PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Florida State junior Luke Clanton secured his PGA Tour card by making the cut at the Cognizant Classic on Friday, a feat that was anticipated given his confident performance. Clanton showcased his skill at PGA National with an impressive run of four consecutive birdies on the front nine. His excitement peaked when he chipped a bunker shot into the hole, an exhilarating moment captured by his father from the sidelines. Clanton’s day concluded with a superb birdie, resulting in a solid 5-under 66 that propelled him into the weekend play.
Achieving the final point needed for the PGA Tour University Accelerated program, Clanton is poised to receive a PGA Tour card after the NCAA Championship concludes on May 26. This achievement marked a personal milestone, especially as he performed so close to his Miami roots with his family and friends present. “It’s pretty cool to do it here,” Clanton remarked, expressing his enthusiasm for future endeavors, including a hopeful national championship win with his college team before venturing into professional golf.
At just 21, Clanton was visibly thrilled holding his tour card, though his sights are set beyond. With a birdie out of the sand on the 18th, he maintained a competitive stance at 9-under 133, placing him only four shots behind the leader as weekend action approached. Clanton’s impressive track record includes twelve PGA Tour-sanctioned appearances with two runner-up finishes and two additional top 10s, demonstrating his swift ascent through the PGA Tour University initiative, launched five years ago for collegiate players seeking a professional pathway.
This season, Clanton missed the cut in two out of three PGA Tour appearances, yet his tie for 15th at the Farmers Insurance Open positioned him tantalizingly close to obtaining his card. He candidly admitted the pressure of securing the final point, describing the relief of achieving it as “definitely a little bit of ease.” His second hole bogey required strategic recovery, yet resilience led to a fantastic 319-yard drive and subsequent birdie on the par-5 third. Further success followed with accurate wedge play and long putts, including an unexpected birdie from a bunker.
Overcoming minor mistakes, such as a wayward chip on the 14th, Clanton displayed poise by sinking an 18-foot par putt. His determination was evident as he looked forward to the remaining competition days. “We still have two more days in this event,” Clanton stated, ready to focus and aim for victory.
The PGA Tour University program, initially for seniors, expanded through the “Accelerated” program in November 2022 to include underclassmen. Players accumulate points through various achievements, with 20 points securing a tour card. Gordon Sargent of Vanderbilt was the first to earn his card this way but opted to continue his academia.
Clanton accrued 14 points through tournament play, with notable performances such as tying for 41st at the U.S. Open. His No. 1 ranking in the world amateur standings added another six points to his tally. Clanton shared the course with Daniel Berger, a former Florida State player and Ryder Cup competitor, during the first rounds. Berger, close to leading himself, praised Clanton as “a great player” with immense talent and a promising future.
