European pro grind fits John Daly's lifestyle to a tee

John Daly hates to fly, but he finds that once he manages to get to Europe, all the trips to the tournaments are shorter. And he also enjoys India.

John Daly says he is enjoying the lifestyle on the European tour, particularly the shorter plane flights as he doesn't like flying. He is also partial to India.
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For a guy who does not like to fly, John Daly makes a good living in Europe.

"I still hate it [flying]," Daly said. "But once I get over there, you can play eight or nine events in Europe and not have an hour flight."

Daly ended a streak of 11 consecutive tournaments played outside of the United States when he tied for 51st at the Transitions Championship in Florida. Daly was playing for the first time since he withdrew from the Avantha Masters in India with a tendon injury in his elbow. He said his long irons are suffering.

As for that trip to India?

"I felt at home in India because there's a lot of pigs in the street," Daly said, referring to his Arkansas roots. "The only thing I don't like is you can't get a steak, can't get a burger because of religious reason. But I did get a Diet Coke."

He can get his favourite soda on a plane, too, though somewhat surprisingly, he doesn't long for the days when commercial jets once had a smoking section in the back of the plane.

"I was never a guy who liked to smoke on the plane," Daly said. "I hated it. I don't mind not smoking in airports."

Daly, who moved up 15 spots to No 285 in the world ranking, does not get as many exemptions as when he first lost his full PGA Tour card after the 2006 season.

He still gets ample exemptions in Europe, Asia and Australia, although he might have burned some bridges by hitting seven shots into the water at the Australian Open until he ran out of golf balls.