The promoter of the South African Open has dismissed reports that John Daly snubbed the world's second oldest Open.
Daly was widely reported to have turned down an invitation to play in the 101st edition of of the event at the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate earlier this week and the word snub was included in the headline on a number of these reports.
But Mbali Ngqula, the promoter of both the South African Open and January's Africa Open, refuted this claim on Thursday, saying that yes, Daly had been invited to play in the South African Open, but it was only when it was established that he would not be able to arrive in time for Thursday's tyee-off following his recent trip to Australia, that the arrangement fell through.
"It was wrong to suggest that John snubbed our invitation.
"He did no such thing. We invited him to participate, and he was very willing to do so. But then we realised that he would not make it here on time.
"He has already indicated, however, that he wants to play in the Africa Open in East London in January, and we would be delighted to have him there."
golf365.com