John Daly using Hooters golf bag at The Open as his caddy son dons matching hat
St. Andrew's is renowned as being one of the classiest golf venues on the planet, but John Daly began The Open by bringing a vibe the likes of which hasn't been seen before on the Old Course.
The two-time major-winner tends to stand out on most fairways due to his bright clothing and bleach-blond hair. That's before throwing an orange, Hooters-themed golf bag and matching hat into the mix.
Daly, 56, and his 18-year-old son—'Little John', named after his father—announced in April that they had each signed endorsement deals with the American chain, known for its trademark all-female waiting staff. The 1995 Open champion routinely pitches up at one of the restaurants in Augusta, Georgia, during Masters week and has long vouched for the company, famed for its chicken wings.
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“As a longtime fan of the brand off the course, I am excited this relationship with Hooters extends to the greens,” said Daly as he confirmed his name, image and likeness agreement earlier this year. “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.”
Not all Daly's memories of Hooters will be happy, however. That's after the Californian—who has struggled with alcoholism for much of his life—was put into protective custody having been found drunk outside one of the restaurants in October 2008, though he was not arrested.
Daly II, who turns 19 on July 23, has followed in his dad's footsteps and currently plays golf at the University of Arkansas. He teamed up with his father to win the PNC Championship in December 2021, edging Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie, to the title.
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“Hooters is the ideal place for me to go and unwind after a long day on the course or in the classroom, so I am honoured to be chosen as an ambassador for the iconic brand,” added Daly Jr. after signing his Hooters deal. “I have seen my father’s great relationship with Hooters over the years, and I am proud to continue my family’s association with this iconic brand.”
The sponsorship agreement didn't appear to hamper Daly's performance on Thursday as he returned to the clubhouse at one over par. That score is a long way off leader Cameron Young's first-round 64, though it puts 'Wild Thing' firmly in contention to make the cut for this weekend.
The 1995 Open Championship was the second of Daly's two major titles and remains the most recent of his career. It was during his St. Andrews celebrations that a streaker pointing to the '19th hole' created one of golf's most famous images, and Daly might be the one tempted to strip off if he were to repeat his feat against the odds in Scotland.
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