Daly Seeks to Rekindle Competitive Fire : Golf: On eve of the Tournament of Champions, PGA winner says he was burned out at the end of 1991.

Long-hitting John Daly, who became an instant celebrity with his victory in the PGA Championship last August, is not feeling up to par.

Daly has flu, but that is not going to keep him from playing in the Infiniti Tournament of Champions that begins today at the La Costa Resort.

“I’m not as strong as I want to be, but I’m pumped up to play,” he said. “It’s the kind of course that I feel I can do well on.”

That means that most, if not all, of the par-five holes can be reached in two shots by Daly.

Daly said he was “burned out” after participating in the Skins Game last November at PGA West in La Quinta. Then, he played in the World Championships at Jamaica in December, where he was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard after the second round. He signed for an 86, when he shot an 87.

“I just want to be more patient and consistent this year,” Daly said. “Last year was a great year, and this year I just want to keep playing golf and playing for the fans.”

Even though there will be considerable attention paid to Daly, he said he is not putting any added pressure on himself to win.

“I just want to be in contention more this year,” he said. “I feel I should win, but it’s damn hard.”

Craig Stadler estimates that it is only a 10- to 15-minute drive from his home in Rancho Santa Fe to the La Costa golf course.

However, in terms of this tournament, he has been, in essence, much farther away.

Stadler played seven years without winning a tournament, finally breaking through with a victory last November in the Tour Championship.

Though he is eligible to play in the Tournament of Champions, he said Wednesday night that a sprained right shoulder will prevent him from participating.

He injured his shoulder while skiing last weekend at the Steamboat ski resort in Colorado.

“Some 8-year-old girl tried to ski over the top of me,” Stadler said. “Rather than absolutely annihilate her, I had to go up a little bank and, when I came down, I hit a rock or a piece of ice and I did a 360 and, boom, right on the right shoulder.

“It’s called a jammed shoulder. Nothing broken. I’ve had a lot of therapy, a lot of icing. It’s very minor, but it hurts like hell.”

Stadler estimates that he won’t be able to play again until the Pebble Beach tournament at the end of this month.

As for his victory in the Tour Championship, Stadler said:

“It was good to remember how to win again. It has been so long that I think I’d forgotten how.”

Stadler’s victory at Pinehurst, N.C., was worth $360,000 and enabled him to finish second on the earnings list in 1991 with $827,628.

“I had played well up to the Tour Championship,” he said. “I didn’t win, but I had two or three good chances to win. Obviously, it was a great way to finish the year.”

Stadler said his showing in the Los Angeles Open did as much for his confidence as anything.

“I birdied 14, 16 and 17 to get in (contention) on the final day,” he said. “Then, I three-putted 18 from a mile and a half.”

Nonetheless, Stadler had a final round of 66, finishing third.

“Earlier, my confidence level wasn’t there to put four rounds together,” Stadler said. “My putting was usually my downfall. I think I got pretty complacent with just a high finish.”

There are 13 players in the field of 32 who were first-time winners in 1991, including Daly and amateur Phil Mickelson, whose victory came in the Tucson Open last January.

Ian Woosnam, the Masters champion, is not in the field. Neither is Payne Stewart, the U.S. Open champion. Stewart is reportedly in Australia visiting with his wife’s relatives.

The total purse is $800,000, with the winner receiving $144,000.

Tom Kite, the defending champion, is playing for the 13th time. He also won here in 1985.