Shooter Mcgavin once quipped “This man is destroying golf” in reference to his long-driving, obnoxiously dressed and unrefined adversary Happy Gilmore. And while that may have been a shot at a fictional character, he may as well have been talking about John Daly. The original ‘Bad Boy of Golf’, Daly embodied everything that the traditionalists tried for so long to keep out of the gentlemen’s game. His shirts were loud, his cigar smoke was thick and his mullet flowed with the very freedom his American flag trousers represented. Now, the icon of sport is getting the biopic treatment and one of the industry’s most enigmatic actors is on board to bring his unique story to life. New reports have suggested Academy Award-nominee Jonah Hill is set to play Daly in a new film about the professional golfing extraordinaire.
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According to Above the Line, the as-yet-untitled project will “examine the excesses, scandals, and athletic achievements of the PGA Tour golfer, who is considered by many to be the ‘Bad Boy of Golf'”. Hill will take on the role of the blonde, beer-guzzling powerhouse, while also pulling double duties as the film’s producer via his Strong Baby Productions banner. In a somewhat unexpected reveal, Greek-Aussie Anthony Maras, who recently helmed the acclaimed feature Hotel Mumbai is attached to the biopic as director, with Hideout Pictures’ Shannon Houchins and Potsy Ponciroli on board to oversee the production.
Daly’s unique life was previously chronicled in Hit it Hard, an hour-long ESPN documentary that originally aired in 2016, however, the latest announcement marks the first time his antics have made it to the big screen. By all accounts, the project was spurred by a previous relationship between Daly and Hideout, who identified Maras as the right man for the job. Maras, in turn, advocated for Hill to take on the role and it has to be said, the casting makes perfect sense.
Jonah Hill during the press tour for ‘Don’t look Up’ (2022) | Image: Getty Images
Over the years, Hill has transformed himself into one of Hollywood’s most diverse actors, seamlessly blending comedy with drama and earning a series of Oscar nods in the process. While his back catalogue is littered with stellar performances, tackling the mountain that is John Daly might just be his magnum opus.
For years, ‘Long John’ has fascinated sports fans, courtesy of his non-country-club appearance, who-gives-a-sh*t attitude and highly controversial lifestyle. After debuting on the PGA circuit back in 1987, Daly quickly emerged as a hero of middle America. The son of a construction worker and a homemaker, the blonde bomber found solace on the course and his incredible driving ability catapulted into the public eye. In 1991, Daly secured one of the greatest victories in golf history, when he emerged from relative obscurity to nab the PGA Championship title. The victory earned him a legion of fans and immediately promoted him to cult-like status.
From that point on, the big drinking, big driving Daly was a fan favourite on the course and one of the PGA Tour’s greatest attractions, not always for the right reasons. ‘Wild Thing’ famously broke a spectator’s camera at the 2008 Australian Open, lost a reported $60 million gambling, claimed that many PGA golfers were cocaine users, and even released a studio album My Life which featured guest vocals from Willie Nelson, Johnny Lee and Hootie And The Blowfish’s Darius Rucker.
Daly enjoys a quieter life nowadays, however, his annual pilgrimage to Augusta for The Masters remains one of golf’s most interesting side attractions. Every year when the tournament rolls into town, Daly hops into his iconic RV and makes the trek to the Augusta Hooters, where he sucks the venue dry of chicken wings and kicks it with the fans. Perhaps next year, Daly might have a new film to show them.
