The PGA Tour was given a reminder of just how important Jordan Spieth remains when he found himself in the mix at the WM Phoenix Open earlier this month.
While Thomas Detry was largely comfortable on Sunday at the WM Phoenix Open, there were a couple of big names amongst the chasing pack, trying to put a bit of pressure on the Belgian – including Jordan Spieth.
Of course, it has been a difficult few months for Spieth. The 31-year-old brought his 2024 season to a premature end as he decided to undergo surgery on his longstanding wrist injury. And with that, there were plenty of questions regarding whether Spieth was going to be able to get back to anything like his best.
It would certainly be a boost for the PGA Tour to have the three-time major champion back at the top. Spieth moves the needle like few others when it comes to television ratings. And fans were delighted to see Spieth’s antics on the 11th hole on Sunday after his tee shot came to rest under a bush and he was forced to play his second shot left-handed with the back of his putter.
The PGA Tour may have another Jordan Spieth knocking on the door
Spieth is certainly unique. But perhaps there are positive signs that one of the younger players coming through seems to have some similar traits.
Speaking on 5 Clubs about the routes to the highest level for the brightest talents, The Athletic journalist Gabby Herzig noted that she was glued to seeing whether Luke Clanton could earn the points in Arizona which would secure his card.
“The new pathways that have opened up for college players in recent years with the PGA Tour U programme and now PGA Tour Accelerated have brought this new energy to some of these events, the kind of in-between PGA Tour events, regular field events. And we saw it with Luke Clanton at the Waste Management, he absolutely lit it up that Friday afternoon,” she said.
“I actually watched it on TV, I was on my way home to New York and I was absolutely glued to my phone. I was sitting on the plane watching him make birdie after birdie and just have that look in his eye, really chasing a PGA Tour card down. There’s so much on the line for him right now. And I think a player like Luke, we’re not only seeing a generational talent over the summer with those three top 10s; he became the first amateur to place in the top 10 three times in a PGA Tour season since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 – that is just an insane stat to have on your resume.
“We’re also seeing just an entertaining player enter the game. Watching him chase down those birdies on the back nine in Phoenix was, just as you said, it was electric. He kind of reminds me of a Jordan Spieth, I would say, just the same kind of energy to grind it out no matter what. So I, for one, am very appreciative of the new pathways that the PGA Tour have opened up for college players because I really do think it adds a new layer to the game.”
How Luke Clanton has performed on the PGA Tour
It was actually quite a different experience for Clanton in Phoenix as he missed only his third cut in 11 appearances on tour.
He has meanwhile, finished second on two occasions – including at The RSM Classic at the end of 2024 when he appeared to have a phenomenal chance of winning the event.
Clanton is already inside the top 100 in the world rankings. And while he will struggle to match Spieth’s achievement of winning two majors before his 22nd birthday, he does appear to have an unbelievably bright future ahead of him.
There is definitely something special about any player who is mentioned in the same breath as Spieth and Jack Nicklaus.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
