When John Daly was asked whether Tiger Woods ever intimidated him, the answer sparked a story few fans knew. What began as light banter quickly turned toward an old comment, a misunderstood situation. And the unexpected apology that finally closed the gap between two of golf’s biggest personalities.

When Daly appeared on the FULL SEND Podcast in December 2021, he expanded on that moment fans had debated for years. He didn’t just dismiss the idea of being intimidated. He explained why Tiger’s past remark was misunderstood and how a later apology proved there was never any real beef between them.

The hosts brought up the comment that once sparked headlines. They reminded Daly that Tiger had jabbed him about using a cart, saying he’d walk a course on a broken leg before doing the same.

The well-known moment of Tiger Woods and John Daly sitting together in golf carts dates back to October 9, 2005, during the final round of the WGC-American Express Championship. 

And Daly didn’t deny it. He simply explained what Tiger and the public didn’t know at the time. “Yeah, but he didn’t know the facts,” Daly said. He explained that his diabetes, two damaged knees, and hip issues weren’t publicly acknowledged when Tiger made that comment.

“He apologized to me at the dinner the other night. I mean, he’s fine.” This conversation came after the hosts asked if Tiger Woods was intimidating for him. John Daly?

He was direct, as he put it, “I love Tiger Woods, but no, he doesn’t intimidate me.” But the story didn’t end with that apology. There was one more moment that changed things completely.

How Daly’s Text Changed Everything

The hosts pressed further, “He apologized at the dinner?” Daly clarified that the apology came earlier, around two years prior. But he also revealed a moment Tiger never forgot. “Look, I was the only guy that texted him going through all this… besides a couple other players,” Daly said, referring to Tiger’s car accident.

Big John said, “I was the first one to say, ‘Hey man, get better and do good.’” According to Daly, Tiger later brought it up again, unexpectedly, at a dinner where Daly was dressed as Santa Claus. “He says, ‘Man, thank you so much for the text. It means a lot to me.’ And that meant a lot.”

For Daly, that exchange settled everything. No rivalry, no tension or lingering resentment over a misunderstood comment from years earlier. The moment Tiger acknowledged the message and offered his apology was enough.

It confirmed what Daly wanted people to understand: there’s no beef between him and Tiger Woods, and there hasn’t been for a long time. What are your thoughts about this incident or such incidents in the golf world? Do tell us in the comments.

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu