When talking about the greatest golfers of all time, there are two names that are always top of the list. Both Tiger Woods and John Daly have contributed so much to the game of golf in unique ways. While many look up to them for their incredible talents and wisdom, these two have seen their share of controversy.
The two golf legends are both still active in the game, now that Tiger Woods has announced his return after recovering from his major car crash in February. John Daly is currently playing on the PGA Champions Tour, but recently announced he will be taking a break from competition.
Throwback photo featuring a young Tiger Woods and John Daly
Let’s all enjoy a photo of adorable little Tiger Woods and John Daly today. pic.twitter.com/GWEJGLluEE
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) November 16, 2021
Fans seemed amused by the photo, some commenting on how a conversation between the two must have taken place. Certain fans even joked about Daly introducing Woods to smoking. “They look like everyone I’ve ever golfed with, standing there, patiently waiting for me to find my ball,” wrote one fan. Many were not even aware the two knew each other back then.
While others wondered if Daly asked Woods to watch him before he teed off.
One even joked about letting his kids know that the two players were retired NBA legends, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird.
Where did the two actually meet?
As per reports, the two golfers properly met for the first time in 1989, when Woods was 13. It was at the National Insurance Youth Golf Classic at Texarkana Country Club – the venue of the throwback photo shared above. The photo, however, was apparently taken in 1987.
They look like everyone I’ve ever golfed with, standing there, patiently waiting for me to find my ball.
— Stephen T. Savage (@StephenTSavage) November 16, 2021
Kudos to you. That’s the perfect description of John Daly.
— Aileen Bowers (@AileenBowers20) November 16, 2021
“Hi kid … err … wanna cigarette?”
— chase squires (@chasesquires) November 16, 2021
Let’s all enjoy a photo of adorable little Tiger Woods and John Daly today. pic.twitter.com/GWEJGLluEE
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) November 16, 2021
Daly met a young Woods and just knew the teenager would become a big star.
Daly, now 55, even shared a story about Woods freaking out after a shot. “The ball came unwound. I think that kind of freaked [Tiger] out,” he wrote. “He thought it was the coolest thing he’d ever seen in golf, that’s what he told his mom and dad”.
A lot of time has passed since the meeting and the two have made quite the name for themselves in the days that followed. Woods currently has 82 PGA Tour wins, which includes a stunning 15 major wins. At this point, countless players and fans look up to him as probably the greatest golfer the game has ever seen.
In the end, Daly replaced the ball and was able to beat a 13-year-old Woods by two shots.
On the other hand, while Daly only has five PGA Tour wins, he has managed to bag two major victories for him – The PGA Championship (1991) and The Open Championship (1995). The 1991 win was a big breakthrough for Daly, who has played PGA Tour events since 1986.
Read the original article on Essentially Sports.
