TSN.ca
Associated Press
AGADIR, Morocco — Double major winnerJohn Daly has returned to the European Tour and this week’s Hassan II Trophy in Morocco confident he has fully recovered from an injury to his right elbow.
Daly tore tendons in his elbow hitting a submerged tree root at the ninth hole during the final round of the Avantha Masters in India last month.
The 1991 PGA and 1995 British Open winner immediately flew home to seek treatment on the elbow that included a cortisone injection.
“My elbow was very swollen and hurting really bad for about a week after playing in India,” said Daly.
“The girls who first treated it in India said I had done some serious damage and it wasn’t till I got back home and had an x-ray that I realised the tendons were all pretty well torn.
“I went and visited a doctor in Tampa who gave me a cortisone injection the Sunday before the Transitions Championship,” said the 45-year-old Daly.
“But it feels real good after playing a practice round this morning so hopefully I should be okay.”
Daly will join fellow Major champions and U.S. compatriot Rich Beem, winner of the 2002 PGA Championship, and New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, who captured the 2005 U.S. Open in the opening two rounds of the Euro 1.5m event.
The Agadir tournament is being held for a second year running on the ultra-exclusive Royal Course that was built for the late King of Morocco, Hassan II and is now for the use only of his two sons, the present King of Morocco His Highness Mohammed VI and His Highness Prince Moulay Rachid who is the President of the Hassan II Trophy Association.
It is believed only 30 players have played the course since England’s David Horsey last year captured the 38th Hassan II Trophy.
“The fact this golf course is just for the use of one person, the King of Morocco, is remarkable,” he said. “It’s a bit like the Sage Valley course in South Carolina and not far from Augusta with regards to exclusivity,” said Daly.
“It’s great that the King lets us play his own private golf course and you almost feel embarrassed to take a divot as the golf course is just immaculate.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever played in this part of the world and you could tell it’s a Robert Trent Jones course straight away what with the run offs around the greens,” he said.
Daly indicated he will contest next week’s Sicilian Open and then will again be present at Augusta, not competing but selling his designer line of clothing and accessories from premises close to the Augusta National.
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