John Daly Wins PGA Championship

On August 11, 1991, professional golfer John Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship. 

Daly became the first rookie to win a major title since Jerry Pate won the U.S. Open in 1976.

John Daly’s win was one of the most improbable and surprising wins in golf history. Daly was the ninth and final alternate for the tournament and after Nick Price dropped out and no other alternate was able to make it, John got his opportunity. 

Although he did not play a practice round, Daly still shot a three under 69 in the opening round. He followed that up with rounds of 67, 69 and 71 to finish the tournament at 12 under par, three strokes better than runner-up Bruce Lietzke.

After his win, John Daly became an instant fan favorite. His massive drives, eccentric personality and colorful wardrobe still makes him one of the most popular players on the tour to this day.

Since then Daly has stayed a common fixture on the PGA tour. Daly has since won five PGA Tour events, three European Tour events, one Nationwide Tour event and one Asian Tour event, and has a total of 19 professional wins.

In 2004, Daly was named the PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year.

Despite his great career Daly had problems with alcoholism, drugs, and gambling.

In 2006, Daly revealed in the last chapter of his autobiography that he has had great difficulty with a gambling problem. He claims to have lost between US $50 and $60 million over the past 15 years. This includes losing $1.5 million in October 2005, after winning half that amount at the WGC-American Express tournament; most of it lost on $5,000 Las Vegas slot machines. Daly has been able to pay his gambling debts mostly through making more paid public appearances and through sponsorship opportunities.

Also in 2006, Daly launched a wine label John Daly Wines, now defunct. The mixed drink John Daly is also named after Daly, though not with his approval. On Sunday, October 26, 2008, Daly was taken into protective custody by Winston-Salem police, after he was found drunk outside a Hooters restaurant.

At the British Open on July 15, 2010, Daly said he was no longer drinking alcohol.

MLB Investigates Pete Rose

On March 20, 1989, Major League Baseball’s Pete Rose, who was then the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, announced by the MLB will be under investigation for gambling on baseball.

Pete Rose as a manager of the Cincinnati Red in 1989.

A few months later on, May 9, 1989, Special Investigator John Dowd delivers his report to Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti. A few months after that on August 24, 1989, Pete Rose voluntarily agrees to a lifetime ban from baseball. The agreement Rose signs with Giamatti contains no formal findings, but Giamatti states he believes Rose bet on baseball. Later that same day, Rose denies the claim.

Eight years later in September, of 1997, Rose applies for reinstatement to baseball.

Seven years after his application for reinstatement, as baseball is set to announce the election of Paul Molitar and Dennis Eckersley into the Hall of Fame, Rose admits he bet on baseball.

Rose, most likely the best hitter of his time, and maybe of all time accumulated 4,256 hits in his career, which still marks first all-time. He played in 3,562, the most all-time. Rose also racked up the most at-bats for any player all-time with 14,053, singles with 3,215 and times on base with 5,929.

Pete Rose doing one of his iconic head first dives as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1975.

Some of Rose’s other accomplishments include, 1963 NL Rookie of the Year award, 1973 NL MVP, 1975 World Series MVP, two gold gloves, one silver slugger award and 17 All-Star Game nominations.

Rose, who will most likely never be elected into the Hall of Fame, has earned his place in the Hall of Fame statistically, but because of his gambling issues, their might be a chance he will never dawn the tan jacket.