Amid the quiet, professional and reserved veterans who’d loiter around the golf course in crisp button-down shirts, John Daly always stuck out like a sore thumb. He’s forever been the quintessential example of a “beer-loving, out-of-shape, blue-collar golfer”, who hardly paid heed to stereotypes. With a Marlboro Red perched between his lips, it wasn’t long before the word declared him as the bad boy of golf. Some would even wonder if Daly could be described as a perfect real-life example of Happy Gilmore—the accident hockey-turned-golf player who turned heads not just for his abrasive nature, but also his 400-yard drives. But, no. Daly’s golfing career has been much more intentional.

As a Jack Niklaus fan since he was just five, the young boy learned the ropes of the sport following his idol’s tutorials in Golf Digest, and then famously announced himself to the world in 1991, by winning the PGA Championship. Over the next few decades, Daly saw it all. He’s saw the low of losing sponsors, he saw the pain of battling bladder cancer, and he also saw the triumph of bouncing back. Yet, one thing stayed constant: His evergreen personality, as evident from his antics on the Happy Gilmore 2 trailer that dropped just last month. But while the world has come to love the 58-year-old’s larger-than-life personality, his son decided it was best to walk toward a different direction.

John Daly II, better known as “Little John”, is nothing like his father. Instead, he describes himself as “normal, boring”—words that will surely make his father flinch. You know what else would make him flinch? His son ditching him for a player that is everything the veteran has avoided all these years…

In a recent appearance on the Identity Sports podcast, Daly II opened up about the players who really inspire him—and while his admiration for his father is undeniable, his top pick for favorite golfer to watch right now is none other than World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. “I mean, obviously, like, I think my favorite player to watch now that I’m old enough to realize it is Scottie by far,” Daly II said, offering up a candid and thoughtful take that reflected both personal growth and his evolving relationship with the sport. “I mean, just what he’s done in the last three years, and just how he, like, I don’t know… how he kind of puts himself out there as a golfer.”

What resonated with him most wasn’t just Scheffler’s ability to win—though with a résumé that already includes two Masters titles and 13 PGA Tour wins, that’s impressive enough. Instead, Daly II was struck by the way Scheffler carries himself, especially in terms of his values. “He’s not really—he doesn’t care about, like… obviously, he cares about winning, but I guess that’s not his main goal,” Daly II explained. “His main goal is, like, with his walk with God, walk with Christ, and just, I don’t know, I guess his faith plays a big role in his golfing career.” It’s a poignant moment of insight from a young man who grew up in golf’s glare. For someone raised in the shadow of a maverick like John Daly—a player defined as much by his defiance as his flair—it’s telling that Daly II finds inspiration in someone as grounded and soft-spoken as Scheffler. “I feel like that’s something that’s been easy to, kind of, like… I guess put in my favor – like, someone that I really like watching.”

Notably, the connection to Scottie Scheffler doesn’t come out of nowhere—it makes perfect sense when you look at the deeper threads shaping John Daly II’s own journey. While his father was known for power, personality, and pushing boundaries, Daly II has gravitated toward a quieter, more introspective path. He’s spoken openly about his Christian faith, describing it as central to his identity and a source of strength both on and off the course. So when he talks about Scheffler—not just as a dominant player but as someone whose walk with Christ guides his every move—it’s more than admiration. It’s alignment. In Scheffler, Daly II sees a version of what he himself aspires to be: a golfer grounded in something bigger than the game, someone who plays with conviction and peace, win or lose. Of course, Daly II didn’t stop there. His full “Mount Rushmore” included a few all-time legends…

…Unsurprisingly. “Besides that, I think I gotta throw Tiger [Woods] in there. Tiger’s probably two. He was one till Scottie came around…” he laughed. “But I’d go Scottie, Tiger, Jack Nicklaus, and probably Rory [McIlroy] for, like, just my favorites to watch.”

And yes, he made sure to mention his dad. “Obviously, my favorite’s my dad, but favorite golfers to watch, it’s probably Scottie, Tiger, Jack, and Rory,” he clarified with another chuckle.

As for Little John, as a collegiate player for the Arkansas Razorbacks, he’s shown more polish and consistency than many expected—drawing eyes not just because of his surname, but because of his shot-making and calm under pressure. His partnership with his dad at the PNC Championship turned heads, and his steady rise through amateur and college golf ranks has marked him as more than just a novelty act.

Having said that, Daly II’s moment of honesty—warm, genuine, and grounded in a deep love for the game—is exactly what makes his perspective so compelling. He’s got the genes, he’s got the game, but more than that, he’s forming his own golf identity—on the course and in the way he views greatness. And in his eyes, Scottie Scheffler isn’t just great. He’s the gold standard.

Daly II’s admiration for Scheffler runs deep

Back in June 2024, as he prepared for his Korn Ferry Tour debut at the Compliance Solutions Championship in Oklahoma, Daly II spoke candidly about the players who inspire him. And at the top of that list was—you guessed it—still Scheffler.

“It’s like he doesn’t really worry about what he shoots, what he doesn’t shoot,” Daly II said at the time. “Just blessed to be able to play the game of golf.” That calm, faith-centered approach resonated with the son of one of golf’s most flamboyant icons.

Fast forward to 2025, and the admiration has only deepened. Watching Scheffler ascend to another level, collecting wins with grace and composure, Daly II now calls him his favorite golfer to watch. It’s a connection built not just on talent, but on shared values.