After spending a delightful Friday morning watching Phil Mickelson navigate the back nine during the second round of the Shell Houston Open, my entourage and I grabbed a quick lunch and then headed out to the Redstone Golf Club driving range to watch the players with afternoon tee times prepare for their rounds.

A few minutes after we arrived, 2007 PGA Teacher of the Year and Houston resident Jim Hardy appeared on the range to watch his longtime student, Scott McCarron, warm up for his round. Hardy helped McCarron revive his professional golf career in the mid-1990’s after he had completely lost confidence in his swing. Hardy has helped resurrect the careers of several other PGA Tour pros in a similar manner.

Meanwhile, a few spots down the range from Hardy and McCarron, the mercurial John Daly — who was playing the SHO on a sponsor’s exemption because he has become a shadow (see also here) of the world class golfer that he used to be — began warming up for his round. In between drags on an ever-present cigarette as well as friendly chatter with caddies and other practicing players, Daly somewhat listlessly hit a few wedges and then a few long irons before wailing away with his driver. The man can still hit the ball out of sight.

As Daly began hitting his driver, McCarron finished his practice session and Hardy had a few final words with him. McCarron then left for his tee time and Hardy strolled down the range, stopping 20 yards or so behind Daly. With arms folded, Hardy silently stood watching Daly hit practice drives. I’m not sure that Daly even noticed Hardy watching.

A few minutes later, Daly tossed his driver to his caddy and trudged toward the golf cart that would take him to the 10th tee for his tee time. Hardy walked to the putting green and began working with another player on his putting.

After seven holes of his round, Daly withdrew from the tournament with a balky back that I’m sure wasn’t helped by the chilly rain and 20 degree temperature drop that occurred Friday afternoon. However, in nine tournaments this season, Daly has now missed four cuts, pulled out of another tournament with a rib injury and was disqualified from the Arnold Palmer Invitational because he blew his pro-am tee time. This on top of Daly’s unofficial PGA Tour record of six withdrawals in 2007 and his 581st World Golf ranking coming into the SHO.

The sad reality is that probably even Jim Hardy can’t help John Daly now.