It sounds like something out of a 90s bar bet: “Bet you can’t walk 18 holes in 90-degree heat, shoot 82, and smoke two packs of cigs before the turn.”
But if you’re John Daly, that’s just called Thursday.
There’s a long list of things that have made Daly one of the most captivating figures in golf: the mullet, the moonshots, the meltdowns. But nothing quite captures his chaotic charm like his tournament diet — a mix of nicotine, sugar, caffeine, and absolutely zero water. It’s less “fueling for peak performance” and more “bracing for a casino buffet.”
And yet, the man made the cut.
Let’s walk through one of golf’s most surreal endurance events — the time Daly smoked 40 cigarettes during a round at a major and still managed to stay in the tournament.
A Legend Born at the Wyndham
To understand Daly’s nicotine-fueled routine, we need to rewind to the 2008 Wyndham Championship. That’s where CBS’s Will Brinson decided to follow Daly during a practice round and document every single thing he consumed.
Here’s the stat line from that day:
- 21 cigarettes
- 12 Diet Cokes
- 6 packs of Peanut M&M’s
- 0 ounces of water
- 100° heat index
Brinson described it like “crawling through the Sahara” — except instead of a camel and canteen, Daly rolled through Greensboro armed with sugar, soda, and smokes.
That practice round became infamous. Not just because of the numbers, but because it confirmed what many suspected: Daly wasn’t just smoking during rounds — he was relying on it. And in a weird way, it worked for him.
Fast Forward to Valhalla
Now jump to the 2024 PGA Championship. New decade, same Daly. The man may have swapped out his pants patterns, but the routine? Still intact.
Athletic reporter Gabby Herzig tracked Daly’s consumption during his opening round at Valhalla:
- Two full packs of cigarettes (that’s 40 smokes, if you’re counting)
- Four Snickers bars
- Two Cokes
- One round of 82 (+11)
- One withdrawal the next day
Let’s pause for a second. Forty cigarettes in a single day, while walking a major championship course, is a number so outrageous that most people assume it’s a joke. But it wasn’t. It was witnessed. Documented. Shared across golf media like a holy scroll of absurdity.
And yet — he finished the round. He signed the card. He didn’t collapse or pass out or even complain (at least not about the heat).
This Isn’t a One-Off
This wasn’t some viral moment or TikTok prank. Daly’s been doing this — publicly, consistently — for decades.
At The Open in 2024, he was spotted smoking on the greens at Royal Troon before withdrawing with a knee injury. At the PNC Championship, cameras caught him mid-puff while prepping with his son. He’s been photographed chain-smoking during practice rounds and competitive play. He’s even inspired younger players like Si Woo Kim and Charley Hull, both of whom have been seen lighting up during tournament events.
This isn’t a habit. It’s a feature.
The Health Toll
Of course, the body can only take so much.
In 2020, Daly revealed he’d been diagnosed with bladder cancer — a condition he directly linked to years of smoking and Diet Coke overload. Doctors gave him an 85% chance of recurrence. He said he’d cut back. He even said he was trying to quit.
But by 2024, there he was again — two packs deep on Day 1 of a major.
At one point, Daly estimated he smoked nearly 18,000 cigarettes a year — about 49 a day. That’s not a typo. That’s his life.
And yet, his commitment to this routine has only cemented his place as one of golf’s most bizarre icons. A guy who’d rather ride a cart and rip a dart than spend time in the gym. Someone who sees “fitness” as walking six miles with a Marlboro in hand.
The Daly Challenge
Naturally, this insanity sparked a viral trend: the “John Daly Challenge.”
What’s the goal? To consume everything Daly does during a round:
- Two packs of cigarettes
- Four Snickers
- Two sodas
- Zero water
- 18 holes of golf
It’s become a sort of dark rite of passage in golf circles. A challenge that’s more endurance test than training drill. No one’s doing this for performance gains — they’re doing it to see if they survive.
Daly’s Place in Golf’s Cultural Junk Drawer
Golf is full of traditions. Augusta’s pimento cheese sandwiches. Tiger’s Sunday red. Rory’s driving stats.
Then there’s Daly — sitting in a lawn chair, shirt half-buttoned, puffing away next to his golf bag.
In a sport that often takes itself too seriously, Daly’s smoking has become a cultural counterpunch. A middle finger to modern fitness regimens, PR teams, and sports science.
It’s unhealthy. It’s unsustainable. And somehow, it’s unforgettable.
Whether he’s lighting up on the green or chugging Diet Coke before his tee time, Daly remains a walking contradiction — a major champion with the metabolism of a frat house vending machine.
And while no coach would ever recommend his habits, they’ve undeniably become part of the story. A story of defiance, addiction, nostalgia, and somehow — still making the cut.