Hurting the "Sport"

John Daly did not help the sport much yesterday when he had to withdraw from the Honda Classic. If this were the typical 14 putt a green JDWD (John Daly Withdraw), then I don't think that I would be too upset. But, Daly withdrew from the event because he hurt his rib - while stopping his swing because an amateur photographer tried to snap a pic of JD as he was swinging the golf club.

I'm not mad about the photographer here although she was in the wrong. I'm mad because Daly hurt himself while swinging a golf club. In essence, he got hurt doing his job. This does not help the argument that golfers are athletes too. It's hard to argue with my friends and colleagues who say that there is no fitness and athleticism required to be a good golfer. Daly has two majors to his credit - though he wasn't nearly as hefty when he won those. Nevertheless, it doesn't make the game look good when one of its most visible figures gets hurt doing what he is supposed to be able to do with no undue stress on his body.

Robert Allenby, if I remember correctly, had a similar strange injury a few years ago - threw out his back maybe? Anyway, it just seems a little embarrassing when friends send me links to golf articles and in the message type, "So, you think golf is still a sport?"