John Daly's wife accuses him of sexual assault

June 12, 2007

Adapted from CBSnews.com

Golfer John Daly and his wife called a truce after dueling court claims of a drunken rampage, knife wielding, and sexual assault.

Daly, a two-time major champion with a history of hard drinking, showed up at a PGA tournament in Memphis on Friday with a face full of scratches and a story about his wife attacking him with a steak knife.

His wife, Sherrie Daly, who went to prison last year in connection with a drug investigation, accused him in a court petition of sexually assaulting her and making up the knife attack to mask his own wrongdoing.

Both asked a Memphis court for protection against the other.

But the hostilities cooled after a meeting with their attorneys, said Daly's lawyer.

"It's not the present intent of either of them to press any criminal charges against the other," the lawyer said.

Sherrie Daly filed for a divorce last year but the couple still lived together at their residence near the golf course where Daly played last week in the Stanford St. Jude Championship.

"For the time being, the divorce is still pending and there's been no discussion of reconciliation," the lawyer said. "But it certainly was deemed important to return to civility."

The two have agreed to refrain from further public comments about their marital troubles, the lawyer said.

Sheriff's deputies were called to the suburban Daly residence about 6 a.m. Friday. Daly said his wife attacked him with a knife while he was sleeping. He had no serious injuries but deputies said his face was scratched and his shirt had blood on it.

Sherrie Daly had left the residence, the report said.

In her court petition, she accused Daly of attacking her in a drunken rage and scratching his own face "to cover up his sexual assault," for which few details were given.

Daly filed a similar petition with the court Friday. Both were filed as part of the ongoing divorce proceeding, with each seeking temporary custody of the couple's 3-year-old son and Mrs. Daly's 8-year-old son from a previous relationship.

The lawyer said the Dalys have agreed, at least temporarily, to continue jointly caring for the boys at the Memphis residence. "Each of them has equal access and likes to be in the home," he said.

Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 British Open and has a loyal fan following on the tour. But his play has been overshadowed at times by drinking, outrageous tales of gambling losses, and suspensions.

In an autobiography released last year, “My Life In & Out of the Rough,” Daily acknowledged gambling and drinking addictions and devoted a chapter to his three ex-wives titled, "All My Exes Wear Rolexes."