PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Florida Condition youth Luke Clanton simply had to create the short Friday within the Cognizant Vintage to earn a PGA Excursion card. That was once by no means in confusion.
Clanton ran off 4 directly birdies at the entrance 9 at PGA Nationwide, the latter one through holing a bunker shot as his father captured it on a phone from the gallery, and closed with a birdie for a 5-under 66 to simply create it to the weekend.
That gave him the overall level he wanted within the PGA Excursion College Sped up program to earn a PGA Excursion card nearest the NCAA championship ends Would possibly 26. If he chooses to not flip professional, the cardboard shall be there when he does.
“It’s pretty cool to do it here,” mentioned Clanton, who grew up related Miami and had his whole folk (and plethora extra) within the gallery. “I’ve watched this event growing up a ton, and to be on 18 walking up and seeing all the people there, it’s breathtaking.
“I’m simply excited to more or less get this go began and move again and win a countrywide championship with the school workforce first and later get it began.”
The 21-year-old Clanton was beaming as he held the tour card, though his work is not done. His birdie from the bunker on the 18th hole put him at 9-under 133, just four shots out of the lead and very much in contention going into the weekend.
That’s nothing new for Clanton either.
In the 12 times he has played PGA Tour-sanctioned events, Clanton already has two runner-up finishes and two other top-10s. They all contributed to his rapid rise through PGA Tour University, which began five years ago to give college players a direct path to the big leagues.
Clanton missed the cut in two of his three PGA Tour events this year. He tied for 15th in the Farmers Insurance Open, putting him on the cusp of a card. He conceded the final point was starting to become a burden.
“It feels just right to get it carried out now,” he said. “I were given that query requested about 19 issues a ton, and it was once more or less disturbing — everybody announcing to get your excursion card, which I really like, and the aid has been superb — however to after all get it carried out is for sure a tiny little bit of peace evidently.”
He made bogey on his second hole by having to pitch back to the fairway, which might have added to the nerves. That didn’t last long.
He hit a 319-yard drive that set up a two-putt birdie on the par-5 third. He hit wedge to 10 feet for birdie on the fourth hole. He made a 20-foot birdie on the par-3 fifth. And he hit a tough shot around the trees into a bunker and holed that for a fourth birdie.
Clanton muffed one chip on the 14th with the finish line in sight. He followed that by knocking in an 18-foot par putt. He did little wrong, and his week is not over.
“We nonetheless have two extra days on this match, and we’re moving to be locked in and attempt to move out and win this factor,” Clanton said.
The PGA Tour University program began for seniors. The Accelerated program began in November 2022 — after the first season of Saudi-backed LIV Golf — for underclassmen. They can accumulate points for making the cut on the PGA Tour, playing and making the cut in a major and other achievements. A card is earned with 20 points.
Gordon Sargent of Vanderbilt was the first to get a card through the Accelerated program. He chose to return to school this year.
Clanton earned 14 points through tournaments, including his tie for 41st in the U.S. Open. He picked up five points for reaching No. 1 in the world amateur ranking and another point for staying at No. 1 for at least 26 weeks.
He played the opening two rounds with Daniel Berger, a Ryder Cup player who also went to Florida State. Berger was two shots out of the lead.
“He’s a superior participant,” Berger said. “He hits it a mile. He’s were given a superior decrease recreation. He’s actual fiery. He’s were given a dazzling occasion.”
