Luke Clanton is just one made cut away from earning his PGA Tour card.
The 21-year-old Florida State junior sits at 18 points in PGA Tour University’s Accelerated program, and he’s closing in on the magic number of 20. He’ll pick up another point Wednesday when he marks his 26th week at World Amateur Golf Ranking’s No. 1 spot.
Time’s running out on Clanton’s Accelerated eligibility this spring semester. He’s got two clear paths to those final points: make a cut at this week’s WM Phoenix Open, or win the Ben Hogan Award in May. He’s the heavy favorite for the Hogan, which recognizes college golf’s top player across all competitions.
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What’s remarkable is how Clanton’s already proven himself on Tour. He’s made eight of 10 cuts since his pro debut as an amateur at last year’s U.S. Open, where he finished T-41. He’s racked up five top-15s, including runner-up finishes at both the John Deere Classic and RSM Classic. That’s put him in rare company – he’s the first amateur since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 to post three top-10s in a single Tour season.
Tournament officials at TPC Scottsdale handed Clanton a sponsor exemption for this week’s event. Even if he doesn’t get it done at the “People’s Open,” he’s got more chances coming up, including a guaranteed spot at the Valspar Championship – his reward for winning last spring’s Valspar Collegiate, one of three straight wins during that hot streak.
But there’s more driving Clanton than just securing his Tour card. He’s got unfinished business at Florida State. Last May, he lost the decisive match to Auburn’s J.M. Butler in the NCAA Championship final, watching from his back on the 17th green as the Tigers celebrated their title. That moment’s still fresh in his mind.
After finishing T-2 at Sea Island last November and cracking the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Clanton made his priorities crystal clear at last month’s Sony Open:
“At the end of the day, I’m trying to get my Tour card,” Clanton said. “That’s the No. 1 priority right now, and I want to win a national championship at FSU.”
