There are some shots that are life changing. Brian Campbell’s insane drive that bounced off a tree and fell back in bounds at the recent Mexico Open is one of them. Luke Clanton’s insane bunker shot for birdie at the sixth hole at the Champion Course in the PGA National Resort in Florida is one of them. Because that shot has kickstarted a PGA Tour career that is no doubt going to be exemplary and with a little push, historic. Clanton is currently at T10 in the leaderboard at the Cognizant Classic and will look to challenge for his first trophy over the weekend.

Recollecting the shot, Clanton reminisced about what was going through his head. He had a lot at stake and he steeled his nerves to deliver. No one would have guessed he was a 21-year-old youngster learning his way around by the way he played. “Yeah, I got a little excited on the bunker shot for sure. We were focused in, man, from the start of the day to the end of the day, we were locked in, and then on 18 when I saw my mom and dad I started to break down a little bit. But overall it’s just awesome.”

This has been a long time coming for the 21-year-old. Over the last nine months, it has been a story of so near yet so far for the young American. His runner-up finishes at the John Deere Classic and the RSM Classic were brilliant but a win would have handed him the card. At the recently concluded WM Phoenix Open, he missed a putt on the last hole, which would have put him above the cut line. But now, the wait is over.

Emotions are running high in the Clanton family right now. The Florida State University student is doing his bit to keep it in check.  “Yeah, I mean, dad and mom, what they’ve done for me, it’s kind of — can’t even put it into words, really, in a way, and it’s amazing to see them on 18. I know dad is right there and I’m trying not to look at him because he’s going to make me cry.”

Sacrifices are a crucial ingredient in a hard-fought journey. And it is understandable that Clanton’s parents have done their bit. David Clanton worked three jobs to support his family.  While his dad was supporting him financially, his mother was supporting him on the course. ““David did all the work when Luke was little. [He] taught him and took him places while I dealt with the girls. He [David Clanton] worked his jobs and then eventually he had more jobs than I did so I started taking over travelling with Luke. … It took a lot but well worth it,” Rhonda Clanton, explained.

And the amateur golfer knew he had to deliver. After all, it was not just his dream. It was the collective dream of his family. Deliver he did. “Just amazing. No one knows about it. No one really will ever know how much they did for me. I can’t put it into words.”

The hard work he did, took some time to come to fruition. The PGA Tour card process was a long one but it has come full circle for Clanton

How did Luke Clanton earn his PGA Tour card?

The PGA Tour University Accelerated Program put forth by the PGA Tour in November 2022, is aimed at college-going amateurs who are achieving very good results in the golfing ecosystem. Their performance in the college, amateur, and professional circuits counts towards points, and after 20 points, they get a PGA Tour card

Luke Clanton’s road to the PGA Tour started with his US Open Start, which gave him 1 point. He made the cut at nine events including the US Open and the Cognizant Classic, giving him nine more points. His four top 10 finishes since last year, gave him 4 more points, and achieving the World No.1 Amateur ranking gave him 5 crucial points. He then added 1 more point because he held the ranking for 26 weeks straight, giving him the twenty points needed to get his PGA Tour Card.

Clanton, will be now playing without the burden of uncertainty, an unleashed youngster with energy and enthusiasm. This will be something to look out for on the Tour circuit, but it also comes at the cost of having a target on his back. Do you think he will ride this wave and earn his first PGA Tour victory?