John Daly blows Ryder Cup hopes

John Daly's hopes of earning an automatic spot in the U.S. Ryder Cup team next month were all but dashed by a nine-over-par 81 in the first round of the U.S. PGA Championship at Whistling Straits on Thursday.

The 1991 U.S. PGA champion was 20th in the Ryder Cup points table entering the year's final major and needed at least a tie for fourth place to have a chance of overhauling Jay Haas, who was 10th on the list.

But a quadruple bogey eight at the 18th plus three double bogeys and a bogey meant Daly slumped to his worst round on the PGA Tour this year.

"You know, it's a major," he told reporters. "There's nothing you can do.

"I hung in there, I tried on every shot. Tomorrow I'm going to try and go out and maybe play a little more aggressive."

Daly now needs a spectacularly low round on Friday to have any chance of making the cut.

He is aware his display in the second round will not only determine if he makes the cut but could also decide whether he gets a captain's pick for the Ryder Cup.

"I'm just trying to do the best I can," Daly said. "Whoever he (captain Hal Sutton) picks, we're going to have a great team.

"It will be disappointing if I don't make it but I'm going to play some incredible golf the next three days.

"I mean, I've got to play some incredible golf tomorrow just to make the cut probably, but there could be worse challenges. Hopefully I'm up for this one."

Daly has never played in the Ryder Cup despite winning two majors. He also won the 1995 British Open at St Andrews.

The U.S. take on Europe in the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills from September 17-19.

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