Your eyes are not deceiving you: that’s John Daly’s name on the fringe of the leaderboard at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Daly is taking full advantage of the opportunity afforded by this week’s opposite-field event, and Saturday he carded an eventful 5-under 67 at the Country Club of Jackson. After a round that included an eagle, six birdies, one bogey and a double bogey, he sits in a tie for 19th, eight shots behind leader John Rollins.
The effort marks Daly’s lowest score since a third-round 64 at the Sony Open in January, and puts him in position for his best result since a T-18 finish at the 2012 PGA Championship.
Daly - who remember, is less than 18 months away from Champions Tour eligibility - started on the back nine and had an early highlight when his approach from 258 yards on the par-5 11th rolled to within 14 feet of the hole, setting up an eagle.
Entering the final round, Daly sits two shots outside a tie for eighth, and with a successful round Sunday he could record his first top-10 finish since a tie for fifth at the 2012 Barracuda Championship.
Before penciling Daly in for a solid payday, remember: since 2013, he has shot 15 rounds on Tour in the 60s. His stroke average in the round immediately following? 72.47.
