What Happened to John Daly? Golf fans were worried after seeing the veteran golfer’s condition in the new photos shared on his Instagram handle. The enigmatic and controversial golfer has been known for years for his off-course antics.
On January 15, 2025, Daly shared a photo of him on a hospital bed, looking conscious.
The golfer captioned the post, “Thank you to Doc McClimans for getting me mended back! Should be hitting them again soon! Thanks for all the messages.”
Miami Herald later reported that the golfer had undergone an emergency hand surgery.
The golfer hasn’t shared why he had gone under the knife, but fans speculated that his unhealthy lifestyle might’ve got to him.
Previously, the golfer said his diet consisted of Hooters wings, peanut M&M’s, and Diet Coke.
Daly is such a huge fan of Hooters that the restaurant’s account sent a special message to the golfer. They wrote, “Get well soon, JD.“
Other than golf, the two-time major champion has a keen interest in politics and hasn’t shied away from showing allegiance to a particular side.
On the eve of Donald Trump’s second inauguration, Daly sent supportive messages to the President-elect.
On the Time Magazine cover of Trump clearing off the Oval Office desk, Daly wrote, “LFGGGG it’s time! God Bless America @RealDonaldTrump!”

Daly’s other message read, “He’s back.”
The American golfer has been a long-term Donald Trump supporter and has referred to him as “Daddy Trump.”
After Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the recent election, Daly appeared on Fox News.
He said, “Our country needs Daddy Trump, and what he did….[when] he became president, our 45th…What he did for four years was a miracle.”
Daly’s admiration didn’t stop there, he further said,
He got us out of a lot of things. All he wants to do is protect our country. It’s like we want to protect our kids and our family. Daddy Trump wants to protect American, and he’s going to do it again.
via: Daily Mail
During Trump’s first election run in 2016, Daly shared a Facebook post supporting the future president.
He shared a photo of him and Trump standing side by side on a golf course.
Daly captioned the post. “That’s why I love my friend Donald Trump…he’s not politics, he’s business! It’s what the country needs!”
In 2020, Daly and Kid Rock took their seats inside the Curb Event Center, where Donald Trump and Joe Biden had their second and final presidential debate.
Daly showed up to the event wearing a red-white-and-blue, stars-and-stripes blazer.
He later told the media that the President had sent him an invitation.
While speaking to the media, Daly said, “Trump is my friend I’ve known since 92, so I call him DADDY TRUMP.“
The golfer at the time proudly shared that Trump had praised him in front of some great business people at a roundtable at least eight million times.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- After finishing second at the 2005 WGC-American Express Championship, John Daly walked with a cool $750,000. But instead of saving or investing it, the golfer reportedly left for Las Vegas and gamed away a staggering $1.65 million in a single night.
- John Daly has three kids from three women. He had his first child, Shynah Daley, with his second wife, Bettye Fulford, in the early 90s. Daly’s second child, Sierra, was born to Daly and his third wife, Paulette Dean. In 2003, Daly welcomed his third child, John Daly II, with his fourth wife, Sherrie Miller.