John Daly, the legendary pro golfer, lost his Florida home to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene last week. The powerful Category 4 storm wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States, leaving a trail of destruction, claiming at least 162 lives, and causing hundreds more to go missing.
“You live in Florida, and you know hurricanes are part of life here, but I never imagined anything this bad,” Daly, 58, said in response to the disaster. He described the storm as “devastating” and added, “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen.”
While attending a PGA Tour Champions event at the Timiquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida, on Wednesday, Oct. 2, Daly shared his thoughts on the widespread damage caused by the storm. “I hope everyone stays safe and is able to rebuild their homes. My heart goes out to everybody affected,” he told PGATour.com, visibly shaken by the tragedy.
Daly’s property in Clearwater, Florida, had become a second home to him, though he hadn’t spent much time there in recent years. “I restructured it, fixed it up,” Daly explained. “Hadn’t been in it for two years, got all the stuff in there, and now it’s all gone.” His comments underscored the deep personal loss, as the home he worked hard to restore was completely wiped out by the hurricane.
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He had been keeping a close eye on the storm’s path. According to Sports Illustrated, on Thursday, Sept. 26, Daly posted screenshots of the hurricane as it made landfall, pointing out his home’s location in Florida. The next day, on Friday, Sept. 27, he shared another post assuring that his family was safe, but expressed dismay that “all our homes are not, as water is pouring out of every crevice.”
As he grappled with the aftermath, Daly was seen on Saturday, Sept. 28, attending the highly anticipated Alabama vs. Georgia football game. He was photographed in a private box at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, sitting alongside former president Donald Trump. While the image of Daly at the game circulated, it became evident that he was trying to keep a brave face amidst the personal turmoil caused by Hurricane Helene.
The storm didn’t just impact Daly—his fiancée, Anna Cladakis, and other family members were also hit hard by the hurricane’s destruction. “We’re going to have to redo about three, three-and-a-half homes. Almost four,” Daly said, detailing the full extent of the damage. “Anna’s mom lost her house. Matty’s burned down yesterday morning, and Chrissy had to use a boat to get to hers, so they’re all pretty much gone.”
Despite the heartache, Daly continues to compete this week at the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS tournament, which boasts a $2.1 million purse.
As he balances the demands of professional golf with the emotional toll of the disaster, Daly’s focus remains on helping his loved ones rebuild and recover from the catastrophic event.
The storm has left an indelible mark on Daly’s life, but his resilience and determination, both on and off the course, are on full display as he faces this challenging chapter.
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