Luke Clanton has shared the ‘amazing’ thing he realised about Scottie Scheffler after playing alongside the world number one in a practice round at the US Open at Pinehurst.
Luke Clanton has definitely made a big impression on the PGA Tour in recent weeks, having finished in the top 10 at both the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the John Deere Classic. But he also enjoyed an outstanding week at the US Open, nearly ending the tournament at Pinehurst as the low amateur after a final day duel with Neal Shipley.
It appears that Clanton was keen to take everything in while in North Carolina, playing in a practice round alongside the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.
It is easy to forget now, but there was huge excitement about the prospect of how the likes of Scheffler, Koepka and Rory McIlroy would do that week, with the trio rarely getting the chance to face off these days.
Luke Clanton amazed by Scottie Scheffler at US Open
Scheffler has enjoyed a phenomenal start to 2024, winning six times already. And while the US Open was not his finest hour, Scheffler clearly managed to really impress Clanton – and not just with his ability on the golf course.
“It was incredible, watching him play golf, he’s a big model of mine, the way his faith is based and the way he plays golf. I asked him a bunch of questions, I was chewing his ear off the whole entire round basically,” he told The Smylie Show.
“It’s just cool, seeing in person, seeing what he does and how his feet slide and all these things, he is one heck of a player, but he’s also one amazing person – that’s what I realised. He’s not some dude that is just great at golf, he’s also a really good person, and he surpassed every expectation I had of him as a person, and the way that Ted Scott was with him as well, all those guys, it kind of made me realise that golf is not everything, it’s just a game when it comes down to it, and realising that we’re able to play week by week, and go travel places and play golf.”
A perfect ambassador
Scheffler is definitely an amazing ambassador for the game. Of course, he was arrested in surreal circumstances at the PGA Championship. But he is generally someone who avoids controversy and seems to play the game in the right way.
And whatever he is doing right now is clearly working with him, with Scheffler the clear world number one and already a two-time Masters champion. There are surely plenty more majors to come.
And Clanton made the incredibly smart move of trying to soak up as much knowledge as he possibly could from him ahead of the US Open.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
