Luke Clanton is in competition for the second consecutive week on the PGA Tour — as an newbie.
Getty Photos
These previous few years the highest storylines round males’s skilled golf have swirled round one ethos: revenue maximization.
So it was greater than just a little refreshing when, earlier this week, newbie Luke Clanton provided a unique perspective.
Clanton is a rising junior at Florida State. Final month he made the lower on the U.S. Open, although Neal Shipley edged him for low am honors. He improved on that efficiency eventually week’s Rocket Mortgage Basic, the place he performed on a sponsor exemption and completed T10. As a result of Clanton has remained an newbie he’s forfeiting the big-time paychecks that include big-time outcomes on the PGA Tour, however in a pre-tournament press convention at this week’s John Deere Basic he made it clear that he’s okay with that.
Clanton was sporting a “Union Residence Mortgage” brand on his shirt and hat, a reminder that we’re in a brand new period on the subject of newbie golf, when a reporter requested the query: is there a lot NIL (identify, picture and likeness) sponsorship cash in faculty golf?
“There’s just a little bit, little question,” he mentioned.
However not, certainly, the identical quantity he may make on the PGA Tour?
“I believe it’s sufficient for a university scholar, for certain. I believe it’s — I don’t really want some huge cash proper now. I’m 20 years previous, nonetheless at Florida State College. It’s sufficient to deal with what we have now right here and to have the ability to journey. I believe it’s good.”
Great things there, particularly that two-word phrase we haven’t seen a lot of: “It’s sufficient.”
That echoed an analogous sentiment he expressed on the Rocket Mortgage:
“I play golf to play golf. I believe with the ability to play golf along with your buddies each single day, it’s one thing you don’t get very a lot. I’ve obtained 12 dudes on that workforce that I completely love, so it’s superior.”
Maybe one key to Clanton’s contentedness is that the 20-year-old feels assured that there’s loads of prize cash in his enjoying future. He confirmed that at Pinehurst and at Detroit Golf Membership and he’s exhibiting that by means of two rounds at this week’s John Deere, too, the place he opened 63-67 and, as of Friday afternoon, sits T4 on the match’s midway level. That’s a key to understanding Clanton: he’s actually good. DataGolf has him ranked as one of the best newbie on the planet. He’s not quick on self-assuredness.
Requested if he’s shocked to be on these leaderboards, Clanton principally shrugged.
“Not likely,” he mentioned. “I don’t wish to sound cocky or boastful in any respect, however we’ve skilled to do what we’re doing right here.”
That doesn’t imply he’s taking it with no consideration. Clanton got here off the course on Friday expressing simply how a lot enjoyable he’d had battling his technique to a four-under 67 that included a double bogey-birdie-birdie-par end.
“I knew I used to be going to make birdie, birdie,” he mentioned of his mindset following the double. “I knew it. I knew after I obtained that double, I mentioned to myself, we ain’t ending at 10-under; we’re going to complete at 12.”
Clanton’s sport has him swimming in summer time alternative. This week, for example, he may very well be on the prestigious Palmer Cup however he’s right here as a substitute. He’ll play the ISCO in Kentucky subsequent week, then take every week off, then play the 3M Open. There’s loads of PGA Tour golf in his future even earlier than he turns professional. However his objective?
“I believe objective No. 1 is to win a nationwide championship with my workforce,” he mentioned of his fellow Seminoles. Each workforce and particular person could be nice, he provides.
He allowed that circumstances may change if, say, he gained the John Deere this week — “we’ll see,” he mentioned, appropriately including that “we have now two extra days of golf” — however he was eager on emphasizing one phrase for the week.
“I’m simply having enjoyable,” he mentioned. “I’m going to say that time and again as a result of it’s the reality. I’m not likely attempting to suppose an excessive amount of about all of it.”
He has pals in excessive locations, this proficient 20-year-old. Fellow FSU golfer Brooks Koepka has helped him together with his mindset, he mentioned, thanks to some rounds collectively.
“He helped me quite a bit with simply staying calmer by means of rounds and understanding to take it one shot at a time,” Clanton mentioned of Koepka. “Sounds easy and it’s, however whenever you’re on the market and attempting to chase birdies, it will get caught up in your head. So I spotted simply take it one shot at a time. Understanding that I’m going to hit dangerous golf photographs; it’s not going to be good on a regular basis. Simply understanding that.”
He’s additionally borrowed from the mindset of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, with whom he shared a apply spherical on the U.S. Open.
“Finest participant on the planet I believe by a mile proper now,” Clanton mentioned. “I talked to him a bunch about his religion and my religion and understanding that he mentioned to me, golf is only a sport. It doesn’t determine who I’m. When he mentioned that to me it type of clicked, as a result of it’s understanding that this sport of golf doesn’t determine who I’m off the golf course, on the golf course.
“Once more, I’m simply having enjoyable.”
It’s simpler to have enjoyable, after all, whenever you’re enjoying effectively. But it surely’s additionally simpler to play effectively whenever you’re having enjoyable. Clanton has labored himself into this virtuous cycle, a top-tier newbie enjoying towards the top-tier expertise on the PGA Tour and acquitting himself admirably, letting enjoyable and confidence every feed off one another, figuring out good issues will observe.
For now, it’s sufficient. Greater than sufficient, even.
