Always colorful, Daly fires a 66

Associated Press

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland

John Daly’s scorecard was the only thing getting more attention than his pants.

Golf’s most entertaining sideshow was at it again Thursday, tying his best round at the British Open with a 6-under 66 on the Old Course. It put him atop the leaderboard, a spot that, regardless how brief the stay, would have been unimaginable during the latest chapter in his pulp fiction life.

“I’ve never ran from my mistakes. I’ve always kind of been the man that you’re supposed to be when you screw up — and I’ve screwed up an awful lot, not just on tour, but in other aspects of life,” Daly said. “I think it’s how you come back and deal with it.”

Daly birdied seven of the first 11 holes, and he might have challenged early leader Rory McIlroy if not for four putts that lipped out. One, on 17, led to his only bogey of the day.

That Daly is a spectacular talent has never been in doubt. You don’t go from last alternate to major champion, as he did at the 1991 PGA Championship, without considerable game. And you sure don’t win a second major — the British Open here at St. Andrews, no less — by being lucky.

Daly is Everyman. Fans can’t help but be charmed, seeing a little bit of themselves in him. Or maybe a little bit of who they would like to be. He hits driver when he should hit irons. He goes for shots that inevitably end badly. He believes “grip it and rip it” is more than just a cute slogan.

Daly’s nickname was “Wild Thing,” and he more than lived up to it.

But at 44, even Daly has had enough of his high-wire act.

He’s lost almost 100 pounds since having Lap-Band surgery in February 2009, and said he quit drinking and eating as much junk. The rib and back injuries that made it painful to get his game back in shape have healed.

There were appreciative whoops and hollers with every thwack of his driver, and encouraging shouts of “Go get ’em, JD!” As Daly strolled up the 18th fairway — smoking a cigarette — one fan in the crowd held up a sign reading, “John Daly the Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment.” Another carried a poster that said, “John Daly Living Legend.”

“He’s a role model,” one of the men said.

Even with the wacky wardrobe.

Daly may have ditched that shaggy mullet he sported back in 1995, but now he’s wearing pants that can only be described as garish. Thursday’s choice was lavender paisley (his girlfriend wore a matching miniskirt).

“All of these pants, the good thing about them is you get dressed in the dark, any shirt is going to match,” Daly said.