Golf icon John Daly has revealed the brutal reality of his bladder cancer diagnosis, which had him “peeing and puking blood” before doctors identified the disease.
The 58-year-old made the candid admission during a recent appearance on the ‘Like a Farmer’ podcast.
Daly spoke frankly about the frightening symptoms he experienced.
“It was scary,” the Arkansas native said. “I was peeing blood, pukin’ blood… I thought my back was killing me and I didn’t know.”
John Daly has opened up on life with bladder cancer
PA
The two-time major champion has been battling the condition alongside other health issues in recent years.
Daly revealed he has been in remission for the past four years after doctors caught the cancer in time.
The diagnosis came after a doctor urgently called him back for tests.
“I was fixin’ to go to Hooters, get some wings in Little Rock and he called and said ‘no don’t eat anything I gotta get you back over here,'” Daly recalled.
When asked why, the doctor bluntly told him: “Well you have cancer. You have bladder cancer.”
Daly now requires annual checkups rather than bi-annual ones.
“Anyone who’s got bladder cancer, that thing that goes in your pee-pee don’t feel good,” he added.
The golf legend admitted his health struggles have significantly impacted his performance on the course.
“I can’t set goals for golf anymore,” Daly said during the podcast.
He explained that his battle with cancer and multiple surgeries have taken their toll.
John Daly has been battling cancer for years now
PA
“Fighting the bladder cancer and all that crap with all the surgeries, it’s not an excuse it’s just nobody can play great when they’re not healthy,” he stated.
“Hey, I just deal with it. You just deal with it and you try to work around all these injuries and everything, try and play the best you can.
“I still wanna play golf, I still wanna play on the Champions Tour. I just wanna compete better and right now there’s no way I can.
“But I’m gonna keep grinding it out ’cause you never know. That putter gets hot… I don’t care if you got one arm, one leg, that putter gets hot you can play some really good golf.”
Daly hasn’t competed in a PGA Champions Tour event since October 2024.
John Daly has admitted his golf has suffered as a result of his cancer
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His last major tournament appearances came at the 2024 PGA Championship and The Open Championship.
However, he withdrew after the first round in both events.
Daly shot an opening round of 82 in each tournament before pulling out.
Despite these setbacks, he remains grateful for opportunities to compete.
“As long as the Champions Tour… they work me when i get exemptions, but I’m blessed to get them and to play that tour and hang out with these guys,” Daly said.