Golf NIL Movement: John Daly II, Kihei Akina validate NIL stock on pro stage

Mar 9
3 min read

Updated: Mar 12

by Shon Crewe

March 9, 2026

Editor’s note: Updated March 12, 2026, to reflect Kihei Akina’s new Golf NIL ranking.

Money Moves

John Daly II made his PGA Tour debut count. On sponsor exemption at the Puerto Rico Open, the Arkansas senior positioned himself inside the top ten through 54 holes, a performance that reinforces his recent move to a $1.25 million Golf NIL Valuation. Daly ranks No. 2 in the Golf NIL College Men's Rankings and No. 4 overall.

The most-followed male athlete in college golf, Daly converted the name recognition into a loyal fan base of his own and has become one of the sport's most-watched amateurs on YouTube—a reach that extends well beyond the NCAA.

He first cracked the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings last August on the strength of a U.S. Amateur quarterfinal run. Since then: a win at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, a runner-up finish at the Bearcat Invitational, and a climb to No. 54 in the World Golf Amateur Rankings.

A fixture at the PGA Tour Champions-sanctioned PNC Championship, Daly and his father finished second in their ninth appearance together last year. He wore his father's Lion's Den label on that stage and again in Puerto Rico this past week alongside Nike and JLab.

Golf NIL | John Daly II hits $1.25 million Golf NIL Valuation

John Daly II at the 2025 PNC Championship | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo

Kihei Akina notches No. 20 in the Golf NIL College Men's Rankings. It’s a number that tracks for the BYU freshman, coming off rounds of 68-70-70-70 at the Puerto Rico Open to finish tied for 16th as low amateur in his third PGA Tour start, then capturing his first collegiate win days later at the R.E. Lamkin Invitational.

As the 2025 Utah Open champion, the 20-year-old already has a professional win on his resume. Seven top-10 finishes this season have him sitting at No. 51 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

A PING Ambassador since his early high school days, Akina carries that partnership into Provo alongside Eastside Golf and Tee Box, with representation by VaynerSports.

Miles Russell joined Daly and Akina in this week’s pro field, making his first cut in five PGA Tour starts.

With a recently updated $1 million Golf NIL Valuation, the 17-year-old signed with Players Group Management to expand opportunities—including additional NIL deals and the revenue-sharing he’ll have access to as part of Florida State's 2027 class. Since the signing, he’s added Full Swing KIT to his NIL roster.

The world No. 11 ranks second in the Golf NIL High School Boys Rankings, owns one of the largest social followings in amateur golf, and has already logged multiple top finishes this year, including two runners-up at the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship and the Jones Cup Invitational.

Major Moves

Several recent movers in the Golf NIL College Women’s Rankings will tee it up at this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur, including Anna Davis (No. 7), Kelly Xu (No. 9), and Andie Smith (No. 14).

Also in the field: Prim Prachnakorn, who moves to No. 10 on the Golf NIL High School Girls list.

Averaging over one million viewers during the Saturday final round, the ANWA is amateur golf's most-watched event, played at Augusta National on the front end of Masters week.

For their schools, the ANWA is national exposure without a media buy. For brands, this is an early look at a concentrated group of women who are climbing the Golf NIL boards in real time.

Set for April 1–4, the first two rounds are played at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.

Welcome to the Boards

Bailey Baio joins the Golf NIL High School Girls Watchlist as one of the most-followed names in high school golf.

The 17-year-old senior posted five top-5 finishes on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour in 2025, then stepped onto the NXXT Women's Pro Golf Tour in February as the youngest amateur in the field, with dad and actor Scott Baio on the bag.

Headed to Providence College this fall, Baio has landed NIL deals with In-N-Out Burger and HuntX Apparel.

Rankings and analyses published in Golf NIL Movement reflect competitive performance, verified brand partnerships, and public visibility indicators. Insights focus on observable market outcomes rather than internal valuation methodology or scoring criteria.