By John Altavilla
CBS SportsLine Golf Writer
July 26, 1997

HARTFORD, Ct. -- On June 13, John Daly walked off the course during the U.S. Open at Congressional midway through the second round, his brain clouded, his body shaking, his confidence to simply put one foot in front of the other all but gone.

"I wasn't ready to play the tournament," Daly said. "Even before it began, I was uncomfortable."

On Tuesday, John Daly walked down the 18th fairway at the Tournament Players Club in Cromwell, Ct., his good friend Fuzzy Zoeller joking around by his side, a gallery of nearly 2,000 supportive fans behind him.

"Nothing gets under Fuzzy's skin," said Daly. "I can't be like him because it's not my nature. But he lets it go and everyone can learn from it. Especially me."

MOMENTS EARLIER, DALY HAD JUST drained a 21-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole to wrap up six skins and $6,000 for charity in an event which served as a warmup for this weekend's Canon Greater Hartford Open.

There he was. A little thinner than usual. His hair trimmed nearly all the way back. Daly, the man with the big driver and, unfortunately, just as large an appetite for all things that are bad for him, was again in the environment which made him, in the environment which exposed him. With a club in his hand and his pal along for the walk, Daly began the latest comeback from a bout with alcohol dependency.

"I've never had a harsh word for John," said Zoeller, who has endured his own crisis this year in the wake of his insensitive remarks about Tiger Woods following The Masters. "Everything I've ever said to him has been friendly. Maybe it's like a brother speaking to another brother. We've always had a lot of fun together."

Perhaps it's appropriate that Zoeller is in Connecticut this week to be at Daly's side. Daly's return to the Tour comes after a six-week stay at the Betty Ford Clinic, another attempt to straighten the course of a life which too often has run off the road.

He seems to be doing fine. Playing with Craig Stadler and Billy Ray Brown, and averaging 318 yards off the tee, Daly began the tournament Wednesday with a 1-over 71, surviving a double-bogey on the par 3, 202-yard 17th hole in the process. On Friday, he improved by 1 stroke, shooting par 70 to qualify for the cut at 141, 12 strokes behind leader Wayne Levi. Levi set a GHO record with his two-round score of 129.

"That wasn't too good, but all in all the round was OK," Daly said. "I had a lot of chances, I just didn't make any putts. I'm usually a good long-iron player, but they were awful, too. Nothing spectacular.''

More important was his attitude. Upbeat and tolerant. A step in the right direction.

"John didn't expect a whole lot from himself," said Brown. "No matter how long you're out of the mix, you're nervous when you come back. John stepped up on No. 10 (his first hole Thursday) and hit it right down the middle. That set the tone."

DALY PARTIALLY ATTRIBUTES HIS latest problem to what he originally believed would aid his salvation. Instead of drinking, he had turned to Diet Coke to quench his ample thirst. He would drink six or seven as he'd walk around a course, but eventually he discovered that the chemical additive aspartame, which helps sweeten diet drinks, was mixing adversely with the anti-depressants doctors had prescribed for him. The end result was the nervousness and panic that led him off the course at the U.S. Open.

"I don't think anybody in the world can play with the shakes," Daly said. "It's scary. But I've learned to take better care of myself. It started with a nutritional program."

So now he's on a new diet (46 grams of fat per day) free from the cheeseburgers that once sustained him. He's lost nearly 40 pounds and guzzles water when he plays.

"He hit the wall a few times," said Zoeller. "But he 'fessed up, got help and he's back. I think that's great. I love him, man."

While he attempts to put his game back together, Daly must also confront the mess his life has become.

His second wife, Paulette, filed for divorce April 26, one month after Daly's well-publicized 14-hour drinking binge following the first round of The Players Championship. Two days after his wife decided to leave him, Wilson severed its promotional ties with Daly, costing him a $30 million contract.

''The low point of all aspects of my life,'' said Daly.

The United States Golf Association is still angry about the way he walked out on the U.S. Open. And he must deal with the constant reminders of his demon; friends who drink around him and tour cities, like Milwaukee, that are synonymous for the production of beer.

"I would love to go to Milwaukee and play again," said Daly. "But I don't think I could handle driving on the interstate and smelling all the breweries. It's just too tough. Maybe someday."

AND HE'S SUDDENLY DEVELOPED a fear of flying. With friend Donny Crabtree and caddie Brian Alexander, Daly drove 19 hours and 1,215 miles from Rogers, Ark., to get to Hartford this week. Daly did most of the driving.

"I can eat when I want, listen to music that I like. I don't have to sit down and buckle up when the light goes on," Daly said.

And, of course, Daly can smoke when he wants. Cheeseburgers, diet soda and beer may be out. But smoking is a vice he still finds comfort in. And Daly seems to have maintained his good humor, especially now that Callaway has filled the endorsement void for him by offering a five-year, $10 million deal.

Here's an example: Before setting off at the charity skins game, Daly was hanging around the practice driving range while a celebrity long drive contest was being held. When it came time for ESPN's Chris Berman to set to the tee, he was busy signing autographs, so he enlisted Daly as his pinch-hitter.

When the emcee of the event kiddingly asked Daly if he's taken a wrong turn somewhere, Daly's response was quick and light-hearted.

"No," he said, "I'm just a drunk who got lost."

Then Daly ripped off a 295-yard drive.

Seems like he's back, doesn't it? Maybe this time to stay.