Daly Ready to Start Over : Golf: He says he learned a lot while undergoing alcohol rehabilitation and will take things ‘one day at a time.’

Minus his blond mustache and a few pounds since last basking in the professional golf spotlight two months ago during the Shark Shootout at Thousand Oaks, John Daly launches his “comeback” Thursday at the Phoenix Open.

But for Daly--a virtual unknown in 1991, when he scored a stunning victory in the PGA Championship and who earlier this month became the first tour player known to have undergone alcohol rehabilitation--the road back has little to do with his mighty golf swing or dropping birdie putts.

“I’m excited to be out playing again,” Daly said Tuesday during a 20-minute session with reporters at the Tournament Players Club, site of the Phoenix event. “I learned a lot of new things about myself and about life (during rehabilitation). . . . I’m going to take one day at a time.”

Acknowledging that he has joined Alcoholics Anonymous after spending 3 1/2 weeks in the rehabilitation center at Sierra Tucson, Ariz., the 26-year-old pro said he hopes to attend an AA meeting at least once every two weeks or so.

Daly remains one of the most popular players in the sport despite his numerous off-course incidents that culminated with a domestic dispute in which he allegedly roughed up his 40-year-old wife Bettye last Dec. 19 at the couple’s home in Castle Rock, Colo.

Daly was arrested and charged with assault, but the charges later were dropped. PGA Commissioner Deane Beman reportedly told Daly to seek professional medical help or face suspension.

“I love my fans,” Daly told the reporters, who were restricted to questions pertaining only to the young pro’s future. “My slogan is, ‘Don’t drink while I’m sober.’ I’m going to start from the bottom and work my way up again.

“I do have an after-care program. It’s a real slow one. I’m not too particular about hitting five or six AA meetings every week, but I will try to hit one every two weeks or something like that.

“It’s just like anything else. I’ve got to take it slow. I’ve got a lot of athlete friends out there who have gone through the same thing I have that are going to help me out.

“It’s a slow process. It’s just like anything else in life. I want to make sure I do it right. . . . I think when you quit drinking mentally, you’re a hundred times better person. I think mentally and physically, it’s going to help my golf game.”

The game is a bit rusty, Daly said, having played only two rounds at Tucson since returning. He said he went four weeks without picking up a golf club, the longest period since he started playing when he was 4.

Now, his goal is to win a tournament--any tournament. He’s happy with his driving, but believes his long irons and putting need work. The Phoenix Open should provide more definitive clues within a few days, he said, smiling.

Daly was inspired at the Tucson clinic when former Dallas Cowboy linebacker Thomas (Hollywood) Henderson showed up to give a talk. Henderson is the author of the book “Out of Control,” which details his own drinking problems and how he solved them.

“I got more out of his speech than the whole rehab program, the things he went through,” Daly said, some of which he said he identified with.

Asked if he considered 3 1/2 weeks sufficient time to launch his “comeback,” Daly responded, “I feel it is, but you never know. I’m just going to take this week, you know, one week at a time and see how it feels. If I ever get into a situation where there may be a chance of a relapse or something, I’ve got the right contacts to call.”

Minutes after facing the mostly sympathetic journalists, the long-driving pro--he led the tour in that category last year with an average of 283.4 yards--strolled to the driving range to unleash a few shots for the gallery.

He paused to sign autographs, posed for snapshots and later drew a burst of laughter from the crowd when he smacked a fake golf ball off the tee that exploded in a cloud of white powder.

While puffing on a cigarette between practice shots, Daly smiled, glanced at the cigarette and acknowledged that he had not broken all his bad habits.

“I’ve been smoking since 1985,” he said. “One thing at a time.”

An hour later, he won the $10,000 long-driving contest as expected, slamming his first tee shot 311 yards, his second 315.

Seemed like old times.