Tiger Woods was left in the dark – John Daly once accused the common enemy of instigating a dispute between the two

The media has a habit of blowing everything out of proportion, whether it's a celebrity or an athlete. And that's exactly what happened with John Daly at the 2019 PNC Championship. Tiger Woods was apparently considered John Daly's arch-nemesis after the same tournament, but was that true? No! And Daly himself said so.

Daly was asked for his opinion when Tiger Woods questioned his use of a golf cart during the tournament at Bethpage Black. Woods had said: “As for JD's car, well, I was walking with a broken leg, so…” He was referring to the time when he played and won the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines with an apparently broken leg. Woods' statement sparked some controversy in the already chaotic golf world. The golfers were portrayed as arch enemies, but Daly cleared everything up and blamed the common enemy, the media.

Daly responded that Woods did not know the facts because the media had not informed him about Daly's health problems. “Yeah, but he didn't know the facts because the media, 'the media' (quotes), didn't tell him that I had diabetes, that my knees were messed up, that my hips were dislocated and all that stuff.” Daly said: “And now that all the talks are public, the two top players in golf have nothing but respect for each other.”

On the Full Send podcast, Daly explained that Woods doesn't know the full story, including his diabetes and knee and hip problems. “He apologized to me the other day at dinner. I mean, he's fine. I love tigers.” Daly said. JD also texted Woods after the near-fatal accident, asking him to feel better soon and recover. The 15-time major champion was grateful for that text and told JD some time later: “Man, thank you so much for the lyrics. It means a lot to me.” It wasn't the first time the media had dragged Woods' name through the mud.

Tiger Woods' bad experiences with the media

Tiger Woods recalled his bitter experience with the media in a 2015 interview. Woods' experience was that whenever he missed a round interview and the media disagreed with him, he would go for post-round interviews. “I think it was eight years ago when I never missed a post-round interview. And the first time I did it, they crucified me.” said the PGA Tour pro. And well, it sounds like something the media would do.

Woods felt the media reaction was unfair, especially compared to other golfers who have bad rounds. He pointed out the double standards, saying: “When I didn't, they just killed me for it. How many guys got a free pass because they shot a bad round?” Woods believed that the increased media exposure during his playing career made it harder for him to miss an interview without being criticized. Woods' experience is hard evidence that with great success comes great responsibility. And constant public attention can be both a blessing and a curse.