February 21, 2025
It's time.
Luke Clanton is taking his game to the next level, and in a video announced Thursday on Instagram, the world's top-ranked amateur revealed that he would be doing it with Nike.
"To future me, I would say to keep taking it slow," Clanton said in the video. "Every step and every rep have led me to this moment, but those moments don't define me. This is just the beginning. Now it's time to go all in—time to go further, dream bigger, push harder. It's time to just do it."
Last week, the 21-year-old moved to the top spot in the Golf NIL College Men's Rankings, surpassing two-time NBA Champion and North Carolina A&T golfer J.R. Smith. At $2.37 million, Clanton's valuation is at an all-time high, matching the state of his game as he considers the next chapter of his career as a professional golfer.
The Florida State junior is one point from earning his PGA TOUR card through the TOUR's Accelerated program—an accomplishment he has a strong chance of achieving at next week's Cognizant Classic, where he's been invited to compete on a sponsor exemption.
Once he earns the final point to meet the 20-point threshold, he’ll have the option to turn pro in May or wait until the end of his senior year.
The timing of his new partnership with the sportswear giant hints that Clanton is ready to start cashing in.
