Newspaper story upsets Daly

John Daly doesn't react well when confronted by the truth and still hasn't learned to blame himself for most of his problems. Yesterday he prompted his followers on Twitter to complain to a Florida sportswriter who wrote a story about the seemingly star-crossed golfer based on public court documents.

Daly called Florida Times-Union golf writer Garry Smits a "jerk" and posted the writer's personal cell phone number. "Call and flood his line and let's tell him how we feel," Daly wrote. He added two tweets on the matter, saying "this isn't journalism, it's paparazzi -- like gossip." In a later post, he again ran Smits' phone number.

Ironically, Golf Channel's Being John Daly, a television show chronicling the golfer's bid to make a comeback, premiered Tuesday night. No doubt, Daly will have a logical explanation for his lame reaction to the story in a future episode.

The Times-Union reported last night that The Golf Writers Association of America has asked the PGA Tour to discipline Daly for his actions. The Ponte Vedra Beach-based PGA Tour told the Times-Union it would not comment on Daly's tweets.

GWAA president Vartan Kupelian told PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem in a letter yesterday that Daly should be suspended given the vindictive nature of his actions, adding Smits was reporting on a matter that was public record. The golf writers organization also wants the PGA Tour to make public any suspension because the Tour’s policy is not to disclose player discipline.

The newspaper was granted access to Daly's PGA Tour disciplinary file as part of a lawsuit Daly filed in 2005, accusing it of libel. The lawsuit was thrown out and when Daly's appeal was rejected late last year, the information became public record.

The Daly story detailed numerous issues the PGA Tour had with the golfer over the years, including six suspensions, 11 citings of "conduct unbecoming a professional," and 21 times in which Daly was cited for failing to give full effort. The PGA Tour also on seven occasions ordered the two-time major champion to undergo counseling or seek alcohol rehabilitation.

Daly, 44, has five PGA Tour victories, but none since 2004 and has spent the past several seasons playing on sponsor exemptions because he has failed to retain exempt status.

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The PGA Tour kicks off its Florida swing today with the start of the Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. The tournament has attracted four of the top 10 players in the world and 12 of the top 30, making it the best non-World Golf Championship event to date in 2010.

The Jack Nicklaus designed par-70 Champions course with its famous "Bear Trap" holes ( 15th, 16th and 17th) has ranked among the toughest on the tour. In three previous tournaments at the venue, the Bear Trap has produced a lot of drama coming down the stretch.

Padraig Harrington, for one, is looking forward to the challenge.

"This is a very difficult golf course at PGA National. You really want to be on top of your game, as it has shown over the years," he said. "I know there is the Bear Trap, but there are a lot of seriously tough holes out there. It is definitely one of the toughest regular courses of the year. This golf course is just a big, tough golf course."

Y.E. Yang will be among the favorites to win when he defends his title. Last year's PGA Championship winner has played five times this year and has not missed a cut. The first Asian-born male player to win a major championship is coming off a third-place finish at the Phoenix Open.