John Daly was seen lighting up on the 18th fairway of the Old Course at St. Andrews during the British Open today. Can he do that?
It looks like it. The United States Golf Association and Professional Golf Association have no rules against professional competitors smoking, and neither does the Old Course at St. Andrews. Some major tournaments have banned or restricted spectator smoking, but, so far, players and caddies have been exempt from the ban. Scotland itself banned smoking in most indoor places other than private homes in 2006, but the ban doesn’t apply to golf courses. Perhaps a bigger star’s sponsors would mind his smoking on the course, but Daly has unconventional sponsorship that may not mind his habit: he’s backed by Loudmouth Golf (the makers of his eye-popping pants), 84 Lumber, All Sport, and Big Red (Hooters dropped him last year).
Many of the greats openly smoked. Jack Nicklaus was a known smoker, but he generally kept it off the course. Arnold Palmer was sponsored by cigarettes at one point in his career, but he took the smokes off the links once they were no longer socially condoned. Ben Hogan, one of the greatest players in history, smoked habitually while playing. But then, he played in an era during which cigarettes were promoted (sometimes by Hogan) as being good for your health.
Smoking cigarettes is banned in Major League Baseball, and Congress is giving consideration to banning tobacco use entirely, as is the case with minor league baseball. Most ballparks have designated smoking areas for fans–often outside the stadium–even though fans generally sit in the outdoors. Even the the Professional Bowling Association prohibits it (except in designated areas, presumably out of the camera’s view) during play and while wearing a PBA competitor shirt.
While Daly’s display might seem uncouth or out-of-touch, it’s not against any rules. These days, golfers are not the role models they once were–and Daly was never a model citizen, anyway. Based on one Spokane, Washington golf course’s troubled effort at banning on-course smoking, expect any changes to come slowly, if at all.
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hi,
i would like to say in watching the open today at the Royal, St. Georges i was shocked to see Darren Clarke smoking before taking his second shot on the fairway!
I would have thought it was not etiquette to smoke on a golf course and especially when playing in a major competition.
Surely, tobacco is a relaxant and a form of a drug, so what’s the difference between smoking a cigarette and having a drink or even smoking cannabis. It could be argued that this could
enhance his game due to the relaxing properties he is consuming.
I feel very strongly that this is not fair play.
lynn jones