THE FAT AND THE FIT: An overweight Daly (above) has no faith in working out, while a trim Woods believes in physical fitness. -- PHOTOS: AP, REUTERS

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He had a vivid and emphatic response to the world No1's sermon on the benefits of physical fitness in golf.

Said Daly: 'I tried working out in the early 1990s but, every time I worked out, I threw up.

'I thought to myself, 'I can get drunk and throw up, I don't need to do this'.

'You throw up after an hour's workout, but you can drink for 20 hours before throwing up, so it is just not for me, I don't like it.'

Shortly after clinching the PGA Championship and his 13th Major last Sunday in sweltering conditions that reached 39 deg C, Woods extolled the virtues of physical exercise.

He said: 'Physical fitness is always a huge advantage, especially when you play any sport and you have heat and anything that wears you down mentally and physically.

'When I walked up No18, I felt the same way as I did going off the first tee. I felt great. But not everyone considers golf a sport and they don't treat it as such.'

He did not name names, but Daly could be considered a prime example of the kind of player he was referring to.

Daly, 41, is a 100-kg smoker who has battled weight, drink and gambling problems - and gone through three divorces.

Yet, he has no intention of changing his ways in his bid to add a third Major title to his 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 British Open victories.

'Last week, I did better than most players who work out,' he said.

Then, he was lying second after the opening round at Southern Hills before fading to a share of 32nd.

'I saw Vijay Singh finding the shade of a tree whenever he could and he looked worn out... I don't think training or conditioning has anything to do with it,' insisted Daly.

'Heat is heat, but the fat boys like me, we can get through the heat.

'I am flexible enough, but there are probably some things I could do to keep my flexibility up, but I just don't want to do them.

'I'd rather smoke, drink Diet Cokes and eat. It just doesn't mean that much to me to work out, lift weights and run. I get enough exercise walking five or six miles (10km) a day.'

REUTERS