Daly contemplates European schedule after stomach-muscle surgery

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While Trevor Immelman was winning the Masters for his first major, John Daly was having surgery in Arkansas with hopes of getting his career back on track.

John Daly has struggled to play through his injury this year. (Graythen/Getty Images)

Daly has cited injury as the primary reason for his poor play over the last two years, during which he has withdrawn eight times and missed the cut 14 times in 33 events. The injury dates to the '07 Honda Classic, when he tried to stop his swing upon hearing the click of a fan's camera. More than a year later, his doctor believes he found the problem.

The surgery was to repair a torn muscle in his stomach.

"When he tried to stop swinging at the Honda Classic, he tore his rotator cuff and he also dislocated two rib joints where they attach to the spine," said Dr. Steve Whitelaw, who works with the University of Arkansas. "We rehabbed all that, but the whole time he had dislocated ribs, he tore the ligaments around them."

Whitelaw said when Daly complained of more pain, they ran a full body scan and discovered the muscle tear in the stomach.

"It was not attached, and the muscle shrunk down," he said. "When he swings, he uses that area with his stomach and core strength. He could only go so long without hurting. He was in a cycle he could not get out of."

Whitelaw said Daly might be able to hit easy wedge shots this week, and the recovery should be quick. Where the two-time major champion returns is uncertain, although it could be Europe.

Daly has agreed to play the Spanish Open in Seville in two weeks. That's opposite the Wachovia Championship, which did not offer Daly an exemption this year. Daly is contemplating an extended stay in Europe, possibly playing the Italian Open and Irish Open the following two weeks, and perhaps the BMW Championship at Wentworth.

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Immelman

LATE FINISH: Trevor Immelman's victory in the Masters didn't generate much attention in South Africa, mainly because he finished his round at 2:30 a.m. in his homeland, after most people -- and newspapers -- had gone to bed.

Expect that to happen at the U.S. Open for South Africa, Europe and even the United Kingdom.

The U.S. Open, from June 12-15, has decided to go primetime in the United States, with a 7 p.m local finish in San Diego (0200 GMT June 16). If everything goes according to schedule -- rare in golf with so much slow play -- the tournament will end at 3 a.m. in Britain, and roughly an hour later in continental Europe and South Africa.

"When do you say to the West Coast, 'The tournament must end at 4 o'clock your time,'" USGA executive director David Fay said. "I know it puts Europe at a disadvantage. We tend to look east, where it's just as easy to look to the west. If K.J. Choi (of South Korea) is leading, the time might be better for Asia."

The last time a major was held on the West Coast was Pebble Beach for the 2000 U.S. Open, and the final round was scheduled to end at 5 p.m. local time (0000 GMT).

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DIVOTS: Among the faces in the crowd at the Masters was Japanese star Ai Miyazato, who was at Augusta for the first time. ... Greg Norman's longtime tournament, the Merrill Lynch Shootout, has raised its purse to $2.9 million. ... The last two Masters champions, Zach Johnson and Trevor Immelman, had only one PGA TOUR victory before earning the green jacket.

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STAT: A year after Zach Johnson played the par 5s in 11 under to win the Masters, Trevor Immelman was only 3 under on the par 5s.