Son of John Daly Dishes on Rising Up within the Shadow of Golf’s ‘Dangerous 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 feel folks anticipate method an excessive amount of of him for his age proper now,” stated Daly II, mentioning the expectations from Woods Jr. with regards to his “unhealthy boy” father’s legacy. A couple of 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 ingesting and playing habits, thus usually known as golf’s “unhealthy boy.” In fact, this listing 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 little one would have with theirs.

“Yeah, I imply, for me, like, clearly, I imply, everyone within the golf world is aware of who my dad  is, however I’ve at all times, 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 little thing however his father’s off-course habits.

In 2022, Fore Play Golf’s Trent stated of the identical, “So, I’d 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, apparently, Daly II admitted, “He [his father] tells me to do the alternative of him and I’ll be simply high-quality.” 

Moreover this, in fact, there’s one other level to contemplate: 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 without end. And that’s it. It’s type of cool with 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 thus far.” 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 Novice championship, held at The Blessings Golf Membership in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This prestigious event is one among seven Majors on the Elite Novice Golf Sequence circuit, an inventory that features the Sunnehanna Novice, Northeast Novice, North & South Novice, Trans-Mississippi Novice, Pacific Coast Novice, and Western Novice.

Nonetheless, on the 2025 Southern Novice 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 big lead, Daly remained composed and targeted all through the ultimate stretch.

Following his son’s win on the 2025 Southern Novice 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. However it was actually cool. I had a bunch of mates, teammates there. I simply knew if I put collectively a strong spherical, simply try to do my greatest, I had an opportunity. Simply persist with my recreation and do what I can do out right here.” Actually, it appears to be like like John Daly II is doing simply high-quality!