How amateur Luke Clanton could earn TOUR card at Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches

Luke Clanton was one putt away from earning his PGA TOUR card at the WM Phoenix Open earlier this month. He will have another chance to fulfill that dream this week.

Clanton will compete at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches on a sponsor exemption, his fourth TOUR start of the season. Clanton has accumulated 19 PGA TOUR University Accelerated points and can reach the requisite 20-point threshold to earn a TOUR card by making the cut at PGA National Resort (The Champion Course).

The Florida State junior will chase his TOUR dream in familiar confines; he has played PGA National an estimated 40 times, and he'll have a robust contingent of family and friends out in support. But he knows better than to let his mind wander too far, for the time being.

"It would be amazing," Clanton said of the prospect. "I've watched this event growing up since I was probably 9 or 10 years old. We played the Junior Honda (Classic) here a ton growing up and we had high school stuff here growing up. It's a little bit emotional for sure because I've always been on the sidelines watching this event, and being inside the ropes out there hitting golf shots out here on this golf course is amazing.

"I think from 11, 12 years old to now, it's just kind of seeing the development of everything happening. We always talked about how cool it would be to play in this event and how cool it would be, home field advantage, whatever you want to say. Now it's happening. It's pretty surreal."

Clanton’s best finish of the year is a T15 at the Farmers Insurance Open. He finished runner-up twice in 2024, at the John Deere Classic and The RSM Classic, as he quickly ascended into the world golf spotlight. He hasn't slowed down; he arrives at the Cognizant fresh off a collegiate victory at last week's Watersound Invitational.

Clanton nearly earned his TOUR card three weeks ago. The Florida State junior had an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to make the cut at the WM Phoenix Open. If it went in, he would play the weekend and earn that elusive 20th point and a TOUR card. It slid by the hole, delaying Clanton’s coronation.

“I had to make five birdies in my last eight holes and put four up and had a great chance on 18," he said at the time. "It's tough. It’s hard to take. But I'm going to walk in my faith and keep understanding that it's not my time.”

He didn’t have to wait long for his next opportunity.

Clanton has notched five top-15 finishes in just 11 PGA TOUR starts, quickly moving to the verge of his card via PGA TOUR University Accelerated. He finished T15 at last month's Farmers Insurance Open for his 18th PGA TOUR University Accelerated point, which – after his long perch atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking – got him to No. 19 and set the stage for TPC Scottsdale. (The stage is now set for PGA National.)

If Clanton makes the cut at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, he will be eligible to take up PGA TOUR membership after finishing his junior season at Florida State.

Vanderbilt’s Gordon Sargent was the first to secure his PGA TOUR card via PGA TOUR University Accelerated, earning his 20th point in fall 2023. Sargent returned for his senior season and is expected to accept TOUR membership after this spring’s NCAA Championship.

Clanton has earned 13 PGA TOUR University Accelerated points via his TOUR achievements, with another six points via his position in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He entered the TOUR spotlight at last summer’s U.S. Open, nearly earning low amateur honors before three-putting the final hole from 5 feet and finishing two short of his Sunday playing partner Neal Shipley. Rather than setting him back, the disappointment fueled him.

Clanton’s golf path was paved humbly. He grew up at the 36-hole, public-access Country Club of Miami, playing with U.S. Kids junior clubs until getting his first full set at age 12 or 13. His dad David has worked three jobs simultaneously – in landscaping, running a glass business and teaching golf, with his mom Rhonda working 15-hour shifts as a flight attendant. His sisters Ray and Abby sacrificed hobbies so Luke could pursue his golf dreams.

That dream can become reality at PGA National, just over an hour from where Clanton grew up.