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John Daly's fiancee helps golf legend make dream 'huge success'

John Daly's fiancee helps golf legend make dream 'huge success'

The latest installment of John Daly's Golf Invitational took place this week as
the iconic golfer
pulled out all the stops for a special day, yet it was his fiancee who made his dream a reality after going above and beyond.
The 58-year-old
and Anna Cladakis -
whose son secured his first collegiate victory at the Columbia Spring Invitational this month
- graced the Old Hickory Country Club in
Tennessee
across Tuesday and Wednesday, putting on a remarkable event in which all proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Club of the
Arkansas
River Valley, a charity dedicated to supporting youth between the ages of 6-18.
The event, which was initiated by Daly's mother, Mama Lou, back in 1991, was a significant occasion for
the 1991 PGA Championship winner
, made even more memorable by Cladakis, as evidenced by his heartfelt
social media
post dedicated to his other half once the dust had settled on a manic few days.
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Taking to his
Instagram
Stories with a cheerful snapshot of him and Cladakis, Daly wrote: "To my amazing fiance, thank you for your unwavering hard work & generous heart that made our charity event this week such a HUGE success! Your dedication and compassion are truly inspiring!"
The touching tribute highlights how the couple's bond extends beyond romance, with Cladakis having taken up a number of roles alongside the golfer since meeting him in 2007. It all began when Cladakis was a promotions director for the golfing veteran's Hooters endorsement deal, but has since acted as his caddie and sometimes even a business partner.
And that shone through more than ever for the exclusive John Daly Charity Classic, which was about more than just the links and team places fetching $10,000 each. The event also featured more than just golf, with revelers enjoying exclusive parties, food and drinks, goody bags, signed Daly memorabilia, and optional add-ons like mulligans and 'Sure Putts'.
John Daly hosts his own event every year to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of the Arkansas River Valley, a charity dedicated to supporting youth between the ages of 6-18
(Image: John Daly Golf Invitational)
On top of that, wellness pursuits such as yoga stretches and nutrition lessons were also on offer, courtesy of Anna's passion for public health. The day proved that there is much more to Daly than his eccentric outfits and driving distance off the tee.
Next up for Daly is a return to the 2025 season on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has a remarkable 19 tournaments lined up this year - outnumbering the entire LIV Golf schedule. Taking to Instagram in typical Daly style, he wrote: "Y'all better buckle up-2025 is gonna be a ride! ... Let's #GripItAndRipIt all over again!".
From the iconic greens of Augusta National to the fairways of Jacksonville, Dallas, and Calgary, Daly is set to electrify fans with his signature vibe in cities throughout North America. His tour will also hit Houston, Birmingham, Des Moines, Madison, Milwaukee, Akron, and St. Louis, giving golf enthusiasts from every corner the chance to watch him in action.
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After being driven nuts and scolded in a bunker, Brooks Koepka back in major form
After being driven nuts and scolded in a bunker, Brooks Koepka back in major form

NBC Sports

time13-06-2025

  • NBC Sports

After being driven nuts and scolded in a bunker, Brooks Koepka back in major form

OAKMONT, Pa. – Brooks Koepka once called the major championships the easiest to win. That was six years ago, when he had three. Now, he owns five, though none in eight attempts – eight frustrating attempts during which Koepka has not factored, mustered just one top-25 finish and missed each of his last two cuts. So, does he still feel that way? Is the big, bad Koepka, now 35, still among those precious few with the talent and toughness to conquer these types of tests? 'I don't talk about it, you guys talk about it,' Koepka said, sending a clear message that he still doesn't want to talk about it. Reminded that it was his quote, Koepka added, 'I said it once, and now everybody repeats it.' But actions always speak louder than words, and on Thursday at Oakmont Country Club, Koepka announced to this 125th U.S. Open field that he's not done yet. Koepka's 2-under 68 has him just two shots back of leader J.J. Spaun, but more importantly, it slots him in as one of just two major champions under par along with Jon Rahm (1 under). The other eight? They have combined for eight major top-10s, half of which are accounted for by Sungjae Im and none of which have come in a U.S. Open. The old Koepka wouldn't blink at those guys. But in recent months Koepka hasn't felt like himself. Since his runner-up at LIV Singapore, he's not finished better than T-17 on the 54-player circuit while trunk-slamming on Fridays at Augusta National and Quail Hollow. He's slipped to No. 98 in Data Golf's rankings, too. And his attitude? Maybe the worst it's ever been. 'I would say from the first weekend in April until about last week, you didn't want to be around me,' Koepka said. 'It drove me nuts. It ate at me. I haven't been happy. It's been very irritating. It's a lot – I mean, I had to apologize – I've apologized to Rick, Pete, Jeff, Blake, my wife, my son, everybody. I wouldn't have wanted to be around me.' Koepka's stats show him hemorrhaging strokes around and on the greens. Koepka admits he's 'just got into some bad habits and bad swing positions,' with the club being as much as 9 inches off from where Koepka perceived it to be, and Koepka's patented baby fade developing into a two-way miss. The issue became so dire that Koepka didn't play the golf course the first two days of practice at last week's LIV Golf Virginia event, opting instead to sit on the range and figure it out. 'It's starting to click,' he adds. But not without some extra fire lit by Koepka's coach Pete Cowen on Monday in a bunker at the far corner of Oakmont's practice area. 'For about 45 minutes, I just sat there, and he scolded me pretty well,' said Koepka, who wouldn't disclose exactly what was said. Cowen has needed to use similar tactics in the past, most famously ahead of the 2017 U.S. Open, when he told the then-major-less Koepka, 'You need to have the attitude of a champion and stop being a petulant child.' Cowen also told Koepka to stop whining about his putting following last year's Masters. 'I'll put it this way: JT thought he had to come check on me in the bunker,' Koepka added. '… I wasn't happy with it, but it was something I think you need to hear or I needed to hear at the right time. It's not the first time he's done it. He's not afraid to. I don't like having yes-people around me. I just want somebody to tell me the truth, tell me what's going on, what they see. 'If I start swaying from being Brooks Koepka, then I want someone to call me out on it, and he did a helluva job on it.' Brooks Koepka was certainly Brooks Koepka on Thursday at Oakmont. He'd like to keep it that way.

Koepka gets Oakmont scolding and leaps into US Open title hunt
Koepka gets Oakmont scolding and leaps into US Open title hunt

Yahoo

time13-06-2025

  • Yahoo

Koepka gets Oakmont scolding and leaps into US Open title hunt

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka of the United States, right, talks to coach Pete Cowen, left, during a practice round at Oakmont that helped Koepka fire a two-under par 68 to stand two off the lead at the US Open (ROSS KINNAIRD) Three days after taking a 45-minute scolding from short-game coach Pete Cowen, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka finds himself back in major title contention at the US Open. The 35-year-old American took his lesson in a bunker at Oakmont and responded by firing a two-under-par 68 to stand two off the lead after Thursday's firt round. Advertisement "It's nice to put a good round together. It has been a while," said Koepka. "I've been working hard, just got into some bad habits and bad swing positions. We worked pretty hard last week." Koepka works with Englishman Cowen on his short game and with coach Jeff Pierce on his putting. Both instructed him last week. Cowen went back at it on Monday in a practice round. "Pete got into me again on Monday, in the bunker for about 45 minutes. I just sat there, and he scolded me pretty well," Koepka said. "It's just a matter of executing the feels versus perception for where I've been. It has been so far off, it's on opposite sides, but now it's starting to click. Advertisement "Unfortunately, we're about halfway through the season, so that's not ideal, but we're learning." How intense was Cowen's teaching session? "JT (Justin Thomas) thought he had to come check on me in the bunker. We were in there for about 45 minutes and he was on the other side of the green... He was like, 'I was worried, your head was down.' "Yeah, Pete, I'll keep that between us. I wasn't happy with it, but it was something I needed to hear at the right time. It's not the first time he's done it. He's not afraid to." Koepka said he had not done it since the 2017 US Open at Erin Hills, when Koepka won the title. Advertisement "I don't like having 'yes' people around me. I just want somebody to tell me the truth, tell me what's going on, what they see," he said. Koepka won the 2017 and 2018 US Open titles and the PGA Championship in 2018, 2019 and 2023. But after five wins in Saudi-backed LIV Golf, Koepka has not won since last August at Greenbrier and not managed a top-10 major finish in two years. "Still the same person. Just mechanics were off," Koepka said. "Getting on the right track. "I wasn't consistent enough. When I felt like I cut one, it was drawing. I felt like I blocked one, it would go straight. I just had no sense of reality of where things were. My perception was so far off." Advertisement Long practice range sessions last week paid off, Koepka said. "It's starting to click," he said. "I'm starting to see the ball flight evolve where it's a nice little fade and I don't have the two-way miss going. Very consistent now." js/rcw

Bill Belichick under fire as UNC staff 'concerned' about Jordon Hudson scandal
Bill Belichick under fire as UNC staff 'concerned' about Jordon Hudson scandal

Irish Daily Star

time29-04-2025

  • Irish Daily Star

Bill Belichick under fire as UNC staff 'concerned' about Jordon Hudson scandal

UNC chiefs are reportedly concerned about Jordan Hudson's influence on Bill Belichick ahead of his first season in Chapel Hill after she caused a stir during his recent interview with CBS. The NFL legend had sat-down with reporter Tony Dokoupil to promote his new book, "The Art of Winning," when he was asked how he had met his 24-year-old girlfriend . Before he could reply, however, Hudson butted in with a swift: "We're not talking about this", before telling Dokoupil: "No", when he looked over in her direction to confirm. The clip has been widely shared across social media and has led to concern among fans. In a voiceover, Dokoupil reveals how their relationship is "a topic neither one of them is comfortable talking on," adding how Hudson was a "constant presence" during his interview with Belichick. It left many fans questioning Hudson's behavior and calling the interview one of the most "awkward" they've ever seen. Read More Related Articles Justin Thomas dismisses Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau theory after Masters drama Read More Related Articles Rory McIlroy to skip tournament for 'reset' after Shane Lowry title defense doesn't go to plan It has since been revealed by TMZ Sports that at one point during the Q&A, Hudson got so heated that she even stormed out of the room and delayed shooting for 30 minutes, while there were numerous other instances of her butting in to stop and correct the 73-year-old - even when he was answering questions about football . Belichick had also only arrived at the interview with Hudson and no one from his publishing company or the University of North Carolina . He had been scheduled to sit down for a second interview at a later time but his girlfriend's antics in the CBS Studio meant it was ultimately scrapped. It appears as though fans aren't the only one's concerned by the situation, however, with the report adding how the whole ordeal isn't sitting well with Belichick's new employers. Higher-ups at UNC are said to be concerned about Hudson's influence on Belichick's tenure at Kenan Stadium, especially after appearing to have taken on a role as his manager, with a source telling TMZ that there's a "growing sense this could become a problem." UNC chiefs are said to be concerned about Jordon Hudson's influence on Bill Belichick following his car crash interview with CBS (Image: X/Twitter - CBS Sunday) Earlier this month, Hudson faced backlash for attending a UNC practice session , after a clip of her standing next to Belichick as players were put through drills at the Kenan Stadium went viral on social media. The influencer was wearing a long Carolina blue coat over a white top paired with a blue skirt and white boots as she spoke to Belichick on the sideline. While many took issue with Belichick bringing his partner to a practice session, it appeared that the former cheerleader-turned-influencer was helping the UNC coach deal with audio equipment. NBC Sports claims that Hudson is part of a team working on a documentary about Belichick's venture into college football . It came shortly after it was revealed that the veteran coach had requested his girlfriend be copied on correspondence as part of emails uncovered by Axios and The Assembly . A second post from The Assembly then revealed that other emails showed Hudson getting copied on messages regarding whether to accept interview requests, giving some credence to previous reports that claimed Hudson was the coach's 'de facto agent.'

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