LONG JOHN FINDS SILVER LINING DALY'S GAME, LIFE BACK ON TRACK AFTER DARK DAYS.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

As John Daly approached the 17th green at the Buick Open in Michigan last month, he was greeted with a golf rarity: the wave.

Not a wave. The wave. The one that's used in football stadiums and basketball arenas, not around well-manicured greens on a golf course.

The atmosphere, according to fellow PGA Tour player Stewart Cink, was more like one at a NASCAR event.

``I've never seen so many energetic fans in my life,'' Daly said. ``You get up on 17, they're doing the wave, and right when you're getting ready to putt, it's total silence. Usually, that shows you how smart they are and how golf smart they are.

``They are having fun, but they are not interfering with anybody's play and that's just incredible.''

So is Daly's game these days.

He has cleaned up his act - on and off the course - and the fans that fell in love with his big drive are even more passionate about him.

Daly has finished in the top 10 five times this season. He won the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in February - his first title since the 1995 British Open. He had gone 8 1/2 years and 189 starts without a victory.

``I think it seems like he's pretty much at peace with himself,'' veteran golfer Tom Lehman said. ``... I think there's a little bit of John Daly in all of us. The real reason people have always flocked to him is that he, like everyone, has problems but unlike a lot of people, he's a nice guy. If he was a flawed individual who was a jerk, no one would like him.''

Between tournament victories, Daly endured weight gains, alcohol rehabilitation, divorce, criticism, a suspension from the PGA Tour for bad behavior, an erratic swing and financial trouble.

With all that behind him, it's no wonder he won on tour this year. Everything seems to be falling into place.

``It feels great,'' he said. ``There's been a lot of ups and downs in those 10 years.''

Daly's been on a tear. He nearly won the Buick Open on Aug. 1 but missed a short putt and settled for second. That's why he's one of the players mentioned as contenders for this week's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis. He last won in 1991 at Crooked Stick, one of two major titles to his credit.

And it's possible he'll be chosen for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

The top 10 players in Ryder Cup points - based on top-10 finishes in PGA events over the past two years - automatically qualify. Daly is 20th in points. U.S. captain Hal Sutton will choose the remaining two players at his discretion, and Daly has made a strong case to make the team for the first time in his career.

The PGA Championship is the last event for Americans to earn Ryder Cup points.

``It would be wonderful,'' Daly said. ``All the guys in the top 25 on points right now are playing incredible golf, so that makes it tough for Hal to pick two guys.

``We've got a very strong team whether I'm on it or not. It would be great if I could be on it. And if I'm not, I'm going to root hard for our team as usual.''

Everyone knows Daly's a long hitter. His work off the tee has always been impressive, and he's third on the PGA Tour in driving distance at 305.3 yards.

As a long hitter, he's especially attractive for the Ryder Cup team. He could be paired with a shorter hitter, which would work well in taking alternate shots.

``I think that's where I would be very, very strong for the team,'' Daly said. ``... Seems like that's where we really struggle, and I think I would help the team there. It would be great if I could just hopefully get in.''

Daly's short game is intact, too. He's third on tour in putting average. His all-around game never has been better, which is why he always seems to be in contention.

It's not uncommon for him to high-five fans from the putting green to the tee box. He's always had a way with fans as the blue-collar golfer who dons vests and smokes about one cigarette per hole. He drives an RV to tournaments, mostly because he doesn't like to fly but also because he doesn't fit into the stuffy golfer stereotype.

If he gets to the city in time for a practice round or two, great. If he doesn't, that's fine, too. He'll just play in the pro-am on Wednesday and spend time with his three children. He said he knows most of the courses anyway.

He's more inclined to do a charity event anyway - his favorites are the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Boy and Girls Club in Arkansas.

His carefree attitude is engaging.

Daly was a hit at the Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club in February, when he shot a tournament and season low 64 in the second round. It wasn't tough to spot his gallery, the one with countless Arkansas jerseys and hats in tribute to Daly's college days.

With Tiger Woods becoming more human by the day, Daly's fan base continues to grow. It seems it's hard not to root for Daly.

``He's had a lot of different things happen to him,'' Woods said. ``We've all read about it and seen it. I think what's pretty impressive is toward the end of last year, he started getting it going. He started playing a little bit better. You started seeing signs of him getting his game under control.''

One of those problems was that his wife, Sherrie Miller Daly, and her parents were indicted last year, days after Sherrie gave birth to a son, John Daly, Jr., on money laundering charges. She plead guilty in an agreement and was given five years' probation.

Since then, Daly has been trouble-free. He has been on top of his game and seemingly in control of his life.

And fans can't seem to get enough.

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) John Daly attracts fans wherever he plays because of his driving ability, and he goes out of his way to acknowledge them. At the Battle at the Bridges, he gives Phil Mickeslon (below) a high-five.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

(3) At the Buick Open in July, John Daly gives one fan a hug.

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Box:

(1) PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

(2) GOLF CALENDAR