John Daly’s son makes sensational begin in long-awaited PGA Tour debut
While a lot of attention has been focused on Tiger Woods‘ 17-year-old son Charlie in recent years, the son and namesake of another of golf’s most distinctive players has made his long-awaited PGA Tour debut.
John Daly II, the 22-year-old son of golf cult icon John Daly, opened with a 2-under 70 in the Puerto Rico Open on Thursday, where the kids were all the rage and Chandler Blanchet wound up with the lead.
Blanchet bogeyed his first hole and that was his only mistake. He followed with nine birdies for an 8-under 64, his lowest round on the PGA Tour for a one-shot lead over Gordon Sargent, the former top college golfer who has struggled the last few years.
‘It was good,’ Daly said. ‘Feel like I left a few out there, but I made it up with just a couple good saves and nice chip-in on 16.’
John Daly, the former PGA and British Open champion, made his first PGA Tour-sanctioned start nearly 40 years ago. But that was Shinnecock Hills – not Grand Reserve – and it was the 1986 US Open, not an opposite-field event in Puerto Rico. The elder Daly shot 88 that first round.
Daly II made news a few years ago when he signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) contract with Hooters, becoming the chain restaurant’s NCAA athlete endorser.
John Daly II is seen during the first round of the Puerto Rico Open on Thursday in Rio Grande
John Daly is a two-time major winner who made his PGA Tour debut four decades ago
John Daly II opened with a 2-under 70 in the Puerto Rico Open on Thursday
‘Hooters is the ideal place for me to go and unwind after a long day on the course or in the classroom, so I am honored to be chosen as an ambassador for the iconic brand,’ Daly II said in a statement at the time.
‘I have seen my father’s great relationship with Hooters over the years, and I am proud to continue my family’s association with this iconic brand,’ he added.
The younger Daly was not the only player getting attention on Thursday in Puerto Rico.
Blades Brown, the 18-year-old who played in the final group with Scottie Scheffler when the world’s No. 1 player won The American Express, opened with a 69. It was his 16th score in the 60s in his 34 career rounds on the PGA Tour.
Miles Russell, the 17-year-old from Florida and among the top amateurs in the world had a 71. The other young prospect, Zhou Yanhan of China, shot 72. The 17-year-old Zhou had seven wins on the China Tour last year.
Blanchet earned his PGA Tour card through the Korn Ferry Tour last year, winning twice, including the circuit’s Tour Championship. But it has been a slow start to his first season in the big leagues, missing the cut in all five tournaments he has played.
A lot of attention has been focussed on Tiger Woods’ 17-year-old son Charlie in recent years
John Daly is seen with his wife, Sherrie, and son, John Jr., during the 2004 Buick Invitational
He hopes there’s plenty of learning that comes with those weekends off, and Blanchet said he looked forward to facing more challenges, such as dealing with short putts he misses. He wants to get mentally stronger to deal with that.
‘I missed a 5-footer right on the first hole and I looked at my caddie and he said, ‘This is our test.’ Handled it well,’ Blanchet said. ‘Then made some good birdies over the next few holes. Yeah, really solid day.’
Eugenio Chacarra, who began his pro career on Saudi-backed LIV Golf in 2022 and became the first player from the rival league to a get sponsor exemption on the PGA Tour, opened with a 73.
The winner of the Puerto Rico gets into The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, along with a two-year exemption on tour. But the winner does not qualify for the Masters.
