Daly Enters Betty Ford Center for Treatment of Alcoholism

John Daly, a long hitter off the tee with a history of a drinking problem, said Sunday he was entering the Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs for treatment of alcoholism.

Daly, 30, withdrew from the Players Championship the day after a long drinking session during which he damaged his hotel room and was hospitalized for chest pains. .

“I apologize to others who struggle with me in fighting this disease,” Daly said in a statement released through his agent. “I’m going to do my best and hopefully we will prevail together.”

There was no indication how long he will be away from golf, although it is likely he will miss the Masters in two weeks.

Buddy Martin, one of his agents, said he was awakened Friday morning with a call from Daly’s wife, Paulette, who said her husband needed help.

Daly was seen drinking for several hours in a nightspot called Sloppy Joe’s on Thursday. He sang with the band and at one point took the microphone and drew loud applause when he praised the Jacksonville Jaguars football team, according to several people.

Later, he did more than $1,000 damage to his hotel room and was hospitalized after complaining of chest pains, said Kevin Kelshaw, spokesman for the St. Johns County sheriff’s office.

Daly, 30, entered an alcohol rehabilitation program in 1993 but late last year admitted he was drinking “socially.”