Is John Daly II Getting Paid for His Pro Event Debut? Korn Ferry Tour Prize Money Guidelines Explored

After having a decent career in college by competing in eight events and averaging a score of 71.78 over 23 rounds, John Daly II made his professional debut at the Compliance Solutions Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. Daly Jr. received a sponsor exemption for the Oklahoma tournament, participating in a $1,000,000 purse event held at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman.

However, unfortunately, John Daly II missed the cut after scoring 4-over par with a total score of 148. Now that his debut event journey has concluded, will he receive payment despite missing the cut? The answer is no. Similar to every PGA Tour event, the Korn Ferry Tour only rewards players who successfully make the cut. The tournament will distribute the total purse of $1,000,000 among players who complete all four rounds.

Last year, the purse was distributed among 67 players, with Jimmy Stanger claiming the win and receiving $180,000. Additionally, Korn Ferry does not award amateurs participating in the tournament. John Daly II being in both categories unfortunately won’t receive any payment according to the rules.

The 2024 Korn Ferry Tour season comprises 26 tournaments spanning six countries and 17 states, running from January to October. Notably, there are no longer separate points standings for the pre-finals and finals events. The cumulative Korn Ferry Tour Points List will determine PGA Tour membership for the top 30 finishers in 2025, as revealed on the PGA Tour website.

Winners of each of the first 22 events will earn 500 points, while winners of the four Korn Ferry Tour Finals events will receive 600 points each. After his debut, Daly II may start appearing regularly on the professional greens. However, will he have to give up his college career to play regularly on the Korn Ferry Tour?

The Korn Ferry Tour allows amateurs to play

John Daly II is currently enrolled at the University of Arkansas. He maintained an average score of 71.58 for the Razorbacks last season. Regarding participation in Korn Ferry Tour events, there are no rules that prevent amateurs from competing, and the same applies to him. According to the college’s official website, John Daly II is noted as the only player to achieve six consecutive top-20 finishes in the first six games of the season.

Interestingly, his father also attended the University of Arkansas on a golf scholarship from 1984 to 1987. His son is now one of the team’s standout members, recognized not just for his famous name but also for his impressive performances thus far. Do you think Daly II will be able to earn the PGA Tour card? Share your thoughts in the comments below!