A victory in the PGA Tour’s opposite-field Puerto Rico Open on Sunday wouldn’t quite send the golf world spinning on its head the way his father’s zero-to-hero triumph in the 1991 PGA Championship did, but John Daly II could hardly care. He would still be among the few sons of renowned golfers to following in their footsteps and win in the major leagues. And JD II would have some spectacular family bragging rights of his own.
Known as “Little John” before he grew into a man and moved out of his two-time major winning dad’s considerable shadow with his own accomplishments, John Daly II has a fighting chance to win a title, as an amateur, in his first-ever PGA Tour start. The 22-year-old senior at Arkansas shot a two-under-par 70 at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande and was tied for eighth at nine under, three shots back of leader Ricky Castillo.
Daly II is trying to become the ninth amateur ever to win on tour, with the last being Nick Dunlap in the 2024 American Express.
In windy conditions, Daly II made 15 pars in his round and drained an eagle on the 11th hole. But 8he suffered a bogey at the 18th—his first since the 15th hole in the first round.
“It was solid. For sure it was the windiest day of the week so far, it was really hard to get the numbers right,” Daly II aid. “But stayed in it well, hit some good shots. Yeah, sucks to make my first bogey in a while on 18. Hit a good second shot, just the wind let it rise in the air. Oh, well, it was a good day.”
Daly was asked numerous questions after the round, but delivered short answers. Asked if he was watching the leaderboard, he said, “I feel like in college golf I look way too much, but I haven’t really looked at all. I saw walking to 15, but I don’t really look at it. Haven’t looked at it too much today, no.”
Someone also inquired about the possibility that his dad might travel into Puerto Rico for the final round. “I don’t think so. He’s busy out west with some buddies and sponsors,” he said.
After his opening round of 70 on Thursday, which was followed by a 67 in the second round, Daly II said he was too tired to practice and might to the beach. He’s so bushed that even that didn’t sound appealing on Saturday. “That one wore me out today,” he said.
That Daly II would put himself into contention is a mixed surprise. He is a solid 54th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and in something of a breakout last summer, Daly II reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club and won the Southern Amateur. In college this past fall, he captured the Blessings Collegiate Invitational. Since then, he hadn’t finished in the top 20 in five events.
Daly II’s biggest exposure to fans has come in the family-themed PNC Championship when father and son won the 2021 edition with a record 27-under score. The Dalys have consistently contended in the event sanctioned by the PGA Tour Champions, with three runner-up finishes, including last year.
A tour victory by Daly II would put he and his father is rare company, with only 10 other father-son combinations winning at the highest level. The qualifier is that those pairs date back to Willie Park and Willie Park Jr. in the late 1880s, which could hardly be considered PGA Tour events. The others are: Tom Morris senior and junior; Joe Kirkwood senior and junior; Jack Burke senior and junior; Clayton and Vance Heafner; Julius and Guy Boros; Al and Brent Geiberger; Jay and Bill Haas; Craig and Kevin Stadler; and Bob and Kevin Tway.
If Daly doesn’t prevail there is a chance for another milestone victory as 18-year-old pro Blades Brown is even closer to contention, tied for second and only one shot back after a third-round 69. Brown would be the youngest PGA Tour winner in 95 years. In January, he played his way into the final group with Scottie Scheffler and Si Woo Kim on Sunday at The American Express, but closed with a 74 in Scheffler’s four-shot victory.
“I would just say it’s experience, just having that moment and that experience with Scottie and Si Woo and being in the final group is going to help me tomorrow being in the hunt again,” Brown said. I’m really looking forward to it. I love to compete and it’s going to be a fun day tomorrow.”
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com