If he was anyone other than John Daly you rather suspect that a sore rib would not be the only thing threatening his participation in the Barclay�s Scottish Open this week.

If he was anyone other than John Daly you rather suspect that a sore rib would not be the only thing threatening his participation in the Barclay's Scottish Open this week.

Certainly, prior to his championing of the brand, there would not be many others who would turn up at Loch Lomond wearing a pair of Loudmouth Pants so garish - the pattern comprising golf ball shapes all the colours of the rainbow and more - that a Hawaiian beach boy might think twice before hauling them on for a night out.

"They're doing great," the ever approachable former Open and USPGA champion reported. "We're having a lot of fun with it. I think we have 28 different styles. I don't know if Larry, the guy that runs it, is going to send me something different for the British or not."

Perhaps it is as well that it is the resort of Turnberry that is hosting next week's Open rather than Muirfield or even neighbouring Troon, but Daly's attitude to the po-faced brigade who might be shocked to see such attire in their douce clubhouses is refreshingly dismissive.

"They're just colourful and they're selling . . . people are buying 'em!" he said, grinning broadly.

Unlike those who find his excesses a bit distasteful, this man is very in touch with the people and still had plenty of time yesterday for his public, readily signing souvenirs in spite of being in discomfort after a round in which he had briefly threatened to offer a reminder of his glorious best before injury struck again.

"I started off okay on the front but the back went out on 14 again. I can't get through the ball right now," he said.

By "okay" what he was describing was an excellent outward half of 32, bettered by only a handful in the field and it included an eagle three at the third.

Clearly he was frustrated by the recurrence of an injury that had forced his withdrawal from last week's French Open and consequently meant his participation in this event was not certain until he teed up yesterday. Daly was, though, still hopeful as he was whisked off in a buggy to the physio room, that he will be able to complete a full week's work this time.

"My stroke's great, but unfortunately after I hit a beautiful shot on 13 it went out," the Amercian explained.

"On 14 it was bad and from there on in I'm just glad I've finished.

Hopefully they can pop it back it back in and as long as I try and just get through it hopefully it will continue to work itself out."

That he managed to par his way in after bogeying the 14th hole spoke volumes for his competitiveness and Larry of Loudmouth pants will not be alone in hoping the physios can work their magic so that Daly can continue to bring a vivid splash of colour to the Scottish landscape over the next 10 days.