
John Daly II, son of legendary golfer John Daly, made the cut at the Puerto Rico Open 2026. The amateur American golfer received a sponsor exemption to play on the PGA Tour this week.
The tournament kicked off with its opening round on Thursday, March 5, and after two rounds, he made the cut and secured his spot for the final two rounds over the weekend. In the post-round press conference, John Daly II opened up about making the cut in the event. He said it was “awesome.”
“It’s awesome,” Daly II said. “This place has always been one of my favorites, like I said earlier, to come watch my dad play back in the day, so it’s pretty cool to make it to the weekend.”
John Daly II had been impressive in his game in college golf events last year. He won the Blessings Collegiate Invitational and also the Southend Amateur Championship.
Meanwhile, this season, he settled in 21st place at the Watersound Invitational, 35th at the Jones Cup Invitational, and 33rd at the New Year’s Invitational.
John Daly II opens up about his performance at the Puerto Rico Open
John Daly II kick-started his campaign at the Puerto Rico Open with an opening round of 70. He started the game on the first tee and made a birdie on the front nine. He added three birdies and two bogeys on the back nine for 2-under 70.
On Friday, John Daly II started the game on the tenth tee. He made two birdies on the front nine and three birdies on the back nine for 5-under 67. He settled with a score of 7-under for a tie for seventh place. In the post-round press conference, Daly II opened up about his performance. He said:
“I got off to a weird start, I don’t know if it was nerves or what it was, my driver wasn’t working early on but grinded out some good pars, and my putter saved me a lot today, made a lot of putts.”
John Daly II also reflected on his expectations for the final two rounds. He added:
“Honestly, go out there and try to go a low as I can. I got nothing to lose, so just go out there and have fun and just keep doing what I’m doing.”
Meanwhile, after 36 holes, Chandler Blanchet took the lead in the game. He carded a round of 67 on Friday to settle with a score of 13-under, four strokes ahead of Gordon Sargent. Ricky Castillo settled in a tie for third place with Jesper Svensson, Blades Brown, and Jeremy Paul.
After two rounds, some big names, including Charley Hoffman, Harry Higgs, Nick Dunlap, Erik Van Rooyen, and Brandt Snedeker, have missed the cut.
Here is the list of the top finishers after two rounds of the 2026 Puerto Rico Open:
- 1. Chandler Blanchet: -13
- 2. Gordon Sargent: -9
- T3. Ricky Castillo: -8
- T3. Jesper Svensson: -8
- T3. Blades Brown: -8
- T3. Jeremy Paul: -8
- T7. Jimmy Stanger: -7
- T7. Matti Schmid: -7
- T7. Beau Hossler: -7
- T7. John Daly II: -7
- T7. John Parry: -7
- T12. Vince Whaley: -6
- T12. Ben Kohles: -6
- T12. Hayden Springer: -6
- T12. Zach Bauchou: -6
- T12. Kihei Akina: -6
- T12. Adam Hadwin: -6
- T12. Pontus Nyholm: -6