Despite light rain and an early start, American John Daly carded a 2-under-par 70 in the first round of the BMW Asian Open held yesterday in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Sipping on a Diet Coke after his opening round, Daly said "anything under par is awesome," noting that swirling winds and uphill and downhill fairways made play difficult.
Daly struggled from the tee, finding the rough on both left and right sides. His score was salvaged by a confident putter as well as a stunning eagle on the 14th hole.
Commenting on his putting, Daly noted his familiarity with Bermuda greens, warning that "the ball is not going to go in without some speed," and that "you won't get any lag putts on these greens."
Midway through his round, Daly's play was slowed by increasing rain, something which didn't seem to bother a golfer usually known for a hurried pace.
Daly took the delays in his stride, often pulling on a cigarette, or quietly chatting with his caddy.
As the rain increased, Daly donned a sleeveless raincoat emblazoned with his trademark lion's head emblem. His wife, accompanying him on the back nine, wore a similar raincoat and offered words of encouragement.
Known for his folksy wisdom and candor, Daly said he was pleased with his opening round and simply hoped to "make a few birdies, and do away with the bogeys."
Should Daly complete a similar performance today, he'll easily make the cut tomorrow and the final round on Sunday.
Spectators will delight in this enigmatic golfer who is known for his long drives and good humor.
Besides playing guitar and singing country tunes -- Daly performed two songs at the Pro-Am Dinner the previous evening Knocking on Heaven's Door and his own composition I'm Going to Find It -- Daly obliged the golfing gallery with an occasional wave and a satisfied smile.
Daly was pleased with his performance, saying he felt "comfortable" on the course despite playing less frequently this year because of his mother's fight againt cancer.
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