Son of John Daly Dishes on Rising Up within the Shadow of Golf’s ‘Unhealthy Boy’

What’s it actually prefer to be the kid of a golf legend? Early this 12 months, John Daly II tried to elucidate that with an instance of Charlie Woods, Tiger Woods’s son. “He’s only a child; he needs to have enjoyable, I assume… I believe folks count on method an excessive amount of of him for his age proper now,” stated Daly II, declaring the expectations from Woods Jr. in the case of his “dangerous boy” father’s legacy. Just a few months later, John Daly II defined it once more, this time utilizing his instance.

John Daly is as well-known for his golf as he’s for his consuming and playing habits, thus usually referred to as golf’s “dangerous boy.” After all, this checklist additionally contains many visits to alcohol rehab, and a few tour suspensions for the ‘Wild Factor.’ But, when John Daly II sat down for an interview on SiriusXM, he defined that he has the type of relationship together with his father that any baby would have with theirs.

“Yeah, I imply, for me, like, clearly, I imply, all people within the golf world is aware of who my dad  is, however I’ve all the time, it’s like, I inform folks this on a regular basis, it’s like, whether or not he had one main, like 20 majors, like, to me, he’s only a dad, like, all we do is fiddle with one another, have enjoyable.” 

And although Daly II loves his father, he nonetheless says, “I don’t actually attempt to like, I imply, I don’t know, I simply see him as, like, you’d see your dad or as different youngsters see their dads, like, like, it’s, it’s by no means actually like added stress.” So, John Daly II ought to copy every thing however his father’s off-course habits.

In 2022, Fore Play Golf’s Trent stated of the identical, “So, I might simply advise little younger John Daly to identical to be John Daly’s son, hit it a mile, and like don’t attempt to be — don’t attempt to stay as much as off-course expectations.” In 2020, curiously, Daly II admitted, “He [his father] tells me to do the alternative of him and I’ll be simply nice.” 

In addition to this, in fact, there’s one other level to think about: John Daly II adores golf. In March, he scored his first collegiate win on the 2025 Columbia Spring Invitational. 4 months later, he admits, “I simply, I really like the sport of golf. I’ve been round it for ceaselessly. And that’s it. It’s type of cool having the ability to type of like, make my very own path, stuff like that.” 

And his love for golf is one thing that all of us can agree on. Having kicked off his golf journey at 6, Daly II began accompanying his father throughout his tournaments – and even learnt to outdrive him within the following years. In 2020, John Daly stated of his then-17-year-old son, “I can’t sustain with him now. He hits it to this point.” And Daly’s appreciation for his son stands sturdy even 5 years from then.

John Daly is one “proud daddy” of his son’s constructing a golf legacy

John Daly II claimed victory on the 119th Southern Newbie championship, held at The Blessings Golf Membership in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This prestigious event is one in every of seven Majors on the Elite Newbie Golf Sequence circuit, a listing that features the Sunnehanna Newbie, Northeast Newbie, North & South Newbie, Trans-Mississippi Newbie, Pacific Coast Newbie, and Western Newbie.

Nonetheless, on the 2025 Southern Newbie Championship, the 21-year-old College of Arkansas senior dominated the competitors, ending 10-under par with a five-stroke lead. His final-round rating of 68 secured the win, outpacing his opponents, Garrett Endicott and Wells Williams. Regardless of constructing a major lead, Daly remained composed and centered all through the ultimate stretch.

Following his son’s win on the 2025 Southern Newbie Championship, John Daly celebrated his son, saying on X, “One Proud Daddy!!! 🏆 @sgagolf Champion 👊🏼 @johndalyll @razorbackmgolf @john_dalys_nashville #hitithard #hogs #razorbacks #golf #champions #trophy.” That was the message from one nice golfer to an up-and-coming nice golfer.

And the identical went for John Daly II, who stated following his win at The Blessings Golf Membership, “It was actually cool. I used to be simply hoping my shot wasn’t within the bunker. Nevertheless it was actually cool. I had a bunch of mates, teammates there. I simply knew if I put collectively a strong spherical, simply attempt to do my greatest, I had an opportunity. Simply persist with my sport and do what I can do out right here.” Actually, it appears like John Daly II is doing simply nice!