Fans' favorite Daly gets Riviera boost

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - Fans' favorite John Daly gave himself a welcome boost by shooting a two-under-par 69 in the Northern Trust Open first round on Thursday.

The big-hitting American, playing on a sponsor's exemption after struggling on and off the course for the last two years, has finished in the money just once in four PGA Tour starts this season.

"The wind really picked up on the back nine and made it play a lot tougher but it's nice to finally get off to a decent start," Daly told reporters after ending the opening round four shots off the lead.

"I made a good putt on one and made a really good birdie on three and then five. When you get off to a start like that, you feel like you can feed off it for the rest of the day with confidence and shots towards the green."

Daly is still struggling with the effects of a rib injury sustained at the Honda Classic last March when he was disturbed on his back swing by a spectator taking a photograph.

"A woman took a picture and I came down and separated my shoulder and fractured my rib," the double major winner said. "I tried to play through it all last year and had to withdraw from tournaments because it kept popping out."

After earning $9,805 in his first Tour event this season at the Sony Open, Daly was forced to pull out of the final round of the Bob Hope Classic the following week because of the injury.

He then missed the cut at the Buick Invitational and Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.