"I too was shocked" - Reporter reveals John Daly had packs of cigarettes and soft drinks during Round 1 of PGA Championship

At 58, John Daly is one of the oldest players at the 2024 PGA Championship. This year, the tournament is being held at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisiana, Kentucky from May 16 to 19, 2024.

On Wednesay, Gabby Herzig, a golf reporter for The Athletic took to X (formerly Twitter) and divulged details about Daly's eating routine during Round 1 of the PGA Championship. She said that the 58-year-old smoked two packs of cigarettes while also having four snickers bars and two Cokes (Coca-Cola).

"I overheard the volunteer with John Daly’s group say that he went through two packs of cigarettes, four Snickers bars and two Cokes today at Valhalla. Had to share."

Herzig further expressed her surprise at the fact that Daly drank two Cokes.

"Disclaimer: I am simply reporting what I heard. I walked the last four holes with his group. I too was shocked at the 2 Cokes figure!"

John Daly started the first round by teeing off at 8:32 A.M. with Lee Hodges and Robert MacIntyre. Daly finished the round with a score of 82 with 11 over par. He finished in 155th position on a field of 156. He did slightly better than Jeff Kellen who scored 16-over 87.

Daly scored seven bogeys in the front nine with three of them successively on holes 1, 2 and 3. He further scored two bogeys on par-4 12th and par-3 14th. He scored a double bogey on the par-4 17.

Xander Schauffele topped the leaderboard after the end of the first round at Valhalla. He scored 9 under 62, the lowest score in the history of Majors. He equalled the record with Rickie Fowler (US Open) and Branden Grace (2017 Open Championship).

Schauffele also broke the course record by Jose Maria Olazabal during the 2000 PGA Championship. Olazabal had shot 63 in the third round at Valhalla Golf Club in 2000.

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Why does John Daly ride in a golf cart and his caddie does not?

John Daly is appearing at his 547th PGA Tour event at the 2024 PGA Championship. He won the 1991 PGA Championship by a margin of three strokes over Bruce Lietzke. John Daly last made the cut at the PGA Championship in 2012.

However, the senior golfer rides the golf cart at Valhalla due to arthritis. There are a few rules he has to follow regarding this. Firstly, Daly is restricted from carrying his bag while riding. Secondly, the caddies can't drive the golf carts unless expressly permitted.

While talking to AP News, Daly said in a telephone interview:

"My knee is screwed. I had the meniscus cut out. I have osteoarthritis so bad ... I can walk up a hill, I just can’t walk down one."

Other than Daly, only Casey Martin has used a golf cart in Majors in the year 1998 and 2012.

Daly further said that he could only walk six holes. He further said (AP News):

"The whole thing [stinks]. Florida sends me a handicap sticker when I’m there. It’s embarrassing. But I can’t walk more than six holes before the whole knee swells up, and then I can’t go anymore."

John Daly is next scheduled to tee off at 1:57 PM ET with Lee Hodges and Robert MacIntyre on Friday, May 17.