A Sudden Death Playoff With Tiger Woods Costed Gambling Veteran John Daly A Whopping $1.65 M In 2005
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The former number one, Tiger Woods, is not too much into gambling or betting. However, his one fellow golfer loves it. The 1995 Claret Jug winner John Daly is one of those who enjoys fame both on and off the golf course. Even as a senior, he is known for his long backswing and can hit the golf ball far off the tee. The two-time major championship winner is popularly known for his lavish and unique lifestyle, surrounded by alcohol and gambling. His gambling money has also helped in some senses, but not always. However, his love for gambling landed him a massive loss in 2005 when he lost millions.
It was his gambling practices that rose to fame during his career. However, he suffered significant financial losses—a conservative estimate between $50 and $60 million—one of the worst instances occurred during a long session in 2005.
It was when the ‘bad boy’ of golf lost a bet to Woods during a playoff in the American Express Championship that year on the second hole. Even though Daly missed a two-foot putt, he could still win $750,000 for finishing second.
However, the money earned only stayed with him for a short time because he decided to go to Las Vegas instead of returning home.
Why did John Daly lose money even after losing to Tiger Woods?
Why did Daly choose to go to Las Vegas? The pro golfer himself answered this question. Before landing in Vegas, his mind calculated the upcoming payments that could be used for repayment. He thought there would be no problems if he was right.
John Daly explained his calculation,“And here’s how my sick mind analyzed the situation: My sponsorship payments would be coming through in January, so I’d be able to pay everything off and get back to even by the beginning of the new year.” Little did he know that a tremendous problem was following him.
He said, “Everything’s fine. Everything’s OK. No problem. Hell, yes, there’s a problem.” In his autobiography, John Daly: My Life In and Out of the Rough, it is mentioned that he lost $50-$60 million through gambling. Daly acknowledged the issue in the last chapter of his book. He wrote, “If I don’t get control of my gambling, it’s going to flat-out ruin me.”
After losing to Woods, he flew to Las Vegas and seated himself at a $5,000 slot machine. In the first 30 minutes, he lost $600,000. Eventually, he lost $1.65 million in five hours. It was the true testament to Daly’s love of gambling.
However, the $1.65 million represented only a tiny percentage of Daly’s overall gaming losses. Daly stated that he had lost between $50 million and $60 million through gambling in an interview with Graham Bensinger in 2016.
What are your thoughts about Daly’s story?
