John Daly II Makes Impressive PGA Tour Debut at Puerto Rico Open

While the Arnold Palmer Invitational draws much of the PGA Tour’s attention, the Puerto Rico Open provided a platform for rising talent, including John Daly II, who made his debut on the tour Thursday.

Daly, a senior at Arkansas and son of two-time major winner John Daly, secured a sponsor’s exemption to compete in the 120-man field at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. He capitalized on the opportunity, carding a 2-under 70 in the first round.

Strong Start for the Young Golfer

Daly’s opening round positioned him in a tie for 13th place, trailing leader Chandler Blanchet, who shot an 8-under. Daly expressed satisfaction with his performance, highlighting a strong start and clutch shots throughout the course.

“Got off to a good start, made a nice birdie on 1. Solid up-and-down on 2, made about a 20-footer for par, which is nice, settled me in,” Daly explained. “And then just hit some good shots. 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.”

Remarkably, Daly only hit two greens in regulation during his round, making his 2-under score even more impressive.

Impressive Amateur Credentials

Currently ranked 54th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Daly has demonstrated consistent success in 2025. His accomplishments include a victory at The Blessings Collegiate Invitational and the Southern Amateur Championship. He also achieved a fifth-place finish in the stroke play portion of the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship, reaching the Round of 32.

Prioritizing Recovery

After completing his first round, Daly opted for rest and relaxation rather than further practice. “I would say I’d head hit balls, but I’m a little tired, so I’m just probably going to go to the beach and probably do absolutely nothing for the rest of the day,” he said.

The Puerto Rico Open also features other promising young golfers, including Blades Brown, Miles Russell, and Carson Bertagnole Golfweek. Defending champion Karl Vilips, Tony Finau, and Matt Kuchar are also competing in the tournament.

Yahoo Sports reports that Daly II’s debut has generated excitement among golf fans.