Harmon lies destroyed my life, says Daly

Published on Wednesday 16 July 2008 13:58

FORMER Open champion John Daly reopened his bitter war of words with Butch Harmon by claiming the respected coach's "lies destroyed my life".

Daly, a winner of the Claret Jug in 1995 at St Andrews, was referring to comments made after an incident at the PODS Championship back in March.

During a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay the American took shelter in a hospitality tent and then resumed play with the coach of the local gridiron team carrying his bag.

Harmon stopped working with Daly after saying: "The most important thing in his life is getting drunk."

The 42-year-old Daly rejected that claim, saying Harmon had got his facts wrong and had since privately apologised.

However, his former coach denied ever saying sorry for his comments but, when the subject of his lifestyle was raised again today, Daly was in no mood for reconciliation.

"I haven't really done much. I think most of that stuff started with Butch Harmon. His lies destroyed my life for a little bit," he said.

"The stories were I was drinking in the tent. It is a joke. I would never do that in a round.

"Butch said I was a drunk. He just made up stuff without getting his facts straight.

"He really needs to stay as far away as possible from me."

Stories of Daly's excessive lifestyle are the stuff of golf legend but he said he had put all that behind him and his main tipple of choice was Diet Coke.