He stood there like a concerned father intently watching an errant child. Indeed Deane Beman made no secret of his continuing interest in the wellbeing of John Daly, whom he felt obliged to suspend indefinitely from the game, five years ago.

That was when Beman was commissioner of the USPGA Tour, a position he vacated in 1994. Now, in his capacity as a director of the World Cup, he was standing yesterday on the practice ground at Gulf Harbour, watching Daly and US partner, Scott Verplank, ease out the stiffness of a long flight.

"I'm feeling good, particularly about the idea of playing with Scott," said the erstwhile Wild Thing, who was making his first visit to these parts. In fact it is also Daly's first appearance in the World Cup, having played for the US in the Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews last month.

He was sporting a substantial stubble, considerably more luxuriant than could be explained by the journey here from last Sunday's Shark Shoot-Out in California, where he and Fuzzy Zoeller finished fourth behind Greg Norman and Steve Elkington. "That's my winter coat," he said with a grin.

Faced with the unacceptable behaviour of an active alcoholic player on tour, Beman made the decision to try and save Daly's career through strict, disciplinary action. "It was a very difficult time for both of us," he said. "When I suspended him, my hope was that he would respond in a positive manner by confronting his problem."

He went on: "It's been a long, difficult road but he seems to be getting there. I think John now realises that his future success in this game is essentially in his own hands. I would like to think that he's looking at the lives of the great players and trying to follow their example. Only time will tell."

Verplank is returning from physical rather than mental and emotional problems. And after two very thin years on tour when he failed to get inside the top-150 on the money list, he has surprised most observers, including himself, by finishing 18th during the season just ended.

"I'm a diabetic but my major set-backs were three elbow operations in two years," he said. "So it was a great lift to have two second-place finishes this year. Mind you, I'm still a bit surprised to be here, representing America in the World Cup."

He was realistic enough to acknowledge that himself and Daly were far from being first-choice nominations for the US team. In fact officials found themselves in something of a bind when a string of prospective candidates opted out.

First there were Mark O'Meara, Lee Janzen and Tiger Woods who had a conflicting commitment to this week's Grand Slam of Golf. Then there was the reluctance by members of the US President's Cup team to travel to New Zealand so close to their assignment at Royal Melbourne next month.

Verplank, who was the first amateur in 31 years to win a US Tour event when he captured the 1985 Western Open, has known Daly since college days. That was when Verplank was a team-mate of Philip Walton's at Oklahoma State while Daly was with the University of Arkansas.

"Philip's a really nice guy and a very fine player," he said. "He's a couple of years older than me but we were in the same team at Oklahoma State when I was a freshman. Since he returned to Ireland, I've closely followed his career and was really pleased for his success in the Ryder Cup at Oak Hill (in 1995)."

He went on: "The last time we played together was in practice rounds for the PGA Championship at Riviera in 1995. I hope to see him at Carnoustie next year when I'm planning to return to the British Open for the first time in seven years."

With 21 victories to their credit in this event, American teams have generally commanded respect, even awe from prospective rivals. But this time around, Daly and Verplank are arousing no more than mild curiosity. Except, of course, from Deane Beman.