"I just kept fighting and plugging away," - When World No. 299 John Daly stunned the golf world with 2004 Buick Invitational triumph

John Daly has had an interesting career in golf and has experienced several high points over his three decades in professional golf. One such event was the 2004 Buick Invitational, where he stunned the heavyweights to secure his first PGA Tour win in nine years.

Daly entered the event in La Jolla, California, ranked 299th in the OWGR. His last win had come at the 1995 Open Championship, and in those nine years, he had faced numerous setbacks in both his personal and professional life. However, he shocked everyone with his impressive golf, shooting rounds of 69-66-68 in the opening three rounds.

Daly held the 54-hole lead but shot 75 in the final round, forcing a playoff against Luke Donald and Chris Riley. On the playoff hole, he first hit a 100-foot bunker shot that landed just four inches behind the hole. While Donald missed a 6-foot putt, Riley had a chance to equalize but his five-foot putt lipped out and gave Daly his first win in nine years.

During the winner's press conference, Daly reflected on his first triumph in ten years.

"It feels great. There's been a lot of ups and downs in those ten years," he said. "I just kept fighting and plugging away," he said. "There was a battle on the golf course today. It played very hard. I was never really sure what iron to hit even when I did hit a fairway. The pins were pretty tough, but somehow or another, I got it done and I'm just so happy."

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How many titles has John Daly won?

John Daly has won 19 professional titles in his career. He has won five times on the PGA Tour including two major championships.

Here's a look at John Daly's victories:

PGA Tour (5)

1. PGA Championship (Aug 11, 1991)
2. B.C. Open (Sep 27, 1992)
3. BellSouth Classic (May 8, 1994)
4. The Open Championship (Jul 23, 1995)
5. Buick Invitational (Feb 15, 2004)

European Tour (1)

1. BMW International Open (Sep 2, 2001)

Asian PGA Tour (1)

1. Kolon Korea Open (Oct 12, 2003)

Southern Africa Tour (2)

1. AECI Charity Classic (Feb 3, 1990)
2. Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic (Feb 18, 1990)

Ben Hogan Tour (1)

1. Ben Hogan Utah Classic (Sep 16, 1990)

Others (8)

1. Michelob Missouri Open (Aug 22, 1987)
2. AT&T Australian Skins Game (Feb 11, 1996)
3. JCPenney Classic (Dec 5, 1999) – (with England Laura Davies)
4. Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational (Nov 23, 2003)
5. Telus World Skins Game (Aug 8, 2006)
6. Telus World Skins Game (Jun 19, 2007)
7. Beko Classic (Dec 6, 2014)
8. PNC Championship (Dec 19, 2021) – (with son John Daly II)

PGA Tour Champions (1)

1. Insperity Invitational (May 7, 2017)