Golf still has a thing for Daly

Golf still has a thing for Daly

John Daly’s addictions have been well chronicled. Now it seems as though PGA tournaments have an equal addiction – to Daly.

On the same day that Daly withdrew from the Houston Open during the second round, AT&T Classic tournament director Dave Kaplan said he had offered a sponsor exemption to Daly for the May 15-18 tournament.

“I think people would like to see John,” Kaplan said. “Whether they are going to come to see John as a train wreck, or to see him as a golfer, that’s in their minds, but I think John would add to our tournament.”

At least for a little while, anyway.

Already this year, Daly has withdrawn from a tournament and been disqualified from another in addition to four missed cuts.

And, by the way, last year Daly withdrew from the AT&T Classic after a 77 in the first round.

Trivia time

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the designated hitter in the American League. Who was the first player to appear as a DH?

Can’t bare it

Hooters of America Inc. is not advertising in the Final Four tournament program because the NCAA asked the company to remove a picture of a “Hooters Girl” from its proposed ad.

Company spokesman Mike McNeil said in a statement that the full-page ad, also featuring television commentator Dick Vitale, was scheduled to run on Page 4 of the program.

But the ad will be pulled because the restaurant chain would not run it without one of its trademark waitresses, who wear low-cut T-shirts and short shorts.

“That would be like telling General Motors you can advertise but don’t show a picture of a car,” McNeil said.

Small talk

Seattle Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard is the scheduled starter today at Baltimore, where he returns for the first time after spending the first five years of his career there.

But if recent history is any indication, Bedard probably won’t want to talk much about it.

After last Monday’s opener, he was asked to rate his debut – three hits and an unearned run in five innings – and offered two letters: “OK”

After a spring training start last month, he told reporters he would answer four questions.

“Why four?” a reporter asked.

“That’s one,” Bedard retorted.

Boxed out

The third base coaching box at Petco Park in San Diego was altered Thursday, two days after Dodgers coach Larry Bowa was ejected for standing outside the third base coaching box at Dodger Stadium.

The Padres moved the box 20 feet closer to home plate after Scott Hairston rounded third too far and was picked off Tuesday night. Padres third base coach Glenn Hoffman stayed within the box on the play.

“It wasn’t in the proper place the first two nights,” General Manager Kevin Towers said of the change.

Stealing home

Two New York Yankees fans were arrested and their season tickets were revoked after the fans tried to steal souvenirs from the final opening day at Yankee Stadium.

John Bunjaporte, 41, Keith O’Rourke, 39, are facing charges of attempted larceny and criminal mischief for reportedly attempting to steal bunting – the flag-like adornment brought out for big games.

Trivia answer

Ron Blomberg of the Yankees. He drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning against Luis Tiant of the Boston Red Sox.

And finally

Golfer Rory Sabbatini came under fire last year when he said Tiger Woods was “more beatable than ever.”

In an interview this week with the Sunday Times of London, he said that comment continues to haunt him.

“Tiger’s untouchable, apparently, a protected species,” he said.

“If you take aim, you will be prosecuted. He is on a pedestal, unfortunately. You can’t even talk about him.”

peter.yoon@latimes.com