Amateur World No.1 Luke Clanton Takes Watersound Invitational Victory Before PGA Tour Comeback
World No.1 amateur Luke Clanton secured victory at the Watersound Invitational at Sharks Tooth Golf Club in Florida, shooting rounds of 73-66-67 to win by three strokes over Jones Free and Jonathan Griz.
The win marks Clanton's fifth collegiate victory and comes just before his upcoming PGA Tour appearance at the Cognizant Classic, where he'll have another opportunity to secure his PGA Tour card.
Currently, Clanton has 19 PGA Tour University Accelerated points and needs just one more point to earn his Tour card. He can achieve this by making the cut at next week's event in Florida. If successful, he would be eligible to accept PGA Tour membership after completing his junior season at Florida State.
Golfer swinging club on course
Clanton has already demonstrated his potential on the PGA Tour with five top-15 finishes, including runner-up performances at both the John Deere Classic and The RSM Classic. His recent near-miss at the WM Phoenix Open, where a birdie putt would have secured his Tour card, shows how close he is to achieving this milestone.
Triumphant golfer raises fist in celebration
If successful, Clanton would follow Vanderbilt's Gordon Sargent as only the second player to earn their PGA Tour card through the University Accelerated system. Sargent, who secured his card in 2023, is expected to accept his membership after the NCAA Championship this spring.