Associated Press
Wednesday, July 5

LEMONT, Ill. -- John Daly withdrew from the Western Open on Wednesday morning because of an inflamed hip, one day before the tournament was scheduled to begin.

Daly never made it to Chicago. His agent, John Mascatello, called the PGA Tour's office in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Wednesday morning and left a message that the two-time major champion was withdrawing to overcome inflammation in his right hip.

Mascatello also indicated Daly would send a letter to the tour commissioner to explain his withdrawal. Tour policy requires any player who commits to a tournament and then withdraws to send a letter of explanation within 14 days.

There was no immediate word on whether the injury would keep Daly out of the British Open, which begins July 20 at St. Andrews -- the site of his 1995 victory.

Daly withdrew from last month's U.S. Open after shooting a 14 on the par-5 18th hole and finishing with a 12-over 83 in the first round. He hit one shot into a back yard on the 18th and dumped three more in the Pacific Ocean.

Daly played the next two weeks at the St. Jude Classic and the Greater Hartford Open but didn't make the cut in either tournament.