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On March 26, 2024, Luke Clanton earned his first PGA Tour start.
He won the Valspar Collegiate on Florida's Atlantic coast, earning his way into the field at the 2025 Valspar Championship. He thought this week at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course would be his first PGA Tour start.
When he tees off at 2:24 p.m. Thursday, he'll do so as a soon-to-be PGA Tour member and the top-ranked amateur in the world.
"I would probably think you're crazy, to be honest with you," he said when asked what his reaction would've been if he knew what the past year held for him. "Again, just, it's hard to even think about what happened, really. To have that nine-month, ten-month stretch of golf is, to be competing on the PGA Tour against the best, it's crazy."
On Feb. 28, Clanton made the cut at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, his hometown PGA Tour event. In doing so, he earned his 20th point in PGA Tour University Accelerated, which was the final tally he needed to earn a PGA Tour card. He can accept membership after the NCAA Championships in May.
Last year, his win at the Valspar Collegiate was his second of three straight, starting one of the most dominant years from an amateur golfer in recent memory. In 12 PGA Tour starts dating to last summer, Clanton has made nine cuts and has a pair of runner-up finishes. He has four finishes in the top 10. A made cut is one point to PGA Tour U Accelerated. A top 10 is another. Add in his made cut at the U.S. Open, there's 14 points.
He reached No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, giving him another five points. He has held that spot for more than 26 weeks, which is worth a point. Add it all tother, the Florida State junior is set to be a PGA Tour member by the summer.
It's something that even in his wildest dreams Clanton couldn't imagine coming true.
"I thought (the Valspar) was going to be my first PGA Tour start. It's pretty cool. To win that event was probably the biggest one I won in my career during that time," Clanton said. "It was pretty cool. To see mom on 18 there again and kind of telling her we got it done to get our first start was pretty amazing. And then it kind of unraveled a little more after that, so it's just been an incredible journey with the whole support, the team, it's just awesome."
Since his last PGA Tour start, Clanton won his second straight college event at the Seminole Intercollegiate, defending his title from last year. He has won six times during his college career, and it shouldn't be a shock to see him win more.
As an amateur, Clanton is ranked 93rd in the Official World Golf Ranking. He has constantly stated his goal for the rest of the season is to win a national championship. The Seminoles have also won two straight events and will defend their title beginning Monday at the Valspar Collegiate.
Clanton plans to defend his title, too. A 36-hole day awaits Monday, which would be a quick turnaround, but he has done it before.
Last summer, Clanton competed in the Wyndham Championship and finished late Sunday. He took a redeye to Minneapolis and Hazeltine National, site of the 2024 U.S. Amateur, where he then finished in the top 64 to make match play. He'll make the drive Sunday night but has no idea how long it will take.
"I haven't looked yet. I don't really want to look," he said while laughing.
A quick look on GPS says it will take almost 4 hours, but Clanton has a snake pit to navigate first.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Top-amateur Luke Clanton eager to play at 2025 Valspar Championship
Continue reading...
He won the Valspar Collegiate on Florida's Atlantic coast, earning his way into the field at the 2025 Valspar Championship. He thought this week at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course would be his first PGA Tour start.
When he tees off at 2:24 p.m. Thursday, he'll do so as a soon-to-be PGA Tour member and the top-ranked amateur in the world.
"I would probably think you're crazy, to be honest with you," he said when asked what his reaction would've been if he knew what the past year held for him. "Again, just, it's hard to even think about what happened, really. To have that nine-month, ten-month stretch of golf is, to be competing on the PGA Tour against the best, it's crazy."
On Feb. 28, Clanton made the cut at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, his hometown PGA Tour event. In doing so, he earned his 20th point in PGA Tour University Accelerated, which was the final tally he needed to earn a PGA Tour card. He can accept membership after the NCAA Championships in May.
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Last year, his win at the Valspar Collegiate was his second of three straight, starting one of the most dominant years from an amateur golfer in recent memory. In 12 PGA Tour starts dating to last summer, Clanton has made nine cuts and has a pair of runner-up finishes. He has four finishes in the top 10. A made cut is one point to PGA Tour U Accelerated. A top 10 is another. Add in his made cut at the U.S. Open, there's 14 points.
He reached No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, giving him another five points. He has held that spot for more than 26 weeks, which is worth a point. Add it all tother, the Florida State junior is set to be a PGA Tour member by the summer.
It's something that even in his wildest dreams Clanton couldn't imagine coming true.
"I thought (the Valspar) was going to be my first PGA Tour start. It's pretty cool. To win that event was probably the biggest one I won in my career during that time," Clanton said. "It was pretty cool. To see mom on 18 there again and kind of telling her we got it done to get our first start was pretty amazing. And then it kind of unraveled a little more after that, so it's just been an incredible journey with the whole support, the team, it's just awesome."
Since his last PGA Tour start, Clanton won his second straight college event at the Seminole Intercollegiate, defending his title from last year. He has won six times during his college career, and it shouldn't be a shock to see him win more.
As an amateur, Clanton is ranked 93rd in the Official World Golf Ranking. He has constantly stated his goal for the rest of the season is to win a national championship. The Seminoles have also won two straight events and will defend their title beginning Monday at the Valspar Collegiate.
Clanton plans to defend his title, too. A 36-hole day awaits Monday, which would be a quick turnaround, but he has done it before.
Last summer, Clanton competed in the Wyndham Championship and finished late Sunday. He took a redeye to Minneapolis and Hazeltine National, site of the 2024 U.S. Amateur, where he then finished in the top 64 to make match play. He'll make the drive Sunday night but has no idea how long it will take.
"I haven't looked yet. I don't really want to look," he said while laughing.
A quick look on GPS says it will take almost 4 hours, but Clanton has a snake pit to navigate first.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Top-amateur Luke Clanton eager to play at 2025 Valspar Championship
Continue reading...
