John Daly once let fans ride his cart like it was a county fair.
It’s the kind of story that practically writes itself. The mullet-sporting, Diet Coke-guzzling, cigarette-puffing legend of golf, inviting fans to hop in mid-round like they’re hitching a ride to the beer tent. It’s wild. It’s iconic. It’s… completely untrue.
Let’s break this down — and separate the internet myth from what actually happened, because the truth is both more boring and more human than the viral version.
The Rules Are Clear: No Fans Allowed
John Daly’s use of a golf cart in tournament play isn’t just a quirky personality trait. It’s a medical necessity. Diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis and multiple knee surgeries under his belt, Daly was granted the right to use a cart through the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2019. This approval came with strict guidelines: only the player is allowed in the cart. Not the caddie. Not a buddy. Definitely not a fan in a cowboy hat with a beer.
Scott Reid, the championship director at the 2019 PGA Championship, confirmed that Daly’s exemption was based on thorough medical review. The cart isn’t some lazy-man’s joyride. It’s there because Daly physically cannot walk an entire round without risking serious injury. And according to PGA Championship rules, that cart is his — and his alone.
So where did the fan-in-the-cart rumor even start?
Fan Love? Absolutely. Cart Rides? Nope.
Daly might not be handing out joyrides, but he’s still one of the most fan-friendly players in the game. During the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, spectators shouted support as Daly cruised past, puffing a cigarette and sipping Diet Coke like he was on a Sunday drive rather than in a major.
One fan yelled out, “How’s the knee, John?” Daly didn’t miss a beat: “Feels like a screw’s loose, but I’m here.” The guy’s hurting, sure — but he’s still showing up.
At Kiawah Island in 2021, Daly’s cart actually got stuck in the sand near the 17th. Fans rushed over to help push him out, which led to a bunch of viral headlines — but not one person hopped in. The moment had a certain “local county fair” energy, yes. But Daly wasn’t giving free rides. He was trying not to DNF because of a beach trap.
What the Galleries Really Said
At Bethpage, a course infamous for rowdy New York galleries, Daly expected to get roasted. Instead, fans leaned in. “99.9 percent of them were positive,” he said. They cracked jokes. They called his cart the “shaggin’ wagon.” Someone shouted, “Check that man’s glove compartment for booze!” Classic Daly energy — just with guardrails.
People respected the line. They joked. They helped. But they didn’t climb aboard.
Why He Needs the Cart (And Hates Using It)
Daly has made it clear: if he could walk, he would. His right knee swells up after six holes. Walking downhill feels dangerous. “I’d rather walk,” he’s said. “But I physically can’t. It’s awkward. Embarrassing.”
Still, Daly keeps showing up — sometimes for The Open, sometimes just for the vibes — even when the walk is off the table. And unlike PGA Tour events, where cart use is a hard no, the PGA Championship granted him a lifetime exemption, and a cart became the compromise.
Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour Champions (the senior circuit), carts are more common. Daly isn’t the only one rolling down fairways with four wheels instead of two feet. But his is the only cart with its own cult following.
The Real Cart Drama? It’s About Integrity
All of this goes back to a bigger conversation in golf: how to accommodate medical limitations without breaking the spirit of the game. The cart exemption isn’t a cheat code. It’s a lifeline for someone who’s given a lot to the game — and wants to keep competing, however he can.
The PGA Championship doesn’t let players toss their bags in the cart. Caddies still have to hoof it. And Daly can’t have anyone drive the cart for him unless it’s cleared by tournament officials. These rules exist to preserve fairness — and they’re enforced down to the letter.
So… Did It Happen?
Nope. The legend of Daly handing out joyrides is exactly that: legend. Fans have helped him. Fans have cheered him on. But no fan has ever legally ridden in his cart during tournament play.
Still, the fact that so many people believe it? That says something too.
Daly’s one of those rare players whose mythos is almost more powerful than his major wins. He’s messy, generous, unpredictable — the kind of guy you half-expect to show up to the tee box in cowboy boots with a karaoke mic in his bag. So when someone says he let a fan ride shotgun mid-round, your brain doesn’t shout “impossible!” — it quietly says, “Yeah… that tracks.”
It doesn’t. But we kind of wish it did.