The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club is buzzing because the most colorful duo in golf is finally back. John Daly and his son, Little John, won this event in 2021 and grabbed the silver trophy twice before. Last season, the pair fought hard to finish in an eighth-place tie. However, they never came at the PNC Championship like they’ve come this season. The pair is one of the most deserving candidates, all thanks to junior Daly’s spectacular amateur year.

And for everyone who wants to know about the secret behind the young star’s massive growth over the past year, the younger Daly has an honest answer. “Just my attitude has gotten a little better, and just not really caring. Just going out there and having fun. At the end of the day, golf doesn’t define me. Just happy to be able to play every day and go out there and have fun,” John Daly II said when a reporter asked LJ how his golf game improved so much in the last twelve months.

For years, the Arkansas senior lived under the massive shadow of the most colorful man in golf, where everyone expected him to be the next “Wild Thing.” But despite his SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll in the previous two seasons and a second-round finish in the Compliance Solutions Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, the 22-year-old could not touch the ceiling and only lived under the shadow of his two-time Major champion father.

But this season, this “not caring” attitude turned John Daly II into a winning machine, where he conquered the Southern Amateur Championship in July with a stunning 10-under par score and was the only player on the course to shoot under par across all four rounds. Then he reached the US Amateur quarterfinals. But despite playing well, Daly II lost in a 1-up battle to Mason Howell. And what a twist of fate, meanwhile, Big John had a much tougher time this past season as the 59-year-old played ten events but could not find a single top-25 finish.

But it didn’t hold them back from a blistering opening round at the 2025 PNC. They fired a 13-under-par 59 with 9 birdies and 2 eagles to sit just two shots off the lead on Saturday after the first round. LJ acted as the main driving force, hitting massive drives and sinking clutch putts throughout the day. And his evergreen father called him the “horse and the saddle” for the team.

The Dalys are certainly the talk of the town, but they aren’t the only ones.

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A field full of icons chasing the trophy

Team Kuchar currently leads the pack after a record-setting 15-under-par 57 on the first day. Matt and his son Cameron birdied the first three holes to set a fast pace. Cameron heads to TCU next year and he made almost every putt today.  “We didn’t get off to the best of starts. We were even par after two and the Kuchars got hot quick and we kind of fed off them a little bit,” Daly Sr. said on Team Kuchar’s performance.

Davis Love III and his son Dru finished the day in third place overall after shooting a 12-under 60. They are currently sitting tied with Team Korda and Team Stricker. Davis Love III and his son Dru carded 10 birdies and 1 eagle, while Steve and Izzi Stricker relied on steady putting and carded 12 birdies without a single eagle. Meanwhile, Nelly and Petr showed elite skills by acing the 3rd hole for an Eagle after a slow start.

The defending champions, Bernhard and Jason Langer, started their day with a 61 and are currently trailing the leaders by four shots, but the Langers never give up. Annika Sorenstam and her 14-year-old son Will McGee also finished with a great 11-under-par total. It looks like even without the Woods family this year, the competition remains fierce among these legendary golf families.

But still, the final round will decide who takes home the Willie Park Trophy and the prize money, and you can catch all the action on NBC and the Golf Channel during this holiday weekend.