Daly takes lead into Buick final
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SAN DIEGO, California (Reuters) -- John Daly appears unfazed by his sudden rise to the top of a leaderboard, even though it has been nearly nine years since he last won on the PGA Tour.
The 37-year-old American, who is one shot clear of Stewart Cink after the third round of the Buick Invitational Saturday, has expected to play well and win again.
Daly hit a four-under par 68 Saturday to be 13-under at 203 after 54 holes, one stroke ahead of Cink and two in front of Dennis Paulson.
Defending champion Tiger Woods, who began the day six strokes behind Cink, is equal 21st on 211 after carding a par 72.
"I don't know about my peers," was Daly's answer after being asked by reporters if his fellow players had given up on him. "I just go out and play golf.
"I have got a great living and I want to win again....when I don't want to win again, then I need to find something else to do."
Daly has not won on the tour since his 1995 British Open playoff victory over Italian Costantino Rocca. It is since that year golf's oldest major championship has been regarded as a PGA Tour event.
Many fans and pundits felt Daly had found something else but golf to concentrate on. Through the years since his last tour win, he has struggled with alcohol and gambling addictions, sponsor problems and marital woes.
In 2003, Daly played in 22 events, missed the cut, withdrew or was disqualified 16 times and finished in the top 10 once, a tie for seventh at the Houston Open.
He ended last year on the lowest note possible, missing the cut in the final seven tournaments. He also withdrew from the 84 Lumber Classic due to dehydration and signed an incorrect scorecard after shooting a 65 in the second round of the Texas Open.
But Daly does not appear too bothered by his collapse last season.
"Last year I worked real hard at it, just nothing happened right," Daly said.
"It's a crazy game. You've just got to keep on plugging away, keep on playing. It's great to be in this position again. Hell, I didn't even know what a media center looked like."
Daly has remained a fan favourite since he unexpectedly won the 1991 U.S. PGA Championship.
Every time he tees it up the crowd swells around his group and follows him no matter the result.
"The great thing about the fans, when I'm not playing good they're still pulling for me," Daly said. "It makes you keep fighting and grinding and trying to do the best you can."
Copyright 2004
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
