The senior college player can secure his PGA Tour card this week in Hawaii.
Getty Images
Luke Clanton isn’t a full-time PGA Tour professional yet, but at this week’s Sony Open, the top-ranked amateur can ensure he has a spot waiting for him when his career ends in the state of Florida.
The 21-year-old earned 17 PGA Tour University Accelerated points last summer thanks to four top-10 finishes, including two runner-up finishes – and the 20-point mark guarantees him a PGA Tour card whenever he decides to turn pro. Clanton, who is playing the Sony Open without sponsors, can get those three critical points with a top-five finish in Hawaii. He will receive two points for a top-10 finish and one point if he qualifies but finishes outside the top-10.
Florida State Junior had a 2024 to remember.
Clanton led the Seminoles to the 2024 NCAA Championship, where they fell to Auburn 3-2. Clanton then took his talents to the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2. He finished T-41 and nearly trailed Neil Shipley for low amateur honors.
Sponsorship waivers followed in the summer after Clanton finished T-10 at Rocket Mortage, T-2 in John Deere, fifth at the Wyndham Championship and T-2 at the RSM Classic.
Clanton is currently ranked 87th in the world. This is the second-highest ranking ever by an amateur, behind only Nick Dunlap, who climbed to No. 68 shortly before turning pro.
After his impressive summer and fall, Clanton could have opted to turn pro. However, he returned to Florida State to add a national title to his growing resume.
Vanderbilt’s Gordon Sargent earned his PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University Accelerated, but he chose to return to Nashville for his senior season. Clanton could also postpone his tournament card for another year and return to Florida State for his senior season.
Even if Clanton doesn’t get it this week, there’s no doubt he will soon. He is in line to earn another point on February 5, when he will complete 26 weeks as the world’s top amateur. He is also the front-runner for the Hogan Award, which is given to the best college player in America. The award takes into account performance at all levels, not just college, and if Clanton wins it, he’ll earn three more points and get his card.
Clanton’s PGA Tour fate hangs in the balance. Four good days at Waialae Country Club is all he needs to secure it.
