Golfer John Daly hits the rough in Australia
Sydney - Organizers of a golf tournament in Australia said Thursday that perennial bad-boy John Daly would not face disciplinary action after grabbing the camera of an over-zealous fan and smashing it against a tree.
They said the big-hitting American was within his rights because cameras and mobile phones were banned from the course at the Australian Open in Sydney.
Daly has a long history of alcohol abuse, with three recorded spells in the Betty Ford Clinic in the United States.
Daly released a statement via tournament organizers saying the fan got too close.
"The guy that had the camera had already taken a dozen shots at close range," he said.
It's Daly's first visit to Australia since 2002, when he earned a fine for throwing his putter and ball into a greenside pond and verbally abusing an official. (dpa)