update, revealing that he was still recovering from emergency hand surgery that he had undergone in January of the same year. The surgery was the 16th operation of his career and was due to tangled tendons, an inflammation of the tendons between muscles and bones.

Daly, who won the PGA Championship in 1991 and The Open Championship in 1995, admitted that he was still not back to his best and that his health struggles had impacted his golf game. He noted that he was having problems with getting through the ball on three-quarter shots and putting. Despite this, Daly remained determined to continue playing golf professionally.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Daly shared his positive attitude towards his recovery, stating, "I'm like Lazarus, I keep coming back from the dead. Waking up is a win for me." He also hinted that he was gradually improving, with his hand being about 80% recovered.

Daly's health update in May 2025 comes after previous health scares, including a battle with bladder cancer. In February 2020, he revealed that his cancer was in remission, and he vowed to improve his infamous diet and lifestyle, including cutting back on Diet Coke and quitting smoking.

Despite his ongoing recovery, Daly confirmed that he would not be participating in the upcoming PGA Championship, opting instead to play in the Regions Tradition, one of the five major senior golf championships on the PGA Tour Champions.

Frequently asked questions

John Daly underwent emergency hand surgery in January 2025.

John Daly's hand surgery was due to tangled tendons, an inflammation of the tendons between muscles and bones.

John Daly has had 16 surgeries in four years.

In addition to his hand surgery, John Daly has also battled bladder cancer, which was in remission as of February 2025. He has also struggled with alcohol and has undergone multiple stints in rehab.

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