Luke Clanton, 21, may still be present Floridahowever, he carries himself like a veteran expert at every event he played.
But now, thanks to this week's incredible show in cognitive classics, Clanton can call himself a PGA Tour member.
Through the PGA Tour University acceleration program, Clanton had to make a cut this week to win the PGA Tour card.
Players must reach 20 points through program criteria to earn cards. Players receive 1 point to make a PGA tour cut. Clanton arrived at PGA National with 19 points. All of these have come together within the past nine months.
Thanks to Friday's 66, Clanton makes a quick cut and is eligible to join the tour after the NCAA season ends in May. He will be the second player to achieve this through the program, following Vanderbilt's Gordon Sargent. Clanton also has the option to return to Florida for his senior season. This is a choice Sgt. made last year.
In the meantime, Clanton is sitting at 9 under mid-year in the championship. He is also in the top 10 going on weekends at PGA National.
After draining him Birdie putt on hole 18Clanton couldn't help but let his emotions flow. He went on his journey to tour at an event in his hometown.
“He's a great player. He bumps it a mile. He has a great short game. He's on fire, the real thing,” said a fellow Daniel Berger of the Seminoles.
“He has a bright future. He had to keep doing what he was doing.”
It's a completely different feeling from what I felt three weeks ago at WM Phoenix Open. Like this week, Clanton received a waiver of Thunderbirds sponsors who attempt to win a PGA Tour card at TPC Scottsdale. He had to make a cut to do so, but he shortened one shot. His birdie only missed the 18th hole.
Clanton then said he knew his time was coming. He remained confident and immobilized, a testament to his identity and faith.
The motif resurfaced Wednesday, when he addressed the media before the cognitive classic.
“My time is coming. I don't know when this week or next week, anytime. I trust the Lord and know that it's golf. It's going to go my way or not,” Clanton said.
“I hope that all my friends and family will be approaching this week, but I'm going to focus on one shot at a time.”
It's now, and Clanton is officially a member of the PGA Tour.
“I really don't want to talk about it and say it that way, but now I'm done, so it's definitely a lot off the shoulder,” Clanton said after Friday's round.
“When I get back there, I'm definitely excited to see the boys text me and hang out. There's still two more days at this event, and I'll be locked up and go outside and try to win this thing.”
He definitely has a game to win. If so, he would soon be eligible for the PGA Tour and could start with the Arnold Palmer Invitational next week. But as Clanton has demonstrated for weeks, no one should move ahead of him. Patience, tenacity and faith always won, and the attributes that paved the way for Clanton's PGA Tour.
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
