John Daly: Health, Sobriety, and Happy Gilmore 2

John Daly has never been one to follow the script. From winning the PGA Championship as an alternate in 1991 to battling bladder cancer and opening up about his addictions, the two-time major champion has packed several lifetimes into one.

Age: 58 (as of 2024) ·
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) ·
PGA Tour Wins: 5 ·
Major Championships: 2 ·
PGA Tour Career Earnings: $2,453,160 ·
Children: 2

Six key biographical facts that define John Daly’s profile:

What has happened to John Daly?

Recent health updates

In early 2024, Daly shared a sobering health update after being forced to skip PGA Tour Champions events. He described his condition as a daily struggle, telling People magazine that “waking up is a win.” The two-time major champion has undergone what he counts as 16 surgeries over his lifetime, including emergency hand surgery in early 2024 that left his golf game in a fragile state.

• Hand surgery recovery forced him to withdraw from several senior tour events (Us Weekly)
• Daly said playing golf became “difficult” while recovering (Us Weekly)
• He last competed at the Insperity Invitational in Texas, finishing with a plus-27 score (People magazine)

John Daly’s current status

Despite the setbacks, Daly remains active on the PGA Tour Champions and has expressed a desire to keep competing. He told reporters he feels “like Lazarus” because he keeps coming back from the dead, a reference to his multiple health crises and surgeries. Us Weekly reported that Daly still planned to play the Regions Tradition senior event scheduled for mid-May 2024.

The pattern: Daly’s body has taken a beating, but his will to return to the course has not faded. The trade-off between his health and his driving desire to play is an ongoing tension — and one he’s aware of.

Why was John Daly in Happy Gilmore 2?

John Daly’s role in the sequel

Daly appeared in Happy Gilmore 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 1996 cult classic, in a cameo role that delighted fans. The film, which brings back Adam Sandler as the hot-tempered hockey player turned golfer, features Daly in a brief but memorable scene. People magazine confirmed Daly’s involvement, noting the cameo was a surprise to many fans.

• Daly plays himself in a lighthearted on-course interaction
• The cameo connects Daly’s real-life golf persona to the film’s exaggerated world
• Fans noted the irony that Daly appeared while Tiger Woods did not

How the cameo came about

Daly’s appearance in the sequel was not a random casting decision. His larger-than-life reputation as golf’s ultimate wild card — the man who chain-smoked on the course, crushed Diet Cokes by the dozen, and drove the ball farther than anyone — made him a natural fit for the Happy Gilmore universe. The film’s producers reportedly reached out because Daly embodied the same “anything can happen” energy that defined the original movie.

What this means: Daly’s cultural footprint now stretches beyond golf into Hollywood. His cameo is a reminder that his brand has never been just about scores — it’s about personality.

Was John Daly ever sober?

John Daly’s history with alcohol

Daly has been publicly candid about his alcohol addiction for decades. ESPN reported that Daly said the pressure to stay sober actually helped drive him to drink again, creating a painful cycle. He has entered rehabilitation multiple times, with varying degrees of success.

• Daly has spoken openly about his struggles since the 1990s (ESPN)
• He described periods of sobriety that lasted months, followed by relapses
• In a 2024 interview clip, he said he was drinking around 20 drinks daily (YouTube Shorts)

Falling off the wagon

One of the most widely cited moments in Daly’s sobriety journey came in 1999, when ESPN covered his admission that his latest attempt to stay sober had ended after a 26-month run. Daly said he didn’t regret the relapse — a statement that drew both criticism and sympathy. “The pressure of staying sober got to me,” he reportedly said.

The catch: Daly’s relationship with sobriety is not a linear story of recovery. It’s a cycle of attempts and setbacks, and he has never claimed otherwise.

What did John Daly get diagnosed with?

Bladder cancer diagnosis

In 2020, Daly was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He underwent successful surgery to remove the tumor, and People magazine reported that his cancer has been in remission for four years as of early 2024. Us Weekly confirmed that Daly said his cancer was currently in remission in February 2024.

• Diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020 (Us Weekly)
• Underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tissue
• Has been in remission for four years as of 2024 (People magazine)

Other notable health issues

Daly’s health history reads like a medical textbook of complications. Beyond the cancer diagnosis, he was bitten by a brown recluse spider while in England — an incident that reportedly led to sepsis and emergency surgery. He has also dealt with knee injuries, the recent hand surgery, and a lifetime of wear and tear from a golf swing that was famously violent and powerful.

Why this matters: Daly’s body has endured more than most professional athletes ever face. That he continues to tee it up at all is a testament not to medical miracle, but to sheer stubbornness.

What is John Daly’s net worth?

Career earnings on PGA Tour

Daly’s official PGA Tour career earnings stand at $2,453,160, according to the PGA Tour official profile. That figure, however, tells only part of the story. It does not include earnings from the PGA Tour Champions, endorsements, appearance fees, or unofficial money from international events.

• PGA Tour career earnings: $2,453,160 (PGA Tour official profile)
• Estimated lifetime earnings from all sources are significantly higher
• Endorsement deals with Loudmouth Golf and other brands supplemented his income

Estimated net worth

Estimates of Daly’s net worth vary widely, with figures ranging from $1 million to $3 million depending on the source. The wide spread reflects the difficulty of tracking a career that included both significant earnings and substantial spending. Unlike many of his peers, Daly did not build a corporate endorsement empire — his brand was always more personality-driven than product-driven.

The implication: Daly’s net worth is modest compared to other major champions. His spending habits and legal settlements eroded much of his on-course earnings, but his lifestyle choices have been as much a part of his public identity as his golf game.

Timeline

Key moments in John Daly’s career and life that track his trajectory from rising star to resilient survivor:

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Born April 28, 1966 (PGA Tour official profile)
• 5 PGA Tour wins and 2 major championships (PGA Tour official profile)
• Bladder cancer diagnosis in 2020 and subsequent remission (People magazine)
• Appearance in Happy Gilmore 2 (People magazine)

What remains unclear

• Exact net worth — estimates range from $1 million to $3 million
• Current sobriety status — Daly has had both periods of sobriety and relapses (ESPN)
• Long-term tournament schedule — health permitting, he plans to continue playing
• A reported near-death experience in which Daly was clinically dead for more than nine seconds, according to a TikTok clip attributed to Graham Bensinger
• Exact number of surgeries — Daly has stated he has had 16 surgeries over his lifetime (Us Weekly)

For fans who grew up watching Daly smash drives and defy the odds, the story now is less about trophies and more about survival. For Daly, the choice is clear: keep fighting through the pain, the surgeries, and the setbacks — or stop being John Daly. And that has never been his style.

Beyond his health and sobriety journey, John Dalys career earnings and losses provide important context for understanding the golfer’s life in 2025.

Frequently asked questions