Golf: Wild Thing's heart sings

Over a turbulent career, John Daly seemed to turn his alluringly simple golfing philosophy - "Grip it and rip it" - into a way of life.

But the Wild Thing overcame his latest troubles to secure an improbable comeback victory in the Buick Invitational this week.

To rapturous acclaim at Torrey Pines, Daly again displayed his undoubted gifts as a golfer to win a three-way play-off against Chris Riley and England's Luke Donald.

Daly, 37, buried his face in his hands and sobbed in his wife's arms after securing his first victory on the US PGA Tour since winning the British Open at St Andrew's in 1995. It was his first win in an official event in the US for 10 years.

"This is the greatest," he said. "This is sweet. There's a lot of emotion, kind of a relief. It's a wonderful feeling."

When Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick he was unknown. He was the ninth alternate for the event and drove all night to be able to tee off.

The legend of the Wild Thing was born with his aggressive big hitting on the course but the man from a small town in Arkansas, who had started drinking at the age of nine, also lived up to the sobriquet with his unpredictable behaviour off the course.

Addictions ranged from alcohol to gambling to chocolate but he conquered his demons to win at St Andrew's and then again to win the BMW International in Munich three years ago.

"I've never doubted I knew I could win again," he said. "I've worked too hard not to. [Fellow pro] Peter Jacobsen told me, he said no matter what happens, John, the talent never goes away. That stuck with me for a long time.

"I've never thought I was an underachiever. I've won two majors, and nothing will take that away. But I've never won a tournament with Tiger [Woods] in the field before and that feels good."

In July, Sherrie, Daly's fourth wife - he once said he needed three mulligans to get it right - gave birth to a son, John. Daly has two daughters by previous marriages and with Sherrie a son, Austin.

But five days later, Sherrie and her parents were indicted in a Mississippi court, accused of laundering more than US$1.52 million ($2.1 million) in illegal drug profits. A hearing was meant to have taken place in November but as yet the case has not come to court.

Sherrie faces 20 years in prison if found guilty. The charges relate to before Daly and Sherrie met three years ago.

"Everybody goes through ups and downs in life," Daly said.

"Mine just happen to be talked about a lot, which I'm very open to. Everyone goes through problems in life. It's how we deal with them. I've got great security around me.

"I've got great friends that have been with me ever since I can remember, that have stuck with me whether I've played good golf, when I've really messed up, whatever, they've been there for me.

"A couple of shocker friends that I'll never believe what they did to me last year, but you really find out who your true friends are, and I am a man that has found out who my true friends really are.

"It's taken a lot of pain, but it's good to have the ones you know you can trust around me.

"I feel like I'm a lot more mature. I have four kids now. Raising them is a blast.

"I think that kind of makes you more responsible, more aware of what's going on. It makes you fight."

Instead of trashing hotel rooms, Daly can usually be found of an evening playing the guitar in his luxury mobile home.

Daly accompanies himself on an album he sells for US$53 (autographed) from the US$1 million motor home he uses as both transportation and residence. One of his tunes is All My Exes Wear Rolexes.

He does not worry about fitness, finds it impossible to eat the right food and smoked a packet of cigarettes on the back nine during Monday's final round.

But the noise generated by the gallery proved this "athlete" remains high in people's affections.

"All week they've just been unreal," he said of the gallery.

"It's so great. The drunk ones, the sober ones, I love them all. And they have kept me going and going. When things are bad, they still pull for me. It's a friendship that I'm very proud to have with the fans."

The win took him from 299th to 85th on the world rankings and extended his US Tour exemption, which was due to run out next year, to 2006. He is not the retiring type.

"I promised my wife if I won again we'd go to Hawaii.

"It's good to know I'm already in the Tournament of Champions next year."

- INDEPENDENT