It is not a secret that John Daly is one of the most famous golfers in the world. His long drives and free-spirited lifestyle have attracted many people to become fans of him. Notably, he also loves giving back to the fans and is often seen as a friendly figure with them. 

However, did you know that even the 2-time major winner once lost his cool and destroyed a fan’s camera? 

The incident happened during the 2008 Australian Open. According to local reports, Daly lost control after he found Brad Clegg, a spectator, trying to take a close-up picture of him with a flash. The golfer then snatched the camera away and smashed it into a tree. 

“You want it back?” Daly reportedly asked the spectator. “I’ll buy you a new one.” Notably, the tournament officials had prohibited cameras throughout the event, which the spectator had breached. 

The spectator admitted that he indeed saw the sign about no photography allowed. Yet, he took his camera and tried to snap a picture of the golfer from a close range. He also admitted that it was his fault and not of the golfer. 

Daly’s reaction to the incident! 

“I was looking to take a drop, and the camera was six inches away from my face,” Daly said. “If I was 10-under par, I would have felt the same,” he added. “My eyes are still burning from the flash of the camera.”

Did You Know? John Daly Played and Excelled in Three Different Sports in High School

Notably, the 2-time major winner played poorly in the Australian Open. The incident happened during his last hole in round 1 at the Royal Sydney Golf Course. And he was already at 5-over par when he hit the tee shot to the rough. 

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“I feel it was very rude to put a camera that close to anybody’s face in any situation,” Daly further added to justify his actions. 

Did John Daly receive any punishment for his rage at the Australian Open? 

“He was frustrated,” the tournament official said about the incident. “And it’s an unfortunate incident.” He explained that since the spectator breached the rule to take the camera with him, he was wrong in the situation. 

Moreover, Brad Clegg also admitted his fault for taking photos standing too close to the golfer. The officials further added, “John, yes, he might have been at fault too, but we have to move on.”

John Daly is known for being friendly to his fans. However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get frustrated about invading his privacy like in this situation! What do you think of the incident? 

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