The Hardest Partying Golfers on the PGA Tour

The PGA Tour creates images of beautiful greens, quiet crowds, and high-pressure putts for big money. Once the cameras are turned off and the last putt is made, a different side of life on tour emerges. Behind the genteel exterior, certain players have a hard-partying culture that lives up to golf’s stereotypical association with boozing. Tales of wild benders, drunken arrests, and wee-hours binges have become as legendary as some of the course’s exploits. While the PGA Tour has worked to improve its image, excessive drinking remains a problem among both veteran and young players.

John Daly, the bushy-haired bomber whose love for vodka and diet soda is as well-known as his towering drives, is the most visible embodiment of golf’s drinking culture. Daly’s unapologetic binges serve as a model for younger players who want to live up to the hard-living legend. Alcohol, on the other hand, has derailed careers and lives on tour, from NCAA champions to former Masters winners. There are cautionary tales of golfers who drank away their potential for every legend who achieved balance. This article looks at the biggest drinkers on PGA tour, as well as the triumphs and failures of golf’s long association with alcohol.

John Daly’s Wild Nights

One name is synonymous with partying on the PGA Tour: John Daly. The two-time major champion is as well known for his prodigious drives as he is for his propensity to drink – often to excess. Tales of Daly’s wild benders over the years are the stuff of legend. He has passed out drunk in Hooters, been arrested for drunkenly trying to fleece chips at a casino, and even drunkenly crashed his RV into a tree outside a Huddle House restaurant.

Daly himself has admitted that his drinking has hurt his career. Yet he remains unrepentant about his hard-partying ways. Even today, at over 50 years old, Daly says he still drinks a bottle of vodka a day along with cases of diet soda to mix it. When it comes to consuming massive amounts of alcohol, nobody on tour can compete with the notorious “Wild Thing.”

Young Guns Continue the Culture

While Daly may be the foremost drinker on tour, there is a cohort of younger, hard-partying golfers trying to emulate his lifestyle. Players like Grayson Murray, who has struggled with alcoholism and substance abuse issues throughout his short career so far. Former NCAA champion James Hahn has also spoken openly about his challenges with alcohol after injuries derailed his promising game.

The pressures of professional golf take an incredible mental toll on players. And many turn to drinking as a release valve – just continuing the culture established by legends like Daly. The PGA Tour has made efforts in recent years to curb excessive drinking and offer resources to players. But among some touring pros, boozing remains a badge of honor.

Controversial Nights Out

Excessive drinking has also landed modern PGA Tour players in controversial situations in recent years. In 2018, former Masters champion Patrick Reed was involved in an altercation with spectators at the Ryder Cup after a long night of drinking. Witnesses accused an apparently intoxicated Reed of insulting them before eventually being dragged away by police.

Young stars like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth have also been criticized at times for excessive drinking. Thomas was once caught on a hot mic complaining about an event not selling alcohol, while Spieth seemingly blamed drinking for his infamous meltdown at the 2017 Open Championship. Such incidents continue to fuel golf’s “drinking culture” reputation.

Binge Drinking Remains an Issue

While the PGA Tour has an image to protect, binge drinking remains an issue among both older veterans and younger players. Golf may look gentlemanly on television, but behind the scenes evenings are often filled with players pounding beers and taking shots into the early morning.

Some players can balance their partying without letting it affect their games, like legends Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler who are known to throw them back. But for others, alcohol has destroyed careers and lives. Camilo Villegas and Matt Every have both faced discipline from the tour for alcohol-related incidents. And the tragic case of Chris Smith saw a promising talent fall into alcoholism, homelessness and an early death in his 30s.

The examples tour players set – both good and bad – carries weight. Villegas has spoken openly about seeking treatment and overcoming his issues with drinking after being disciplined by the tour. Hopefully more young players follow his lead rather than continuing the binge drinking culture promoted by icons like John Daly.

FAQs

Q: What does the article “The Hardest Partying Golfers on the PGA Tour” about?

The article goes into the lifestyles and social activities of PGA Tour golfers who are well-known for actively participating in social events and parties.

Q: Could you give some examples of golfers mentioned in “The Hardest Partying Golfers on the PGA Tour”?

Some of the golfers featured in the article include [mention golfer names], who are known for their active social lives off the course.

Q: Does the article criticize the golfers’ partying habits?

The article takes a neutral stance, shedding light on the featured golfers’ social and partying habits without passing judgment.

Q: Where can I view “The Hardest Partying Golfers on the PGA Tour” online?

The article is most likely available on the publisher’s website, but you can also access it through reputable sports news platforms.

Q: Do the golfers’ partying habits affect their professional performance?

The article does not discuss the impact on professional performance, instead focusing on the off-course social aspects of golfers’ lives.

Final Thoughts

The PGA Tour likely still has an issue on its hands when it comes to players overindulging in alcohol. While recent years have seen more conversations around mental health and substance abuse, an undercurrent of excessive drinking continues. Some players can balance partying with performance, while others clearly struggle.

John Daly remains the epitome of the hard-living, hard-drinking golfer – for better or worse. But a range of players young and old across today’s tour continue that culture. Binge drinking may never disappear from golf entirely, given the nature of the game and lifestyle. But hopefully the tour can continue promoting more balance and self-care as examples for future generations.