John Daly vaults into contention with lowest round in five years

Sweden’s Jonas Blixt may be leading the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at the halfway point, but let’s be honest, there’s no way he’s the biggest story in Vegas. No, the big news centers around a one John Patrick Daly, who fired his lowest round in five years on the PGA Tour, 8-under 63, to get within four shots of the lead on Friday.

Whenever Daly’s in contention at an event you feel obligated to keep up with the goings-on at the tournament, because there’s always a chance you could witness greatness … or this.

Currently 132nd on the PGA Tour money list, Daly has a great chance to do something many thought was impossible at the beginning of the season — and that’s earn his tour card for next year. He needs to get to 125th on the money list to make it happen — there are four events left on the schedule — but the way he’s been playing this season, you have to like his chances of getting full time status for 2013.

If he keeps putting like he did on Friday, he very well could lock up his status for next year on Sunday. Daly needed only 23 putts to get around TPC Summerlin — a stat that would lead you to believe he’d be a factor on the weekend.

But don’t forget that we’re talking about John Daly here. Anything is possible with the two-time major winner. After years of questioning if he had anything left in the tank, Daly’s proving once again that he still has the game to go head-to-head with the best players in the world.

Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo! Sports