PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Florida State junior Luke Clanton solely wanted to make the minimize Friday within the Cognizant Traditional to earn a PGA Tour card. That was by no means doubtful.
Clanton ran off 4 straight birdies on the entrance 9 at PGA Nationwide, the final one by holing a bunker shot as his father captured it on a cellphone from the gallery, and closed with a birdie for a 5-under 66 to simply make it to the weekend.
That gave him the ultimate level he wanted within the PGA Tour College Accelerated program to earn a PGA Tour card after the NCAA championship ends Might 26. If he chooses to not flip professional, the cardboard might be there when he does.
“It is fairly cool to do it right here,” stated Clanton, who grew up close to Miami and had his complete household (and many extra) within the gallery. “I’ve watched this occasion rising up a ton, and to be on 18 strolling up and seeing all of the folks there, it is breathtaking.
“I am simply excited to form of get this journey began and return and win a nationwide championship with the school staff first after which get it began.”
The 21-year-old Clanton was beaming as he held the tour card, although his work shouldn’t be accomplished. His birdie from the bunker on the 18th gap put him at 9-under 133, simply 4 photographs out of the lead and really a lot in competition going into the weekend.
That is nothing new for Clanton, both.
Within the 12 instances he has performed PGA Tour-sanctioned occasions, Clanton already has two runner-up finishes and two different prime 10s. All of them contributed to his fast rise by means of PGA Tour College, which started 5 years in the past to offer school gamers a direct path to the large leagues.
Clanton missed the minimize in two of his three PGA Tour occasions this yr. He tied for fifteenth within the Farmers Insurance coverage Open, placing him on the cusp of a card. He conceded the ultimate level was beginning to grow to be a burden.
“It feels good to get it accomplished now,” he stated. “I obtained that query requested about 19 factors a ton, and it was form of nerve-racking – everybody saying to get your tour card, which I really like, and the help has been superb – however to lastly get it accomplished is unquestionably a little bit little bit of ease for certain.”
He made bogey on his second gap by having to pitch again to the golf green, which could have added to the nerves. That did not final lengthy.
He hit a 319-yard drive that arrange a two-putt birdie on the par-5 third. He hit wedge to 10 toes for birdie on the fourth gap. He made a 20-foot birdie on the par-3 fifth. After which he hit a tricky shot across the timber right into a bunker, and holed that for a fourth birdie.
Clanton muffed one chip on the 14th with the end line in sight. He adopted that by knocking in an 18-foot par putt. He did little incorrect, and his week shouldn’t be over.
“We nonetheless have two extra days on this occasion and we will be locked in and attempt to exit and win this factor,” Clanton stated.
The PGA Tour College program started for seniors. The “Accelerated” program started in November 2022 – after the primary season of Saudi-backed LIV Golf – for underclassmen. They will accumulate factors for making the minimize on the PGA Tour, enjoying and making the minimize in a significant and different achievements. A card is earned with 20 factors.
Gordon Sargent of Vanderbilt was the primary to get a card by means of the “Accelerated” program. He selected to return to highschool this yr.
Clanton earned 14 factors by means of tournaments, together with his tie for forty first within the U.S. Open. He picked up 5 factors for reaching No. 1 on this planet newbie rating and one other level for staying at No. 1 for not less than 26 weeks.
He performed the opening two rounds with Daniel Berger, a Ryder Cup participant who additionally went to Florida State. Berger was two photographs out of the lead.
“He is a terrific participant,” Berger stated. “He hits it a mile. He is obtained a terrific quick recreation. He is actual fiery. He is obtained a brilliant future.”
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