SAN DIEGO - John Daly is in the lead and on the verge of another comeback.
Thousands of fans lining the 18th fairway gasped and cheered when Daly launched a 2-iron over the water and right at the flag Saturday in the Buick Invitational. The roar shook Torrey Pines when he holed the eagle putt, giving him 4-under-par 68 and his first 54-hole lead in 10 years on the PGA Tour.
"It would prove to myself that it's not over yet," Daly said of winning.
His life often in turmoil off the course, Daly showed plenty of control on the tough South course at Torrey Pines by making one bogey over two days and taking a one-shot lead over Stewart Cink.
Those wanting to see another victory by Tiger Woods (eight shots behind) or Phil Mickelson (nine shots behind) have someone they can root for just as hard.
"One guy said, "Put the cows in the barn.' I'm from Arkansas, and I'm still not sure what that means," Daly said. "I knew it was a compliment, so it was kind of cool."
Daly was at 13-under 203, one ahead of Cink (71). Dennis Paulson, playing on a sponsor's exemption, shot 67 and was another stroke back.
While the fans might soak up another win by "Long John," it would be a stunning comeback considering his struggles. Two divorces. Two trips to alcohol rehabilitation. A PGA Tour suspension for erratic behavior.
The latest episode for Daly, winless on the PGA Tour since his victory in the '95 British Open at St. Andrews, came last summer when his wife and her parents were indicted on federal drug and gambling charges five days after she gave birth to his first son, his third child.
Daly did not want to talk about his problems, but he was asked how he was able to focus with so many distractions in life.
"I'm used to it," he said with a slow smile before meeting wife Sherrie after the round.
Daly has been larger than life since he crashed the scene with his victory in the '91 PGA Championship, where he was the ninth alternate and introduced his grip-it-and-rip-it style. He has led the tour in driving distance 11 of the past 13 years and tops it this season at 304.4 yards.
Daly found some confidence last year. With his game approaching rock bottom again, Daly won the Korean Open, the unofficial Callaway Invitational at Pebble Beach and teamed with Peter Jacobsen to win the Three-Tour Challenge.
EUROPEAN TOUR: Steve Webster increased his lead to five points in the ANZ Championship, scoring 12 in the third round at Port Stephens, Australia. Webster pushed his total to 39 in the modified Stableford event. Nick O'Hern was second with 34, followed by Scott Gardiner (32) and Nick Flanagan (31).
