Daly Finally Ran Out of Mulligans With Sponsor

Has anyone in golf had more chances than John Daly? Probably not, but even if you can’t work yourself up into a feel-sorry mode for the most self- destructive player in the game, you can’t ignore the fact that it’s still a sad situation.

It wasn’t easy for Callaway Golf to dump Daly after a two-year association. In fact, Ely Callaway spent nearly half an hour on the phone with Daly trying to convince him not to leave the addiction center where he had showed up, however briefly.

Actually, Callaway could have dumped Daly weeks ago after Daly admitted he was gambling again in Las Vegas, in violation of his deal with the Carlsbad club-maker. Instead, Callaway urged Daly to get help. Daly refused. He said he would work it out his way.

So who walked away from whom? What did Callaway lose? Not only all the money it spent paying off Daly’s debts, but its preeminent spokesperson for its equipment, especially the X-12 irons that were the centerpiece of its arrangement with Daly.

And what did Daly lose?

About $3 million and an endorsement deal that would have run through 2001.

Let’s hope that’s the only cost for Daly. His career isn’t over, of course, only his latest sponsorship deal. Maybe that will be the extent of it.

ELS ON DALY

Ernie Els has been a big Daly fan for years and considers himself one of Daly’s best friends. After learning of the Callaway decision, Els said Daly seems to be desperately crying out to be happy.

“I’m disappointed, a little sad,” Els said. “John’s been going through a lot of tough times. All I can say is I hope John knows what he’s doing. I’ve supported John when he was trying to stay off it.

“I don’t know what’s going through John Daly’s head. He’s got to get happy. He hasn’t been happy in years. Who knows what’s going through his head?”

IS IT WIN OR ELS?

Unless Europe suddenly annexes South Africa, Els will have no part in the Ryder Cup other than interested observer.

From his point of view, next week’s Ryder Cup at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass., is about as much of a mismatch as the expansion Cleveland Browns vs., well, anybody.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out,” Els said. “On paper, the U.S. should just thump them. Europe is a very gutsy team. But the U.S . . . take their talent, take their confidence, take playing in America, it’s going to be awful hard for any team to come close to them.”

SO ARE PUPPIES

David Duval on why the U.S. may have a Ryder Cup advantage: “We’re better on paper, right?”

THAT’S HOW IT WORKS

Fred Couples has played the Ryder Cup five times, and even though he isn’t going to be playing at the Country Club, he knows how the show goes.

Said Couples: “You wait two years to go on the team and all you don’t want to do is screw up so everyone can see you. What happens is you end up screwing up anyway because you’re so worried about it.”

HE’S CALLING COLIN

Hey, isn’t Colin Montgomerie supposed to be a friend of Nick Faldo?

Kind of. After all, Montgomerie questioned the wisdom of leaving Faldo off the European Ryder Cup team.

Now, Faldo is questioning Montgomerie’s, well, wisdom.

Faldo wonders why Montgomerie hasn’t played the PGA Tour full time, which is what Faldo began doing five years ago.

“I’m surprised he hasn’t done something different as a challenge,” Faldo said. “But he likes to earn his fat checks each week, which is no harm in that--if you’re motivated by that. A few are. Most of us go for 10 Claret Jugs.”

Montgomerie is the best player in Europe, but he has played 57 tournaments in the U.S. and is winless--and he has never won a major. On the other hand, Montgomerie is about to win the European PGA Tour money title for the seventh consecutive year.

THE HANKY PLAN

Hank Kuehne has played three tournaments as a pro, made the cut two weeks ago at Vancouver and last week at the Bell Canadian Open and earned $19,869, but he’s already a winner.

How’s that? Kuehne signed an unusual $2.5-million guarantee with Cornerstone Sports when he turned pro, a sum that basically amounted to an advance to count against whatever he would make through endorsements.

Over the course of the five-year deal, Kuehne has to pay back 20% of that $2.5 million, and Cornerstone pockets any endorsement money over $2.5 million.

Kuehne signed a ball deal with Srixon, an apparel deal with Woolrich and a head-wear deal with Custom Track. Those endorsements mean that Cornerstone has exceeded its $2.5-million investment.

There’s more money on the way too. Cornerstone is still working on a club deal and a bag deal for Kuehne, depending where he winds up playing next year.

Kuehne, who has entered the B.C. Open, can play three more events before he uses up his seven sponsors’ exemptions. Unless he makes a big splash, he can plan on qualifying school.

RYDER CUPDATE

How to follow the Ryder Cup in cyberspace? Log on to www.rydercup.com, the official Web site put together by the PGA of America, IBM and Ryder Cup Limited.

TIGER UPDATE

News item: PGA of America reschedules its Grand Slam of Golf to Thanksgiving week so it fits into Tiger Woods’ schedule.

Reaction: No-brainer. There’s no show without Tiger, and this “tournament” is nothing more than a TV show. If Tiger wanted to play it at midnight on the Fourth of July, that’s when it would be.

TIGER UPDATE II

Better be careful eating your Wheaties. If that last bite is a little too crunchy, you might be eating the demo disk of EA Sports’ Tiger Woods 99 golf game that’s being given away with the cereal.

MULLIGAN, MAYBE?

Cheeseburgers cost $8.50 at Planet Hollywood. Cheeseburgers cost $8.50 at the Official All-Star Cafe. So what’s the difference? Uh, none?

You may have read somewhere (OK, it was here) that Woods made a recent appearance at Planet Hollywood although he endorses the rival All-Star Cafe. Bogey. Actually, both chains are owned by the same company, Planet Hollywood Restaurants Inc.

ARE BOMBS STILL OK?

This is real progress, all right: You can’t carry a gun to the Phoenix Open anymore.

The tournament changed its policy on concealed weapons and put limits on how long alcohol will be sold at concession stands as a result of the gun-toting heckler who was thrown off the course for hassling Woods at the tournament in January.

This news came from a press release with the headline: “Fans Encouraged To Be ‘Good Sports.’ ”

MONEY NEWS

He’s No. 9 on the PGA Tour money list, which means that Carlos Franco may become the first rookie to finish in the top 10 on the money list since Jerry Pate was No. 10 in 1976.

COST PLUS

A National Golf Foundation survey found that golf-related consumer spending in the U.S. is $31 billion. That includes fees, equipment, apparel, food and beverages.

At the same time, the NGF also found that golf costs are driving away core golfers. A survey said that 34% of this core group of players will seek alternative, less-expensive leisure activities.

BIRDIES, BOGEYS, PARS

Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Jim Colbert and Raymond Floyd are among the early entries in the $1.2-million Pacific Bell Senior Classic at Wilshire Country Club, Oct. 29-31. Joe Inman is the defending champion. Ticket information: (213) 480-3232.

Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus will team as the senior tour team in the Diners Club Matches at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach. The event will be televised live on ABC, Dec. 11-12.

The Beverly Hills Community Hospital’s annual tournament is being held Sept. 30 at Montebello Golf Course. The event benefits the hospital’s cardiac care center. Details: (323) 725-4264.

Candie Kung of USC is part of Golfweek’s preseason All-American first team. In the preseason rankings, USC is No. 17 and UCLA No. 21 in men’s Division I, and USC is No. 4, Pepperdine No. 5 and UCLA No. 15 in women’s Division I.

The Southern Family’s tournament will be held Oct. 30 at Arroyo Seco Golf Course in South Pasadena. The event benefits the Ketogenic Diet plan to help control epileptic seizures. Details: (626) 445-0651.