John Daly's famous name is back on the PGA Tour. His son, John Daly II, is set to make his debut at the Puerto Rico Open.

Daly II got entry to the Grand Reserve Golf Club through a sponsor exemption. And this will be the 22-year-old’s very first start on the PGA Tour. His amateur record provides a compelling case for the exemption.

He was one of the three finalists for the Ben Hogan Award 2025 July Golfer of the Month. He even reached the quarterfinals of the 2025 U.S. Amateur. On top of that, he won the 2021 PNC Challenge along with his father and became the runner-up in 2018 and 2022. But he displayed his true dominance at the 2025 Southern Amateur Championship. 

Daly II was the only golfer at the championship to shoot under par on every single round. This marked his evolution as he struggled to qualify for the collegiate lineup during his freshman year. But we have to see how he performs on the PGA Tour. 

Nevertheless, Matt Truax, the tournament director, seemed excited about having a few new faces in the lineup. He said, “Another edition of the Puerto Rico Open has arrived, and we are once again delighted to offer playing opportunities for so many up-and-coming stars.”

So, who are the golfers who received sponsor exemptions at the Puerto Rico Open?

2026 Puerto Rico Open Will Feature More Rising Talents Other Than John Daly II

The tournament sponsors let a total of 14 players enter through sponsor exemptions. Let's take a look at some of the biggest names.

And one of them is Yanhan Zhou. By the age of 17, Zhou had already won the China Tour’s Order of Merit last year. And Sportfive signed him as their international golf face at the beginning of the season. 

Next up in the lineup is Miles Russell. After becoming the youngest player to make a cut on the Korn Ferry Tour, Russell grabbed the attention of the elites. He even finished T20 at the LECOM Suncoast Classic two years ago. 

But the one name that has been dominating the field is Blades Brown. He has been gaining a lot of traction since he shared the lead with Scottie Scheffler at the 2026 American Express. 

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar