RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — John Daly Jr. had a simple time in his PGA Tour debut on a a lot simpler golf course than his father. John Daly’s 22-year-old son opened Thursday’s Puerto Rico Open with a 2-under 70, a lot to the thrill of the youngsters, and Chandler Blanchett ultimately took the lead.
Blanchett hit bogey on the primary gap, however that was his solely mistake. He then made 9 birdies for an 8-under 64, his worst spherical on the PGA Tour and one stroke behind Gordon Sargent, a former high collegiate golfer who has struggled lately.
“It was nice,” Daly mentioned. “I really feel like I left just a few behind, however I used to be capable of make up for it with a few good saves and 16 good chip-ins.”
Former PGA and British Open champion John Daly made his first PGA Tour sanctioned begin practically 40 years in the past. However it was Sinek Hills, not Grand Reserve, and it was the 1986 U.S. Open, not an opposing discipline occasion in Puerto Rico. Daly shot an 88 within the first spherical.
His son wasn’t the one participant getting consideration. Blaze Brown, an 18-year-old who performed within the last group with Scotty Scheffler, began with a 69 because the No. 1 participant on the planet gained at American Categorical. This was his sixteenth rating within the 60s in 34 rounds of his PGA Tour profession.
Miles Russell, a 17-year-old from Florida and the world’s high novice, shot a 71. One other younger prospect, China’s Zhou Yanhan, shot a 72. Zhou, 17, gained seven races on the China Tour final yr.
Blanchett earned her PGA Tour card final yr by the Korn Ferry Tour and has gained twice, together with the Tour Championship at that circuit. Nonetheless, he received off to a gradual begin in his first season within the main leagues, failing to qualify for all 5 tournaments he participated in.
Hoping to be taught quite a bit throughout the weekend off, Blanchett mentioned he was wanting ahead to dealing with extra challenges, similar to coping with missed brief putts. He desires to be mentally sturdy to take care of it.
“I missed 5 toes to the appropriate on the primary gap and I checked out my caddy and mentioned, ‘That is our check.’” I dealt with it nicely,” Blanchett mentioned. “Then I made some good birdies on the following few holes. So yeah, it was a extremely productive day.”
Eugenio Chacala, who started his professional profession with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf in 2022 and have become the primary Rival League participant to earn a sponsor exemption on the PGA Tour, opened with a 73.
The Puerto Rican winner will qualify for The Gamers Championship and PGA Championship, in addition to obtain a two-year exemption from enjoying on tour. Nonetheless, he isn’t eligible to take part within the Masters.
