Golf NIL Movement: John Daly, Kihei Akina reinforce NIL value at Puerto Rico Open

by Shon Crewe

March 9, 2026

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 $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 has turned his father's fan base into his own and 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.

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.

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

---

Kihei Akina checks in at No. 20 in the Golf NIL College Men's Rankings—a number that tracks for the freshman at BYU who just went 68-70-70-70 at the Puerto Rico Open, finishing tied for 16th as low amateur in his third PGA Tour start.

The 2025 Utah Open champion, the 20-year-old already has a professional win on his resume. Six top-10 finishes this season have him sitting at No. 56 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.

---

With a $1 million Golf NIL Valuation, Miles Russell joined Daly and Akina in this week's pro field. The world No. 11 ranks second in the Golf NIL High School Boys Rankings and owns one of the largest social followings in amateur golf.

Russell, 17, has already logged multiple top finishes this year, including two runners-up at the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship and the Jones Cup Invitational.

He recently added Full Swing KIT to his NIL roster, weeks after signing with Players Group Management. In 2027, he and Charlie Woods will arrive at Florida State as one of the most anticipated freshman classes in college golf.

---

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 up to No. 10 on the Golf NIL High School Girls boards.

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 arrives on 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. She also competed at the Under Armour Worlds International Championship last year.

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