It sounds like an urban legend. But for John Daly, it was just another round of golf.
Picture this: you’re teeing it up at a pro event, warming up on the range, and a guy next to you is pounding Diet Cokes like he’s on a dare. Not water. Not electrolytes. Diet Coke. Seven of them. Before a single swing.
And then he bombs one 320 down the middle.
That guy? John Daly — two-time major winner, golf’s ultimate anti-hero, and possibly the most caffeinated man to ever walk a fairway.
A Swing Fueled by Soda, Cigarettes, and… Peanut M&Ms?
John Daly’s diet habits have never been what you’d call “tour-approved.” At the peak of his Diet Coke obsession, he was knocking back 26 to 28 cans a day. That’s not a typo. That’s a stockroom. And he’s admitted it himself, in interviews over the years. “I used to drink anywhere from 12 to 20 Diet Cokes a day,” he once said, like it was just a normal Tuesday.
But even that number might’ve been lowballing it. In a sit-down with Tucker Carlson, Daly claimed 20 to 22 Diet Cokes was closer to average. And yeah, that’s after cutting back.
To put it in perspective, at his peak, Daly was drinking the equivalent of 515 gallons of Diet Coke per year. That’s more than a firetruck carries. He’s not just avoiding water — he’s declared full-on war against it. “I hate water. I cannot stand to drink water,” he’s said more than once. It’s not a joke. It’s a lifestyle.
Post-Surgery… Still Cracking Cans
These days, Daly’s down to a more “modest” 10 to 12 cans a day. That’s thanks to a lap-band surgery that limited his stomach capacity. Not even modern medicine could get him off the fizz entirely — it just made him adjust the delivery.
Now he needs ice to drink it. Straight from the can is too rough on his system, thanks to carbonation. “I have to drink it slowly and not out of a can,” he said. “I need some ice.”
So, same obsession. Just a little classier.
He’s Not Just Sippin’ — He’s Playing With It
For most players, hydration on the course means electrolyte drinks or water bottles. Daly? He’s got a wedge in one hand and a Diet Coke in the other — literally. At the PGA Tour Champions’ Hoag Classic, he was seen ripping practice shots one-handed, the other hand occupied with his beloved soda. The caption from the PGA Tour Champions said it best: “Wedge in one hand, Diet Coke in the other.”
That’s not even the wildest story.
Back in 2008, during a Wyndham Championship practice round, a CBS Sports reporter followed Daly for all 18 holes. The tally? 12 Diet Cokes. 21 cigarettes. Six packs of peanut M&Ms. And not a single drop of water. Let that sink in.
It wasn’t a one-off. That’s just how he rolled.
Health Concerns? Yeah, There’ve Been a Few
To no one’s surprise, doctors haven’t exactly celebrated Daly’s hydration plan. They’ve warned him about the toll Diet Coke takes on the bladder, especially considering the caffeine, sweeteners, and acidity involved. In 2020, Daly was diagnosed with bladder cancer — a wake-up call that even he couldn’t ignore.
He’s since admitted the connection. “I’m cutting way, way back on the Diet Coke,” he said after the diagnosis. But “cutting back” still means a dozen cans a day. For Daly, that’s practically a detox.
Even with the lap-band and cancer battle, Diet Coke remains the core of Daly’s fluid intake. Water is still off the table. His loyalty to the silver can is stronger than ever.
Why It Matters — And Why It Doesn’t
On paper, John Daly shouldn’t be able to compete. He’s got none of the polished, high-performance rituals that today’s pros live by. No custom hydration packs. No protein smoothies. No sports psychologists.
He shows up, Diet Coke in hand, and plays from the gut.
And yet — he still hits it farther than most. He still draws crowds. He still makes headlines without trying. Daly’s a reminder that talent, raw and wild, doesn’t always come in a six-pack and Lululemon joggers.
Final Sip
Golf is full of guys trying to perfect every detail. Daly is a walking contradiction to that. He doesn’t drink water. He doesn’t stretch. He lights up, slams a few sodas, and sends it down the fairway. And somehow, it works. Not because it should — but because it’s him.
That’s the thing about John Daly. He’s not here to impress the nutritionists. He’s just here to play golf. And maybe crush another can on the way to the 1st tee.