PGA Tour legend John Daly made his yearly pilgrimage to his happy place in Augusta, Georgia this week… and no, it wasn’t Augusta National.
The 58-year-old hasn’t teed it up at the Masters since 2006 but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been cashing in in the Garden City.
Instead, turn out of Magnolia Lane and head east on Washington Road this week and you’ll find Daly continuing a tradition like no other.
The two-time major winner has once again taken up residence at Augusta’s local Hooters – about a mile away from where the biggest names in golf are vying for the Green Jacket.
The notorious Diet Coke fiend has set up house at the struggling restaurant chain to flaunt his own line of merch as he does almost every year.
Speaking to ESPN, Daly revealed that last year he pocketed $780,000 selling $40 hats, $10 autographed golf balls and $250 boxes of cigars among other treasures and could make even more this year.
PGA Tour legend John Daly has made his yearly pilgrimage to Augusta’s local Hooters
The restaurant is located around a mile from Augusta National along Washington Road
Daly hasn’t teed it up at the Masters since 2006 but almost always makes the trip to Hooters
‘Eat some good food, smoke, sell some s***,’ Daly told the outlet of his annual trip to the patio of the Augusta Hooters.
The visit has been a rite of passage for almost 28 years with a notable exception. Back in 2023, Daly was noticeably absent from the Hooters, his motorhome missing from the parking lot.
When asked where the golf icon was that year, one waitress provided an explanation of sorts: ‘Unchoicely behavior.’
However, Daly was back to business last year and has once again returned to greet the masses who queue around the bend to meet him.
His relationship with the restaurant chain, which is known for its scarcely-attired waitresses, extends far beyond Augusta.
In 2022, he and his son, John Daly II, signed an NIL endorsement deal with the US restaurant chain.
‘As a longtime fan of the brand off the course, I am excited this relationship with Hooters extends to the greens,’ Daly said in the spring of 2022. ‘This will be a terrific partnership as Hooters is all about authentic fun. I am eager to represent the brand and have a great time while doing so.’
At the 2023 Open, he even turned heads when he rocked up to Royal Liverpool in Hooters print pants.
The two-time major winner has been a fixture at the chain for almost 28 years
The 58-year-old went as far as to wear Hooters print pants at the 2023 Open
In 2022, he and his son, John Daly II (second right) signed an NIL deal with the chain
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Daly’s latest Hooters appearance comes amid a string of medical issues. He shared a photo of himself from a hospital bed back in January for emergency surgery on his hand.
The 58-year-old sparked huge concerns for his wellbeing when he shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed back in January.
Alongside the snap, he revealed to his 800k followers that he had just undergone surgery due to an issue with his hand, before vowing to ‘be back playing in no time.’
But months on from that emergency op, Daly recently made his first PGA Tour appearance of the year at the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, California.
When asked how bad his hand injury was, the chain-smoking cult hero explained: ‘The tendons were all wrapped around each other. [The doctor] doesn’t understand how I played last year.
‘But he put it back, attached it to the forefinger or something.
’16 surgeries in four years, I’ve lost count pretty much.’
Daly has also opened up on his battle with bladder cancer after revealing that he has been in remission for a number of years.
The two-time major winner made an appearance on the ‘Like a Farmer’ podcast and was frank about his health issues, recalling himself ‘peeing and puking blood’ before the cancer diagnosis.
