John Daly's home in Florida was destroyed by Hurricane Helene

TAMPA – Former Razorback golfer and two-time major champion John Daly suffered the devastating loss of his home when Hurricane Helene ripped through Florida's Gulf Coast region.

Daly posted on social media before and after Helene reached the Big Bend area, where he lives with his family. Hurricane Helene moved inland Thursday evening and barreled through Big Bend around 11 p.m., producing winds of up to 140 miles per hour.

In an Instagram post on Thursday, Daly posted a radar screenshot of the storm and pointed to his home near Tampa with an emoji. Among other things, he said: “Please be safe during Hurricane Helene.”

Early Friday, Daly posted a Facebook update in which he spoke of the significant damage but also gratitude for his family's safety.

“To everyone who has come forward, my family is all safe, but all of our homes are not safe with water pouring out of every crack,” Daly wrote. “Total loss and devastation after living here all my life! I still can't imagine that we lost EVERYTHING, but we are SAFE and can all be replaced! Praise God!”

Daly, 58, was born in Carmichael, California, but grew up in Dardanelle, Arkansas, nine miles south of Russellville. He played for the Razorbacks from 1984 to 1987 and later owned property adjacent to Paradise Valley Athletic Club in Fayetteville and Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. He also had a house on the TPC Southwind course in Memphis.

Daly gained instant fame when he won the 1991 PGA Championship with his “grip it and rip it” philosophy. He was the ninth deputy, but received a call from Nick Price on Wednesday evening that his wife was about to give birth. Daly threw his clubs in the car, drove 500 miles through the night from Memphis to Indianapolis and learned he was officially in the field.

The 25-year-old sported a blonde mullet and had missed the cut in his two previous appearances. It was his fourth year as a pro, but first on the PGA Tour. No one expected him to compete at Crooked Stick this weekend or even make it. He had never seen the course before, but Price lent his caddy, Jeff “Squeaky” Medlin, to Daly, which helped tremendously.

He was two shots off the lead after round one, one shot ahead of Bruce Lietzke after round two, and strolled to victory with a three-shot lead over Lietzke at 12 under par. He puffed on cigarettes, pumped his fists and captivated millions with his revealing style through 72 holes to earn the princely sum of $230,000.

He quietly donated $30,000 of the winner's check to the family of Tom Weaver, who had been killed by lightning in the tournament's opening round. This led to a college fund for Weaver's two daughters.

Four years later, Daly did it again, winning The Open – in the US we call it the British Open – at the golf course where golf was born, St. Andrews, or Old Course, in Scotland. He defeated Costantino Rocca in a four-hole playoff.

His big swing and larger personality have made Daly a cult hero over the past three decades. He is carefree but also caring. Best wishes to JD and family.

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