Daly’s reality show, Being John Daly, premiered on Tuesday evening and it was pretty much everything you expected it to be — “I’m John Daly, I’ve changed. I don’t drink or gamble anymore. My hobbies are smoking and sex.” (Yeah, he seriously said something like that.) Afterward Daly turned to Twitter, thanking his fans for their support, and then voicing his outrage against writer Garry Smits.

Smits unleashed a report about the PGA Tour’s 456-page document called John Daly’s personnel file, which is now public record after Daly unsuccessfully sued Morris Publishing in 2005. The extensive file reveals that the Tour ordered Daly “to undergo counseling or enter alcohol rehabilitation centers seven times, once disciplined him for hitting golf shots off the top of a beer can during a pro-am and cited him 21 times for ‘failure to give best efforts,’ during Tour events.” He was also fined almost $100,000 in his career through fall of 2008, suspended five times, put on probation six times and cited 11 times for “conduct unbecoming a professional.”

Naturally, Daly enlisted his 45-thousand-something followers to call and say mean things to Smits:

Now that’s really mature. Perhaps he’d like to be cited for unbecoming conduct for the 12th time. If you want to show people you’ve changed, here’s some advice — don’t angrily tweet the writer’s cell number (three times!) and tell everyone to yell at him. Be the bigger person, JD!

Good news is that as of last night, Smits had only received 10 to 12 calls.

*Update: The AP reports that Daly removed the tweets by mid-morning on Wednesday and in a text message to to the AP wrote, “Gary left his cell number and e-mail address from phone number he left in the article public record far as I’m concerned.” Smits received nearly 100 calls and 30 voicemails by Wednesday afternoon.

With the Tiger Woods media mayhem, we failed to notice John Daly signed with a new sponsor, Slix, an underwear company. As every human on planet Earth prepared to watch a defeated Tiger apologize for his sins, Daly broke the news via his Twitter:

Gettin rdy for Tiger?—On the Fun Side I just got a GREAT SPONSOR for UNDERWEAR www.getyourslixon.com. GET READY I’ve GONE UNDERWEAR MODEL!

You can’t deny he’s looking pretty good. Remember the old JD?

He told Heather Jones of Real Women Golf, “Slix boxer briefs are the most ridiculously comfortable underwear I’ve ever put on. When I’ve got my Slix on, it’s all good.”

You know, if he ever decides he’s really “done with golf,” he may have a future as a full-fledged underwear model.

[Photo via John Daly’s Twitpic]

Following the upheaval that resulted from Tiger’s poorly-timed photo op, Commissioner Tim Finchem wrote a letter to the players to explain, which was passed on to the AP’s Doug Ferguson:

As we understand it, Tiger’s therapy called for a week’s break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning,” Finchem said in a letter Thursday. “Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement.”

So does this mean Tiger’s not going to announce he’s playing at the Phoenix Open? Interestingly enough, on Wednesday when the Commish responded with lots of “I don’t knows” from the press, he made a Freudian slip:

I don’t know. I don’t know what his plans are in terms of what he’s going to say. I don’t know what he’s going to do after he finishes his rehab, you know, I think all of that is TBD. You all will make up your own minds about that and write about it and so will fans and people that have been impacted by it.

Catch the “after he finishes his rehab?” Mmhm. So it appears that Tiger’s statement is him “getting honest,” which as author Benoit Denizet-Lewis — who spent time at the same sex rehab clinic where Tiger reportedly checked into (and out of) — detailed as a must-do.

The latest detail certainly clarifies the timing of Tiger’s gathering, I guess. But Geoff Shackelford reminds us that Sean Martin reported “the announcement has been in the works for some time” and the TPC Sawgrass room was “reserved late last week.” He also noted this comical bit in the letter:

The PGA Tour made available its sprawling, Mediterranean-styled clubhouse for the announcement, and is helping set up adjacent ballrooms at the nearby Sawgrass Marriott for media, where they can watch Woods on closed-circuit TV.

Finchem said in the letter that Woods’ management asked for the facilities, and “we agreed as we would for any member of the PGA Tour.”

So, say, John Daly, called, he would receive the same kid-glove treatment?

Clearly, there was no way Tiger could have pushed back his therapy to Monday out of respect for the Tour, sponsors and his fellow players. You know how insensitive those therapists are. So all of this was a total coincidence. Just like the glamour shots of Tiger jogging and practicing golf.

Oh, and no word yet on when Tiger completes rehab.

[Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images]

Welcome to Balls in the Air, where I size up my Fantasy Golf picks of the week, featuring guys to watch (or not) and interesting story lines. I just started playing a few weeks ago, because, well, I really enjoyed Fantasy Football last year. Disclaimer: Don’t yell at me if my picks suck.

I know the tournament has already started and I believe the deadline was sometime on Wednesday. Going forward, I’ll have my picks posted earlier. FYI, I picked last week’s winner, Steve Stricker. /big high-freaking-five! And I just jinxed myself. My apologies to Luke Donald.

Group A

Luke Donald: The options were slim, but I went with Donald. He was runner-up at last week’s Northern Trust Open. He tied the course record at Spyglass with a 62 at this tournament in 2007.

Group A Bench Dude

Phil Mickelson: I was hesitant to pick FIGJAM, but like I said, it was slim pickings. Plus, I’m playing to win, so I’m doing my best to put my personal feelings aside. Phil has had two relatively disappointing weeks, but you never know when he’ll get hot. Hopefully he found his putting stroke, or got a new one since Sunday.

Group B

Jim Furyk: Safe pick. Plus, I played a few holes with him at Pebble on a simulator back in November at a Johnnie Walker junket. He knew the course very well and made two birdies in the three holes we played. Oh, Furyk also has a strong record at Pebble.

Dustin Johnson: The defending champ is always a good bet. He’s off to a decent start this season, too. He was the 36-hole leader at the Northern Trust Open and finished T3.

Group B Bench Dudes

Alex Prugh: This rookie has stayed under the radar and hype, but has actually been playing the best. He has three consecutive top-10 finishes. He’s also a fellow Washington State native. Hoping he plays well and is up for an interview after his round…stay tuned. (If you have any question suggestions, drop them below.)

Retief Goosen: In two starts on the PGA Tour, he’s placed fourth and T6. At the Qatar Masters he earned another top-10 finish. GOOSE!

Group C

Mike Weir: Last year he was runner-up at this event. He was cut last week, but finished sixth at the Bob Hope Classic, the other tournament where celebs run rampant.

Group C Bench Dude

Brandt Snedeker: Two top-10 finishes in 2010, including runner-up at the Farmers Insurance Open.

OK, I’ll do a better job next week. Time to watch the always enlightening coverage on the Golf Channel. I also might be dropping in comments to Mike Walker who is live-blogging the tournament over at Golf.com’s Press Tent.

/checking leaderboard

K.J. Choi is leading at 6-under through 11 holes. David “Mock Turtleneck” Duval is off to a good start at 5-under through 12 — now let’s see if he can keep it up for four rounds, or hell, even two. And what is this? John Daly is three-under through seven!

So who are your favorites for the week? Drop them below.

*Update: Because several people asked if “Balls in the Air” was my remix to “Pants on the Ground,” here’s this:

So, clearly this weekend I’ll be thinking up lyrics for a “Balls in the Air” song.

The Pebble Beach Pro-Am isn’t what it used to be. Back when it was the Crosby Clambake, Bing Crosby gathered some of his closest buddies together for this annual event. You know, like Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire and Dean Martin, just to name a few — it was packed with A-listers you’d see walking down the red carpet, but instead they were playing down the fairway alongside a bunch of pro golfers.

Sadly, the Crosby name isn’t attached to the tournament anymore. But that’s okay, a telecommunications company is almost as appealing. So much that the event now attracts a few big names — like Bill Murray, Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood. Wait, what?

Kevin Costner begged off because he was touring with his band. Bill Murray pulled out of Wednesday’s goofball celebrity event allegedly to baby a bum knee, so he could play in today’s more serious opening round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. And local legend Clint Eastwood put his fierce face into mothballs years ago.

Oh well, at least Murray is still playing the actual tournament.

Let’s check out the rest of the celebs and the pairings. It’s honestly not as C-list as I expected. Naturally, Rickie “The 20 Year Old Heartthrob Who Is Supposed to Save the PGA Tour” Fowler is paired with Chris “Where Did My Career Go?” O’Donnell. They’re playing with Ryo “I Like My Clothes to Match My Caddy’s” Ishikawa and Lucas “You Might Remember That I Look Really Good in Calvin Klein Jeans” Black. So, let’s call this foursome, “Where the PGA Tour’s It Boys Meet Hollywood’s Washed-Up It Boys.”

Also naturally, Josh Duhamel is paired with Sergio Garcia. Kate Hudson’s brother and Daniel Chopra complete that group. Tony Romo, who is a better golfer than quarterback, is teamed up with John Daly. Surely the fans are super stoked to watch Chris “I’m With You, Leather” Berman, who, as you can see above, is clearly wondering what the f#ck he’s doing there, too.

Thank God for Kenny G, Michael Bolton and Huey Lewis. And at least Homo Romo brought his latest blonde thing.

[Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images]

On Wednesday John Daly called into the Golf Channel’s Grey Goose 19th Hole show to once again explain he never intended to retire:

I guess [Golf Channel producer] Al [Pollack’s] boss was on his rear to do an interview. I hate talking to anyone — whether I play good or bad. When you play good or bad, your adrenaline is so high, you just want to be left alone for 30 to 40 minutes unless you won a tournament or something like that…I really didn’t want to talk to Al, but he said I had to. It just ended up being a disaster.

So you see, it’s the GC’s fault! As a former competitive golfer, I understand the reluctance to speak to people after a round, especially when my game was struggling. Anyone who has played golf can relate. But it’s arguably part of Daly’s job to talk with reporters, particularly since he has a reality show with that network, which is giving him good publicity and a paycheck. Plus, he ultimately has control over what he says — or doesn’t say.

There are those cliches (I’m sorry, I hate them, too) that go something like, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” and “Don’t kill the messenger.”

Last Friday when I found out I wouldn’t have internet access for a few days, I sent out a Twitter blast asking for people to contribute posts. Reader David Kelly was kind enough to pass along his thoughts on John Daly.

To recap, after Daly missed the cut last Friday, he told the Golf Channel, “I’m done. I’m done.” Done with what? “Golf. I can’t compete. I can’t play like I used to. I can’t keep taking spots from guys out here playing this bad. It’s not worth it,” Daly clarified. This left many to wonder whether it was just John Daly being John Daly or if he was actually serious. As it turned out, it was what most assumed — the former.

Later that evening, Daly explained himself via his Twitter feed, saying, “I’m not retired & never said that I was retiring” and “The interview yesterday caught me after a tough 2 days & much frustration.” He also revealed he was having money problems and didn’t “like to continue to embarrass myself.”

Without further ado, read on for David’s take.

The long strange trip that is John Daly’s career showed us once again at Torrey Pines that he is human.

His skeptics were quick to jump to conclusions that he had “retired” or that it was all will say a publicity stunt for his new show on Golf Channel. They said he should listen to his own words and leave the tour for good. After all, these are the same people who don’t think JD belongs on the tour in the first place. These are the same folks that think he brings down the game.

These are also the same people who should be thanking John Daly that they have a job where they can complain and snipe in the first place.

John Daly carried this sport out of what was a long journey down into oblivion. If Crooked Stick had never happened - from Nick Price going down to being able to reach down to the 9th alternate – no one would care what Tiger Woods was doing afterhours. It would have a following comparable to tennis – nice and consistent but that is about it.

The tour in 1991 was floundering. The GGO was one of the highest winner’s purses on tour. Corey Pavin won the money title and didn’t break the the $1 million mark in 25 events. The total tour purses were right around $47 million, slightly up from the $46 million in 1990. Compare that with the ‘92 and ‘93 purses ($49 million and $53 million), and you can see where the tour started to take its first steps into the mainstream.

The tour needs more personalities like John Daly, especially in a non-Tiger sighting era. And we have some non-conventional golf personalities emerging - Boo Weekley, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Ryan Moore. They don’t come off as guys who grew up with junior memberships to the local country club. (In full disclosure, I plead guilty).  But they don’t also seem to bring the star power, good or bad, that JD does.

Whether he wins or not on the PGA Tour is not important. Hopefully, he will find a place where he is happy with his game and keeps teeing it up again. It should be noted that the last time we wrote him off, he won at Torrey Pines. Before that, he won at St. Andrews.  As he has shown by keeping his commitment to play at Pebble, there is no quit in John Daly.

I have been an unapologetic Daly fan since that day in 1991. I feel like I have seen a friend go exercise his demons in public and come out on the other side. Golf needs John Daly. He has been better for golf than the golf establishment has been to him.

While I don’t agree with David that Daly shaped the modern Tour and paved the way for Tiger’s fame (or notoriety these days), I do believe Daly is good for the game. But without golf, where would Daly be? Golf made Daly a celebrity and provided him with a great living. He arguably threw away some of his talent with the poor decisions he made. Now everyone encounters troubles and deserves second chances — hell, even third, fourth or sixth chances sometimes. But it seems Daly still has some demons to deal with and needs to stop blaming outside forces for his setbacks. That said, I hope he can overcome them and would like nothing more than to see him succeed — especially win again.

Your thoughts? Agree or disagree with David? Please chime in. Thanks again to David for contributing!

After completing a six-month suspension from the PGA Tour, John Daly is ready to stage his comeback this season.

Playing on a sponsor’s exemption at the Sony Open, he agreed to co-host the pro-am party on Tuesday night. He arrived late, but with a valid excuse:

They wouldn’t let me in. If I weighed 300 pounds and had four chins, I’d have no problem getting in. No one recognized me.

He added it was the best compliment he’s received in years. Since going through lapband surgery last year, he’s lost 116 pounds (see the difference here). He credits his “great frame of mind” right now to his drastic weight drop.

After a long history of poor decision-making that has plagued his career, Daly appears determined to put his former sideshow reputation behind him. Now, the pressure lies in his game.

Last year he played in two Tour events via sponsor’s exemptions — the Buick Open and Wyndham Championship — but played terribly. His coach faulted Daly’s sudden weight loss. Since he’s had time to adjust, hopefully we’ll see the John Daly who won the ‘91 PGA Championship and ‘95 British Open.

While some golf geeks consider Daly a joke and disgrace to the game, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if the reformed JD captured a few victories this year, particularly another major. In fact, with Tiger Woods on his “indefinite” leave, a successful John Daly could be a huge boost for the Tour.

[Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images]

Like the rest of us, Tiger’s colleagues are reflecting on his leave of absence from golf — here’s a round-up of some of the more interesting comments:

THE SAD:

“Contrary to what everybody believes, the tour will go on, but he will be sorely missed, there is no doubt about it. You take probably the greatest competitor we’ve seen in the game out of the equation [and] it’s going to be a downer. It’s going to be tough for everybody.” —Chris DiMarco

THE LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE:

“I think the mystique has gone. He is suddenly, and I hate to say it, more normal now. Let’s hope golf is not damaged by that. It shouldn’t be…It will have an impact on every tournament Tiger plays. There was an aura, but that has been split. It gives you more opportunity of winning these events.” —Colin Montgomerie

THE DISAPPOINTED BUT OPPORTUNISTIC:

“I’m a big fan of his, a friend of his, and I miss him. I love watching him play, like everyone else. The good news for the rest of us is it’s going to be a lot easier to win tournaments without Tiger playing. But we need him out here. What he’s done for our tour and golf over the last 13 years is unparalleled, really. Whenever he comes back, hopefully it’s smooth sailing and he’ll be better than ever.” —Mark Calcavecchia

THE ECONOMICALLY TOPICAL:

“I don’t think it’s going to help anything, that’s for sure. Especially with the recession we’re in now. It’s hard enough to find sponsors, and now without Tiger it’s going to be a challenge…I think there will be an effect. We all know that. There is an effect when he doesn’t play in a tournament, let alone taking time off. He has been golf since he turned pro. And he’s delivered on all of the expectations and more.” —Nick Price

THE THIS IS PARTIALLY OUR FAULT:

“I think it’s unfair how we have built him up over the years. Obviously on the course he’s one of a kind. No one really know what he was like off the course. He’s a tough guy to get around. He has his own little group. I know him strictly basically on the professional level, at tournaments, some of those team events. But I think it’s a little unfair how we judged him. And really, shame on us for thinking that’s all he went home to do, think about golf and practice and that was it. You know, so it’s a shock. It’s most definitely a shock to everybody to hear what’s been going on. But, you know, hopefully he gets it straight. Staying away I think is a great thing to get his family life in order. There’s no question we’re gonna miss him out here. Hopefully he gets his priorities straight and gets back soon.” —Steve Stricker

THE PISSED-OFF:

“What he did was totally wrong and he’s got no one to blame except himself. That’s up to him if he wants to get his family life in order. It’s a hard thing to come back from.” —Craig Parry

THE VOICE OF REASON:

“My advice to him last week was that he should have come out a lot earlier, told the truth, got it all out…He definitely screwed up. I think a lot of people are in shock. Everybody has to realize that Tiger Woods is a human and he was put on a pedestal of being non-human…They always say there is no one bigger in golf than the game itself. But Tiger is. I hope we get him back soon. Golf needs him.” —John Daly

THE DON’T DRAG ME INTO THIS MESS:

“I am a straight-up sort of person. I tell it like it is. Last year, at the same particular point of time, is when I had the confrontation with Phil Mickleson [the world’s No 2 ranked golfer]. I didn’t lie about it – I called the guy a prick. I never said I didn’t call him a prick. I never denied one word of what I said…I had no knowledge of what Tiger’s indiscretion was. And for Rick Reilly to turn around and say that I am a liar and there is no way I couldn’t know – and that I should be fired – that is sensational journalism at its height right there. I am an honest person. I had no knowledge of what was going on [with Tiger]. If I did, I would say I did.” —Steve Williams

THE IRRATIONALLY WORRIED:

“If he doesn’t return, it’s a scary vision. It’s a very scary vision. We’re under no illusion how prosperous we’ve been with Tiger Woods playing in our era. There are a lot of global stars on their way up. But they’re not quite ready to replace Tiger.” —Graeme McDowell

THE I WANT ANSWERS BUT I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY OWN PRIVATE LIFE:

“The tour has got to be worried, because what’s the definition of ‘indefinite’? Does indefinite mean, ‘OK, it might be a year because a lot of issues have got to be resolved’? That’s the word you’ve got to kind of drill in on.” —Greg Norman

THE DELUSIONAL OPTIMIST:

“No doubt we’re gonna miss him. But he ain’t bigger than the game and he’d probably [be] the first one to tell you that.” —Boo Weekley

THE KINDA LAME:

“He has not said he is not coming back. And he’s by far the best player in the world. When he does come back, he will continue to be No. 1. And he will be expected to win golf tournaments immediately.” —Ian Poulter

I’d really like to hear what Phil Mickelson has to say — but he probably can’t be reached for comment because he’s too busy reveling.

[Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images AsiaPac]