John Daly, the charismatic five-time PGA Tour winner and fan favorite, has been hospitalized in Florida.
Daily confirmed he underwent emergency surgery on his hand.
John Daly vows quick return to golf
The 58-year-old golf icon shared the news with fans through Instagram, posting a photo from his hospital bed with his left hand heavily bandaged.
“Emergency hand surgery… thankful [it] went great and Doc McClimans for taking care of me. Be back playing in no time!”Daly wrote in the caption.
In a separate post, tagged from Tampa, Florida, Daly added, “Should be hitting ’em again soon! Thanks for all the messages.”
While the exact nature of his injury remains unclear, the photo has sparked concern and well-wishes from fans across the golfing world.
Daly recently competed alongside his son, John Daly II, in December’s PNC Championship.
The father-son duo, who won the event in 2021 and finished second in 2022, have become fan favorites in the tournament, which features golf legends and their family members.
Known for his unapologetic lifestyle, Daly has long been a unique figure in golf.
Famous for his love of Diet Coke, cigarettes, and an aversion to vegetables, Daly once joked, “I drink Diet Coke, I like to have ice, which to me is water, so I get plenty of water in my Diet Coke.”
Despite health challenges over the years, including a bladder cancer diagnosis in 2020 and osteoarthritis in 2019, Daly has continued to entertain fans with his on-course performances and larger-than-life personality.
Just days ago, he welcomed 2025 with a video of himself hitting a drive over a street while holding a lit cigarette.
Daly’s hospitalization follows a similar incident involving World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who also underwent hand surgery after a freak Christmas accident.
Scheffler is expected to return to competition within weeks, and fans are hopeful Daly will make a similarly speedy recovery.
For now, golf fans will be eagerly awaiting Daly’s return, with the legendary golfer reassuring fans that his time away from the game will be brief.