KEY POINTS:
An unrepentant John Daly received backing from tournament organisers after he smashed a golf spectator's camera at the Australian Open in Sydney yesterday.
The larger-than-life American stunned fans beside the ninth fairway at Royal Sydney when he grabbed Brad Clegg's camera and hurled it into a nearby tree, smashing it to pieces.
But Daly, who was playing the final hole of a six-over opening round of 78, refused to apologise.
"I was looking to take a drop and the camera was six inches away from my face," he said.
"If I was 10-under par I would have felt the same - my eyes are still burning from the flash of the camera.
"I feel it was very rude to put a camera that close to anybody's face in that situation. The guy that had the camera had already taken a dozen shots at close range."
Tournament director Trevor Herden backed Daly's version of events and said he would not impose sanctions on the former British Open champion.
He said Clegg, a 15-handicapper from Sydney club Ashlar, broke the rules which state no cameras were to be carried by spectators.
"This gentleman had taken a lot of photos throughout the day and he's not an accredited photographer," Herden said. "You're not allowed to have phones or cameras on the course, there are a lot of signs up and it's universal practice.
"John was a little annoyed, he was frustrated and it was an unfortunate incident, especially when a guy is in your face and you're under the pump.
"Of course John's sorry, but the most important word is 'frustrated'."
After Daly smashed the camera he was overhead to tell Clegg: "You want it back, I'll buy you a new one."
Clegg, who said he had taken a day's leave to watch Daly play, declined Herden's offer of free tickets for the remaining three days and ruled out seeking any compensation from Daly.
"I don't think I'll be chasing him for the money," Clegg said. "He's a big bloke."
- NZPA
