John Daly II, the son of two-time major champion John Daly, is within three strokes of the lead after a third-round 70 in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Golf Club on Saturday.
The 22-year-old University of Arkansas senior is participating in the tournament as an amateur at the invitation of a sponsor. Daly had one birdie, one eagle and a late bogey in the third round and is tied for eighth place with nine under. However, he is firmly within sight of leader Ricky Castillo, who shot a 68 for the third day in a row and is at 12 under par.
Amateur John Daly II (USA) lines up his putt on the 16th green during the third round of the Puerto Rico Open 2026 at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico on March 7, 2026.
Daly will be playing in his second professional tournament. He missed the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour event.
advertisement
He won the PNC Championship with his father in 2022, won the Southern Amateur last year, reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur, led the Razorbacks in scoring average and won his first college tournament.
Will John Daly II make it to The Players Championship?
Yes, he has a way to tee it up next week at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. If Daly wins the Puerto Rico Open, he will be eligible to play at The Players as a PGA Tour winner.
But if he wants to play, his college and amateur career will be over, a PGA Tour spokesperson said. florida times union The Players does not allow amateurs to participate, so Daly will have to turn pro.
advertisement
Will John Daly II qualify for the Masters if he wins?
The Masters invites the winners of the PGA Tour’s full-point FedEx Cup events. With the Puerto Rico Open on the other side of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and fewer FedEx Cup points to earn, John Daly II will not earn an invitation to Augusta.
Can John Daly II collect his winnings in Puerto Rico?
No, he would have had to turn pro before the tournament started. The winner in Puerto Rico will receive $720,000.
What was John Daly’s performance at The Players Championship?
Senior John Daly appeared in The Players 15 times. He made seven cuts, missed six and withdrew twice. His best result was a tie for 16th place.th His last appearance at The Players was in 2006, when he tied for 45th place.th.
advertisement
How is Myles Russell playing at the Puerto Rico Open?
The 17-year-old Jacksonville Beach resident made his first PGA Tour appearance with a 71-71 opening in five starts, then shot another 71 in the third round. He is tied for 45th place at 3-under 213.
This article originally appeared in the Florida Times Union: John Daly II battles at PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open
