John Daly is often out there cheering for his son. So, it’s only fair that when John Daly II won the Southern Amateur Championship by 5 strokes, Daly could not help but be “One Proud Daddy.” So, when his son recently secured his second collegiate victory of the season at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, a congratulatory wish was just a matter of time.

Beaming Daly was captured hugging his son for the “special moment,” and people gathered around them to congratulate Daly II. “Nothing better than seeing your son pull off a win,” Daly wrote. This win was a stunning one for Daly II and his team.

Representing the University of Arkansas, he led his team to a stellar victory with a 9-under par 279. The week was contentious, as the Arkansas squad fought to grab the coveted brown trophy. In the final round, they pulled the team to seal a combined 54-hole score of 861 (-3). What was more impressive was that all five players from the team finished among the top 11. Daly II topped the leaderboard with a 3-under 69 in the final round – a scorecard which helped him take the individual title home.

Of course, his dad would be proud of these accomplishments, as Daly II keeps outdoing himself. The final round saw him 1-under, with birdies on holes five and eight. He then went bogey-free on the inward nine, stacking more birdies on the 13th and 15th. By the time he reached the final hole, he held a two-stroke lead. But that is where the drama ensued.

A difficult drive left him in a tricky position on the edge of a fairway bunker. But of course, he is his father’s son. Daly II did not crumble –  he reached the green and two-putted to clinch the win. This victory, as well as his runner-up finish at The Bearcat Invitational 2025, propelled him to his career high ranking of 71 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Charlie Woods, to whom he is often compared, has a rank of 797th.

This win at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational is bound to add extra brownie points to Daly II’s resume. Since its launch in 2020 at the Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the tournament has grown rapidly into one of the most prestigious events in NCAA golf. What is unique is its mixed-gender format, which puts boys’ and girls’ teams under the same course with identical conditions. For Arkansas, this year’s victory was a landmark achievement: their third team title in the Invitational’s six-year history.

But it’s not just about trophies. The Blessings Collegiate carries unavoidable weight. It contributes critical NCAA ranking points, which often propel the teams into the top 20 nationally after a strong showing on home turf. Notable names have tried and tested their careers from this course, only to gain a bigger name on the PGA/LPGA Tour. Moreover, the tournament provides a high-visibility stage thanks to its live coverage on Golf Channel.

But it is not like Daly II would need such a highlight, as he has already been leaving quite a mark on his amateur career.

John Daly II: A force to reckon with

John Daly II has been making major ripples in competitive golf since June 2024, when he made his debut at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Compliance Solutions Championship on a sponsor exemption. He shot a 4-over 76 in the opening round and transitioned into professional golf with his father’s advice of “grip it and rip it.” 

Until very recently, i.e, July 2025, he captured the 119th Southern Amateur Championship at the same Blessings Course. He finished 10-under par and won by five strokes, gaining the status of the only competitor to post under-par rounds in all four rounds.

Later, he made a deep run at the 125th US Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club. He advanced through the early match-play rounds with several victories and successfully placed himself in the quarterfinals. But there he suffered a major heartbreak, as his champion ended in a narrow 1-up loss. He was the first Razorback to reach the QFs since 2009.  Despite the loss, his two-time major winner dad posted this proud message on his story: “LFG! My Boy!!”

As Daly II rises to success, his dad’s support has remained unwavering. Win or lose, the father has never once missed appreciating his son’s hard work — a major factor for Daly II to perform so confidently.