John Daly's Unforgettable 19: A Record for the Ages (of Misfortune)

In the annals of golf, there are records that champions strive for, moments of pure glory etched into history. And then, there are records that golf icon John Daly seems to exclusively claim for himself – often with a wild swing and a splash. Such was the case at the Shaw Charity Classic, where Daly, ever the showman, managed to redefine 'catastrophic hole' with a mind-boggling score of 19 on a single par-5.

The scene of this unprecedented golfing drama was the notoriously challenging 18th hole at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club.

A par-5, it demands precision, strategy, and a healthy respect for its aquatic guardians. For Daly, however, it became a watery graveyard for golf balls. One after another, six of his shots found the depths of the hazard, each splash marking a further descent into an unwanted record.

Witnesses and commentators were left speechless as 'Long John' battled not just the course, but seemingly the very laws of golf.

The sheer number of penalty strokes accumulated – six, to be exact – piled onto his attempts to escape the watery embrace of the 18th. By the time he finally holed out, the scorecard reflected a number that seemed more akin to a basketball score than a golf one: a staggering 19.

This wasn't just another bad hole; it was a historic one.

Daly's 19 shattered the previous PGA Tour Champions record for the highest score on a single hole, a record he, ironically, had a share in holding with a 16. Bob Wynn also once posted a 16, but Daly's latest feat truly set him apart in this peculiar category. It’s a testament to his unique, unpredictable style that he continues to push boundaries, even if they're the ones you'd rather avoid.

Following this extraordinary display, Daly did what many might expect: he withdrew from the tournament.

While the incident didn't define his entire career, it certainly added another colorful chapter to the legend of John Daly, a man who has consistently proven that golf, in his hands, is never, ever boring. Love him or critique him, one thing is certain: John Daly will always leave an impression, sometimes one that requires a double-take at the leaderboard.