John Daly II Sounds Just Like His Dad As He Hits The Beach After Solid PGA Tour Debut

John Daly II sounded just like his dad as he revealed he was off to the beach after making his PGA Tour debut at the Puerto Rico Open

John Daly II hitting a driver at the Puerto Rico Open on the PGA Tour in his debut
(Image credit: Getty Images)

John Daly II showed just why he's a chip off the old block with a fine start to his PGA Tour debut and a typical John Daly post-round interview.

The 22-year-old is playing in his first PGA Tour event at the Puerto Rico Open, and shot a nice two-under round of 70 to kick-off.

“I would say I’ll go hit balls, but I’m a little tired,” said Daly Jr. “So, I’m probably just going to go to the beach and do absolutely nothing for the rest of the day.”

In such a head-scratching game as pro golf, Daly's attitude could serve him well going forward as many a star college amateur has struggled with the pressure of making it on the PGA Tour.

Still playing college golf at Arkansas, Lil John seemed to take to the pro game like a duck to water playing alongside fellow crowd favorite Neal Shipley in a pairing that would attract a big following at any PGA Tour event.

"It was fun," said Daly. "I love Neal, it was awesome. First time meeting him yesterday. He's a good dude and I enjoyed playing with him a lot."

Daly made a fast start with a birdie on his first hole on the PGA Tour, with eight straight pars to round out a solid front nine before carding two bogeys and three birdies coming home - including a fine chip-in on 16.

Although not dominant off the tee like his old man, Daly II hit it well enough with the big dog, averaging 302 yards (T25) in driving distance with a longest of the day recorded at 323.

He hit just eight of 14 fairways and 10 of 18 greens but his scrambling was pretty hot, getting up-and-down six times out of eight to ensure he finished under par for his debut round.

"It was good," said Daly. "Got off to a good start, made a nice birdie on one. Solid up-and-down on two, made about a 20-footer for par, which is nice, settled me in.

"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."

Daly II has become used to the limelight in recent years, firstly claiming the PNC Championship with his dad back in 2021, and he's played a PGA Tour sanctioned event before at the 2024 Compliance Solutions Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he missed the cut.

As he starts to set about forging a career in men's pro golf it seems that the pressure certainly won't be a factor for him - as he showed that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in terms of his golfing temperament.

Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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