The most popular team at this week’s PNC Father/Son Challenge isn’t one that features Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino or Nick Faldo — it’s John and Little John Daly.
The fan favorites proved to be more than just a viral sensation on Saturday as the pairing went out and fired a course-record-tying 13-under par 59 in the two-man scramble format to take the first-round lead.
The 52-year-old two-time major champion and his 15-year-old son made 13 birdies and no bogeys en route to their 59.
“It was just one of those days,” Big John said. We hit pretty much every fairway. We didn’t get ourselves in any trouble. After the third hole, Little John was putting good and he said I should go first to give him the line. I just made everything. It was a lot of fun.”
This is the Dalys third time playing in the PNC; they finished in a tie for 9th place in both 2016 and 2017. While their chances of notching their best finish are high, they won’t have a cakewalk to victory on Sunday.
David and Carter (a junior on LSU’s golf team) Toms are one shot back and Jack Nicklaus and his grandson, G.T., are two shots back heading into Sunday’s final round, as are Stewart and Connor Cink.
“I think you’ll have a hard time beating that hole in one but to win this thing again, at my age, with my grandson, we are going to have a few coins to toss,” Nicklaus said.
It’ll be fun to see some of the competitive juices flowing among the older generation as the next generation plays alongside on Sunday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Course in Orlando.
