The Farmers Insurance Open has entered its final days after a series of withdrawals shook up the field. With two rounds completed, the leaderboard remains wide open, and there’s one player who has particularly captured the attention of the golf world: Luke Clanton. The 21-year-old American amateur golfer is making waves with an impressive T13 finish after the first two rounds.
Clanton is currently the world’s No. 1 amateur golfer. And has an incredible opportunity to secure a PGA Tour card at this prestigious event. His performance so far highlights just how crucial this opportunity is. Even as a top-ranked amateur, Clanton is fine-tuning his equipment to maximize his chances of success. Here’s a closer look at the clubs he’s using as he heads into the final stretch of the competition.
Notably, Clanton’s driving distance has been a standout feature of his game. With an average driving distance of 314 yards, he’s maintained similar power at the Farmers Insurance Open, averaging 312 yards per drive. This impressive distance is thanks to his Titleist TSR 2 Driver, set at 8 degrees of loft and paired with a Mitsubishi Kai’li White 70X shaft. Many professionals prefer this driver for its combination of long distance and high forgiveness. “By offering the best opportunity for the golfers at $599, it is a great buy,” Clanton says.
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In addition to the driver, Clanton relies on a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver, which he credits as a game-changer both off the tee and off the deck. “This club has been a lifesaver off the tee, and off the deck, as well,” Clanton shared during an interview with GolfWRX. His confidence in the club is evident, as he was able to drive over 290 yards during the 2023 US Amateur Open with it. Priced at $449, this mini-driver is an excellent choice for golfers looking to maximize shot-making potential.
Luke Clanton has a new putter in the bag at the Farmers Insurance Open.
He picked up a Scotty Cameron Phantom 9 on the practice green earlier this week and it stayed in the bag. He’s T13 after two rounds and leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (+5.02). pic.twitter.com/vzTuEUiHYA
— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) January 24, 2025
After hitting the long-distance shots, the golfer has a wide variety of irons to reach the greens. With him having them all from TaylorMade, but each has a different work to do. He uses 2 iron, TaylorMade Stealth UDI with Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X shaft. Along with that, he carries TaylorMade P760 and P7MB irons,4-6 irons, and 7-9 irons, respectively.
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The long loft and variety of speed options offered make it an ideal pick for golfers. Costing between $800-1000, it can be a great savior of strokes in the match. However, that will depend on the final shots on the greens.
Luke Clanton’s final clubs for the greens
To make the efforts count, the American golfer has chosen the wedges to suit his game style. He carries TaylorMade MG4 and MG3 with a different loft-bounce. The MG4 has 46/09SB, 54/11SB and 58/08LB. While the MG3 has 50/09SB loft-bounce. The raw finish with spin thread enhances the chances to stay near the hole, irrespective of where the golfer is hitting from. Costing an estimated $180, each could be a decent option to play at greens.
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Regardless of the exceptional play by Clanton, he has made a crucial change in his bag with the new putter. Not only the change has improved his game, but it has also helped him secure the top 15 positions after two rounds. The golfer witnessed a +5.02 stroke gain at the event. Switching from his old TaylorMade Spider GT putter, the golfer has moved to the Scotty Cameron Phantom 9. Offering great forgiveness with balance, the $4000 putter is indeed value for money.
With the change for his final shots and huge stakes for his professional career, can the golfing essentials for Luke Clanton help him achieve the PGA Tour Pro card? Share what you think in the comments below.
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