Daly facing Tour sanctions after walk-off

Australian Open tournament director Trevor Herden has hit out at John Daly, calling him “unprofessional” after the American stormed off the course midway through his first round yesterday.

Daly’s troubles began on the tenth hole when he reacted angrily to receiving an automatic two-stroke penalty for hitting the wrong ball in the bunker.

At the 11th, the double major winner then proceeded to put six or seven balls – officials were not sure of the exact number – in the water before grabbing his young son and heading for the exit after telling his playing partners: “I’m off”.

“When u run out of balls u run out of balls. yes I shook my players partners hands & signed my card w/rules official,” Daly tweeted as a means of explanation.

Herden said Daly will never again be welcome at the Australian Open. “It’s very disappointing, obviously, for the tournament (and) certainly unprofessional and I’m extremely bitter and disappointed that he’s treated this championship this way,” Herden said.

“It’s becoming a bit of a habit, something similar happened last week or the week before, but it’s unacceptable and I certainly hope that all the tours deal with it in the appropriate manner this time.

“We are definitely disappointed in that attitude and that behaviour. It’s unprofessional. We’ve got to protect the sport and the image of this championship, which is the real thing that I am totally upset with.

“We’ve got the best field ever and he wants to treat it like this, it’s just not good enough. I would say this will be the last time we see John Daly.”

While Golf Australia has no power to fine or suspend Daly, Herden has called on the US and European tours to reprimand the volatile 45-year-old. “They need to deal with it. He’s a tour member on the US Tour and on the European Tour he also has a status, so they need to deal with this in a most serious of fashions,” Herden said.

“We can’t fine him because he’s not a member of ours, but we want it dealt with properly.”

PGA of Australia chief executive Brian Thorburn echoed Herden’s disappointment, confirming that Daly did not receive an appearance fee to play at The Lakes and revealing the American’s invitation to play the Australian PGA Championship had been revoked.

“The PGA Tour of Australasia confirms that no appearance fees were payable to John Daly for his appearance at the Emirates Australian Open, or for his planned appearance at the Australian PGA Championship,” Thorburn said.

“This afternoon’s actions by Daly in withdrawing from the course constitute a breach of the PGA Tour of Australasia’s regulations and will be referred to the disciplinary committee as soon as practically possible.

“In view of that breach and a similar instance in Europe recently, the PGA Tour of Australasia has withdrawn its offer to John Daly to play at the Australian PGA Championship.

“The PGA does not need this kind of behaviour tarnishing the achievements of other players and the reputation of our tournaments. John is not welcome at Coolum.”

Away from the Daly controversy, Australian Jarrod Lyle, who lost his card after a disappointing season on the PGA Tour, set the pace with a seven-under-par 65, finishing a shot ahead of American world No 5 Dustin Johnson and his compatriot Nick Watney.

Fred Couples, playing in Sydney alongside much of his team in preparation for next week’s Presidents Cup, was in a group of four players sharing fourth with a 67. The 52-year-old former Masters champion, who will be non-playing captain for the United States at Royal Melbourne, was tied on five-under with locals Steven Jones, Greg Chalmers and James Nitties. Tiger Woods, who played his round after the wind had picked up, was delighted with his four-birdie 68, which left him tied for eighth on four-under and gave him a first bogey-free round in nine months.

“I hit it really good today,” said the former world No 1, who has slumped to a ranking of 58 after two years of personal turmoil and injury. “That was exactly how I’ve been hitting them at home and that’s good, I was able to take it to the golf course today and I was able to hit all the shots in these conditions.”

Adam Scott’s 69 included an albatross at the par-5 eighth – only the second of his career.