Being the top amateur golfer in the world is a big accomplishment for Florida State’s Luke Clanton. And instead of elevating his potential pro career, he returned to Florida State with one goal in mind:
A national title.
“I’ve been wanting to win a national championship, and that’s my number one goal with this team. I think all these guys are incredible,” said Clanton, a junior from Hialeah. “I think we’re kind of under looked a little bit sometimes, and I think this year is going to be amazing.”
Last season, Clanton and the FSU men’s golf team went on its first historic national championship run. The fifth-seeded Seminoles fell to Auburn in the final match play, 3-2.
Clanton hopes to return to Carlsbad, California, after being just one point shy from winning the national title for the Seminoles. Every time he is on a golf course or a gym, that has been on his mind.
“It’s one of those things where coming down the final match and losing is no joke,” Clanton said.
“I think everyone saw the emotion we all had as a team there. And you know, when you train all year to get to that moment, you don’t pull it off, it’s hard. I’m not gonna lie and not be like, oh, that’s great. It’s brutal.”
Despite being a runner-up, Clanton is proud of the season he had.
He ended the year as a first-team All-American honors, All-Southeast Region selection, All-ACC selection and was a finalist for both the Jack Nicklaus and Fred Haskins Award as the National Player of the Year.
In his career, Clanton averages 70.35, which is the second-lowest in FSU history, sitting behind John Pak’s 69.87 (2019-21).
Luke Clanton says being the No. 1 amateur golfer in the world is ‘no joke’
This summer has done wonders for Clanton in his first experiences on the PGA Tour.
He has particpated in five PGA Tour events, including the US Open, the John Deere Classic and Wyndham Championship. Three of the five he finished in the top 10.
In the John Deere Classic, he finished second after placing 10th in the Rocket Mortage Classic. It made the junior the first amateur to finish in top 10 in back-to-back starts on the PGA Tour since Billy Joe Patton in 1957.
“Yeah, I was a little shocked, no doubt,” Clanton said.
“I mean, when I finished second John Deere, I was, I was like, wow, that’s pretty cool. That’s a little different from normal and, you know, but again, I walked off 18 and I saw my mom and dad there. No matter what I do, no matter how I finish, they’re always there for me.”
Clanton felt right at home, and he believed that playing at PGA golf courses was no different from playing at Club Corp.
He also embraced the knowledge he soaked in being around other pro golfers he met, such as Scottie Scheffler, Gary Woodland and FSU alum Vincent Norrman.
“I was that little kid asking questions basically all the time,” Clanton said.
“I think there’s just so much knowledge out there that we don’t really know as amateur golfers, and to kind of absorb that and then come to college and kind of have that as well with practice and how you kind of lead into tournaments, it is pretty incredible.”
Clanton is not the only world’s top amateur golfer.
Senior Lottie Woad also carries that title on the women’s side. Clanton humbly praised Woad for her accomplishments and wouldn’t dare to challenge her for the top spot as a Seminole.
“She was No. 1 before me, and she’s incredible,” Clanton said. “So, you know, I can’t really talk too much. She’s done amazing things this summer.”
Clanton was honored when awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal and named the top male golfer in the 2024 World Amateur Golf Ranking. It is an honor he wouldn’t take for granted.
“Being No. 1 in the world is no joke, and I’m super blessed about it,” Clanton said.
“But it wasn’t as much fulfillment as I thought I was going to be. I think my fulfillment comes with the man above and realizing that, you know, he’s given me these opportunities and the blessings that I have, and it’s awesome.”
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Luke Clanton is focused on leading FSU golf to its first national championship