What does Stuart Appleby think of John Daly? Well, that depends on who’s writing and where you are reading.

From ABC.com (Melbourne version we believe):

Australia’s Stuart Appleby says John Daly rates alongside Tiger Woods in terms of his ability to play golf. Daly is in Melbourne for this week’s Australian Masters at Huntingdale. Organisers have been criticised over the decision to pay the double major winner to take part in the Masters. But Appleby says Daly and Woods both have extraordinary ability. “Physically like you watch them both hit balls it’s neck and neck, but then the game boils down to the what happens upstairs a lot,” he said. “But watching him in 1991 was an absolute joke, how he tore a golf course apart. … Appleby said it would be great for golf if Daly can resurrect his career and some of his on-course behaviour has been misinterpreted. “I don’t think you’ll see the bad John, I think you’ll see more of the actual John Daly who understands where he’s been a bit from the past,” he said. “I don’t think you’re going to see the guy who takes his money and runs and couldn’t give a hoot and drives out of town.”

And now, from ESPN.com news services:

John Daly, playing this week in the Australian Masters and next week in the Australian PGA on sponsor’s invitations, for years has heard calls from his critics to clean up his act. But usually those bold statements have not come from his peers. Australian Stuart Appleby, ranked 35th in the world, told reporters that he didn’t think bringing Daly to play Down Under was the best idea but understood the reasoning behind it. “John Daly is unique,” Appleby said. “As players, we only wish that he put a little bit more time into his game and less time into ruining his personal life. He would be a draw card, not just a freak card, because he’s so gifted it’s a joke.” Appleby added that Daly’s personal life detracts from his stature as a professional golfer. “That has got to the stage now where that’s who John Daly is. His game hasn’t been the level that he wants it. But I don’t think John is here because of his world ranking. He’s a walking train wreck, and unfortunately people turn their heads to watch a train wreck.”

So there you have it. Either John Daly is just a misunderstood, bigger version of Tiger Woods or he is a sideshow train wreck. But if you just read one story, and one version of Appleby’s take, you would walk away with vastly different opinions of the whole thing.

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