Luke Clanton does it again.
The Florida State junior is playing his eighth PGA Tour event in 2024 and once again sits inside the top 10 in the standings after the second round of RSM Classic Friday at Sea Island Golf Club.
It’s been an incredible year for the No. 1 ranked man World ranking of amateur golfers and he’s poised to join Nick Dunlap as an amateur in winning a PGA Tour event this year. Clanton’s 65 at the Plantation Course moved him into a tie for fourth at 9-under-par 133, two shots off the lead.
Clanton has already finished in the top 10 three times this season and has seven caps.
Meanwhile, other golfers are looking to score their first Tour victory at the FedEx Cup Fall season-ending event. Also in the top 10 heading into the weekend are two guys who have already won on this FedEx Cup Series fall schedule.
Patrick Fishburn leads the way
While a large number of players are vying for PGA Tour status for 2025 this week, Patrick Fishburn is not one of them. What he is, however, is someone hungry for big events.
Fishburn was safe for the top 125 at No. 87, but the projected ranking after 36 holes has him up 31 spots, pushing him into the top 60, meaning a spot in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational. A win this week means not only his first but a place in a third marquee event in 2025, the season-opening Sentry event in Hawaii.
A career-best nine-for-30 on the Plantation Course and 64 for the day can only help the cause of the 32-year-old rookie who played college golf at BYU, who has an 11-under-pr 131.
“Rookie season, everything is new for me, so I’m more and more comfortable with the way the courses are and the settings,” he said Friday. “I feel like my game has always been really slow at first and then I get better as the season goes on, so a little bit of that. But the ball striking has been pretty consistent, starting to make it a little more consistent. The game is in a good place right now.
Maverick McNealy, Lee Hodges one shot behind
Sitting back is the duo of Maverick McNealy and Lee Hodges. Like Fishburn, McNealy is aiming for his first victory. Hodges goes for win #2.
Both guys are solid on their status for 2025, with McNealy at 51st and Hodges at 66th.
McNealy shot 8-under 62 on the Seaside course on Thursday, but shot 2-under 70 on Friday. Wind has been a storyline this week, which is nothing new for those familiar with the fall series events.
“The fall was very windy. We had 40 mile an hour winds at the Shriners, then we went to Bermuda, the hats were flying off, and even in Cabo we had crazy windy days,” he said. “It’ll be fun to see these greens get fast and I think that plays to my strengths because there’s a little less guesswork and a little more touch and skill in putting and that’s what I’m proud. Hopefully we can see this ball fly a little higher and adjust accordingly.
As for Hodges, the 2023 3M Open champion, he also played the Plantation course on Friday but went low, in the form of a 9-under 63. Eight birdies and an eagle (and just one bogey) will do that.
Luke Clanton heading to tour
In May, Michael Thorbjornsen finished No. 1 in the PGA Tour U rankings, earning him an immediate promotion to the big leagues. Luke Clanton is well on his way to replicating that. He earned another point in this quest by making the RSM Cup.
Both golfers are at 9 under after 36 holes, two shots from the lead. Clanton shot a 65 on the Plantation Course after playing Friday alongside defending RSM champion Ludvig Aberg, who lives in Tallahassee, home of Clanton’s Florida State team.
“I never played with him at Tally,” he said, “we were too busy practicing with the team. But playing with him, it’s pretty awesome to watch. We were a little fanboys over the last two rounds it’s a bit surreal, I know he’s a really good guy, but playing with him and seeing what he’s done over the last two years is pretty inspiring.
Aberg had some nice things to say about Clanton’s play.
“It looks like he has all the tools.” Looks like he’s playing very smart golf. I don’t see him making mistakes like other guys. I see him as a mature golfer and I’m not surprised he’s playing so well,” Aberg said.
Michael Thorbjornsen on track
Michael Thorbjornsen is one of the leading contenders for PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. He is also aiming for his first victory this week. He shot a 2-under 69 in the second round, his scorecard including four birdies and three bogeys. Yet it is within reach.
“I feel good, yeah. Playing more golf is always great,” Thorbjornsen said. “I feel like Seaside is an amazing golf course, you really have to play well and play smart and the play will be different every day depending on the wind direction and how strong it is.”
Also important for Thorbjornsen is his rise of 19 places from outside the top 125 (138) to inside (119). In the long run, if he fails to achieve victory, he could very well retain his playing privileges for his sophomore campaign.
“I don’t think about it at all, I’m just trying to play good golf this weekend,” he said.
Ludvig Aberg is not out of it yet
A year ago, Ludvig Aberg won the RSM Classic in his 11th professional start and tied the PGA Tour’s lowest 72-hole score of 29-under 253.
Coming into his title defense, Aberg hadn’t played in three months due to injury. It looked like he had to shake off some rust with an opening round of 73, but he was nine shots better Friday with a 64, a round that started at No. 10 and closed birdie -birdie-eagle-by.
After his tour, he was asked about any lingering knee pain.
“No, no, it’s great. I’ve been feeling good for a few weeks now and I’m really excited to come back and play,” he said.
Aberg is 16th in the FedEx Cup points standings.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida State junior Luke Clanton in the mix again at PGA Tour event
