John Daly lost his Florida home to Hurricane Helena last week.
“You live in Florida, you have to understand that it’s going to happen, but not like this. I didn’t think it was going to be this bad,” the pro golfer said of the Category 4 storm that left at least 162 dead and hundreds missing across the southeastern United States.
Daly, 58, described the storm as “devastating” and “the worst I’ve ever seen”.
“I hope everyone is safe and back home,” he told PGATour.com while attending the PGA Tour Champions event at Timiquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, Oct. 2. .”
According to PGATour.com, Daly visited the Clearwater, Fla., home that was slightly damaged, spending most of the time in Dardanelle, Ark.
“I just haven’t even been back to mine,” he said of the Florida property. “I restructured it, fixed it up. I wasn’t in it for two years; I put all the stuff in there and then it was all gone.”
John Daly in a May 2024 file photo.
Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty
On Thursday, September 26, Daly posted screenshots of Helena as the storm made landfall. In the post, he had an arrow pointing to a house in Florida, per Sports Illustrated. On Friday, September 27, he announced that his family was safe, but “not all of our homes are because water is leaking from every crack.”
The following night on Saturday, September 28, Daly was photographed in a private box watching the Alabama vs. Georgia game alongside former President Donald Trump at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The death toll from Hurricane Helena has risen to at least 200. Here’s how to help with humanitarian aid
Daly said his longtime fiancee Anna Cladakis and other loved ones were also affected by Helena’s devastation.
“We’re going to have to rebuild about three, three and a half houses. Almost four,” Daly told PGATour.com. “Anna’s mom lost her house. Matty burned down yesterday morning and Chrissy had to take a boat to get to hers so they’re pretty much all gone.”
Mum shares heartbreaking photos of Helena who flooded from her roof before son and parents drowned: ‘Worst nightmare’
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Daly is competing in Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS this week. The tournament has $2.1 million.
A representative for Daly did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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Source: HIS Education