Dubai: John Daly has been through a lot in his life but he faces his toughest battle yet after being diagnosed with cancer of the bladder last month.
The two-time major champion told the Golf Channel that doctors discovered the cancer during a kidney stones procedure.
Daly is currently playing in the Sanford International, the first PGA Tour Champions’ event, with Hall of Famers Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Bernhard Langer since returning from a break because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said doctors successfully removed the cancer but there is a strong chance it will return.
“There’s an 85 per cent chance it comes back,” Daly told the Golf Channel. “So I’ve got to go back and see him (the doctor) in three months. They will probably have to cut it out again.
“It’s probably going to come back, and then another three months that you don’t know. You just don’t know. Luckily for me they caught it early. We will just see what happens. Maybe there’s a miracle.”
A day after revealing he’s being treated for bladder cancer, Daly was in the group at 68 heading into the final day of the Champions Tour event at Sioux Falls in South Dakota,
“I never thought I would see me getting to 50, so every year after that it’s just a gold medal for me,” the 54-year-old Daly said after the rainy round.
The PGA Championship winner and British Open champion is famous for his shock victory at the 1991 PGA Championship as well as his long drives off the tee, colourful outfits in tournaments and wild life off the course.
He has also struggled with alcohol issues during his career but remains a big fan favourite.
“Hey All, thank you all so much for all the love, texts, msgs & support thru this!” Daly tweeted. “It’s all still shocking for me but know I’ll do what I have in me to beat this! My whole life I’ve beaten the odds, so it’s NOT time to stop now! #gripitandripityall.”
