Golf-Daly to head Down Under for another round

MELBOURNE Aug 23 (Reuters) - John Daly's stormy relationship with the Australian golf tour is set to continue with the American double-major winner confirming he will play the national PGA championship in December.

The 44-year-old's outlandish attire and booming drives have proved a massive drawcard for struggling events Down Under in recent years, although the visits have invariably generated more controversy than success for the player himself.

"I really love coming to Australia," Daly said in an Australian PGA news release on Monday. "The Coolum course is great, the fans love their golf and I hope I can come back this year and really put in a good performance."

The 1991 U.S. PGA and 1995 British Open winner created headlines two years ago after smashing a spectator's camera into a tree at the Australian Open and was disqualified from the PGA tournament in 2002 after throwing his putter in a lake.

He swore never to return to Australia after complaining of negative media treatment but reappeared last year, slimmed down and in a far more serene state of mind.

Having struggled to play a full weekend in previous years, Daly delighted organisers by making cuts at both the Australian Open and PGA tournaments last year.

The Australian PGA championship will be played Dec. 9-12 in the Coolum resort in Queensland state. (Reporting by Ian Ransom, Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)