AUGUSTA, Ga. — When Augusta National closed to the public due to bad weather on Monday, golf fans still found a place to celebrate golf history.
Just a mile from Augusta`s famous Magnolia Lane, people of all ages and backgrounds waited in the rain. They were there to see a different kind of golf tradition.
It`s Masters week in Augusta, but as you drive towards Augusta National Golf Club, you`re met with another unique tradition.
`COME SEE JOHN DALY TODAY,` a sign reads outside Hooters. Since 1997, the famous John Daly has been setting up shop there all week. He sells merchandise, takes photos with fans, and enjoys himself with a cigarette in hand.
`John Daly`s my hero,` said Bret Bowen, a local resident. `He`s the best, most fun golfer ever.`
Daly, who hasn`t played in the Masters since 2006, comes back every year. He provides a contrast to the formal atmosphere of Augusta National. Inside the golf course, phones, cameras, and cigarettes are not allowed. But at Hooters, fans can meet Daly up close and personal.
`Eat some good food, smoke, sell some stuff,` Daly said about his Hooters tradition.
And he does sell a lot. Last year, Daly`s team reported sales of about $780,000 on the Hooters patio. This year, they might sell even more because of the Monday rain. Hats with Daly`s face or slogans sell for $40 each. Boxes of his `Short Game` cigars, described as having `cinnamon earth and elegant floral notes,` cost $250 and were sold out quickly.
He`s the king of the alternative Augusta experience. Rental prices in town during Masters week are much higher than usual. While many Masters visitors are wealthy, Daly`s fans are loyal and often bring him gifts. He received a box of Vidalia onions from `Dale from Vidalia,` a gift he gets every year. Another fan from Wisconsin brought him cheese.
`My Wisconsin guy always brings the cheese,` Daly said. `I love cheese and onions.`
Larry Stelow, another Wisconsin resident and pet portrait artist, gifted Daly a painting of him with a dog.
`That. Is. Awesome.` Daly said, taking a photo with Stelow.
`I just wanted a picture with John and the painting,` Stelow said. `It was special.`
Daly sells signed golf balls for $10, pictures, shirts, and replica flags from his 1991 PGA Championship win for $100. He signs everything and takes photos with everyone.
And he even made Bret Bowen`s day.
`John Daly gave me a cigarette!` Bowen exclaimed.
Daly became famous at the 1991 PGA Championship. He was an unknown player who got into the tournament as an alternate and won it, even though he had never played the course before.
Regular golfers loved his `grip-it-and-rip-it` style. In 1997, he was the first player to average over 300 yards off the tee. He led the PGA Tour in driving distance 11 times between 1991 and 2002. He also won the Open Championship in 1995. He was a refreshing change for golf.
Off the course, Daly was different from typical golfers. He was known for his mullet, cigarettes, beer, love for Hooters, and not taking himself too seriously. He also brought a unique style to golf fashion.
Rebecca Gaines from Georgia has been coming to see Daly for five years. She admires his style, which often includes bright colors, skulls, American flags, and paint designs.
Legendary golf writer Dan Jenkins once joked about Daly`s pants, comparing them to a Motel 6 shower curtain.
But Gaines loves his clothes. `He`s my favorite because of his clothes,` she said. `That`s why I like him.`
Daly`s caddie, Lance Odom, met him a few years ago. He says the attention Daly gets is unlike anything he`s seen, even among other golfers.
`People come here like it`s their first time at Disney World with him,` Odom said. `Everyone has a story. It`s like being with Michael Jordan. You can`t go anywhere without people approaching him.`
And everyone has their own reasons for being a fan.
Scott Grennell from Georgia came on his lunch break just to meet Daly.
`Growing up, I had two heroes: Pete Rose and John Daly,` he said. `And I met one today.`
Ed Burns from England admires Daly`s everyman appeal in a sport that can be exclusive.
`He was one of the guys who changed it, an ordinary guy like that,` Burns said. `He won the Open. I really admire him.`
Jason Gamble and his golf group stopped by to see Daly before heading to the Masters.
`He`s like the best guy in your golf group,` Gamble said. `He makes the game look easy, and he`s just a regular guy. He`s the kind of guy you want to play with.`
For them, Daly is an icon.
`John is relatable. We`re called Drunk By the Turn, and John is our mascot. He`s just a free spirit, smoking, drinking, and playing golf.`
For some, meeting Daly saved their Masters week.
Pam Duvall traveled to Augusta hoping for Masters passes, but her friend couldn`t deliver. Instead, she visited Hooters.
`We said we`re going to Hooters, and if we can see John Daly and get a picture, it will make it worth it,` Duvall said. `My kids wanted Masters souvenirs, but signed Daly merchandise will be even better.`
Daly has faced health issues in recent years, including bladder cancer in 2020 and multiple surgeries.
`I have more metal in me than the Bionic Man,` he joked. `But I`m still here. I keep coming back.`
Daly plans to keep coming to Hooters every year. It`s a good partnership for both him and the restaurant. Daly`s son, John Daly II, is also a golfer and recently won his first college tournament. Daly is very proud of his son`s success.
`How cool is that? Great finish and won in a playoff,` Daly said about his son.
But Little John will focus on golf, not merchandise sales.
Daly`s Hooters setup has changed over the years. He used to park an RV there for the week, but now he`s on the patio. He enjoys connecting with his fans in his own space.
`I may not get in the Hall of Fame, but I`ll always have the fans,` Daly said. `I love them, and we connect. Regular people connect.`
Alexis Davis, a waitress at Hooters, loves Masters week because of the diverse fans Daly attracts.
`The golf people bring a different energy,` she said. `They`re excited about the Masters and share their stories.`
She sees Daly as a bridge between the serious and fun sides of golf. Even famous people like Ken Griffey Jr. and Matt Damon have visited Daly at Hooters during Masters week.
`You can have both,` she said. `You can enjoy golf and the Masters, but also have fun and relax.`
Another Daly fan, Karson Angell, summed it up: `If you`re going to the Masters and you don`t come to Hooters after, where are you really at?`
