Luke Clanton came heartbreakingly close to his first PGA Tour win Sunday, finishing just one shot behind Maverick McNealy at the RSM Classic in Georgia.
The 21-year-old Florida State junior, currently the world’s best amateur golfer, watched his chances slip away with a bogey on the final hole at Sea Island’s Seaside Course. Minutes later, McNealy sealed the deal with a birdie on 18 to claim his first Tour victory.
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“It’s hard, man. It’s a hard loss, for sure,” Clanton said after the round. “But I think it’s proven to me that out here I can win.”
He’s not kidding about that last part.
This wasn’t just a one-off performance – Clanton’s been turning heads on the pro circuit all season. He’s already notched another second-place finish at the John Deere Classic, came in fifth at the Wyndham Championship, and grabbed a top-10 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Those incredible results have pushed him to No. 93 in the world rankings. That’s pretty remarkable for an amateur – only Nick Dunlap has ever ranked higher before turning pro.
But here’s where it gets really interesting.
Clanton’s been racking up points in PGA Tour University’s Accelerated program, which offers a fast track to the big leagues for exceptional college players. His performance at the RSM Classic earned him two more points, bringing his total to 17.
He’s now just three points shy of earning his PGA Tour card for next summer. And he’s practically guaranteed to get those points by winning the prestigious Hogan Award, which looks at a player’s performance across all levels of golf.
“Every time we step out here, the one goal we have is to win,” Clanton said. “PGA Tour U’s been a great opportunity for all of us as college players who have these kind of talents to go pro sooner.”
The stats show he’s ready for the jump. If he had enough rounds to qualify, his driving stats would rank second on Tour behind only Cameron Champ. His approach shots? He’d be right up there with Scottie Scheffler and Tony Finau – two of the game’s elite players.
Oh, and he’s no slouch with the putter either, ranking 43rd in that category.
“I think again, my game’s there, mind’s there,” Clanton said simply.
Now it’s just a matter of time before he makes it official.
