Got his start in golf at the C.B. Smith Park driving range in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

Learned the game from his father, David, who taught Luke the mechanics of Justin Rose’s swing. David played sporadically with his father (Luke’s grandfather) growing up, and he learned the components of the golf swing – specifically Rose’s – through a magazine.

Grew up playing Country Club of Miami, which is open to the public and features two 18-hole courses (East and West). Clanton spent much of his youth playing the couple of pitch-and-putt holes with artificial greens at the practice facility. The Country Club of Miami hosted the National Airlines Open Invitational, a PGA TOUR event contested in 1969 (won by Bunky Henry), 1970 (won by Lee Trevino), and 1971 (won by Gary Player). Famed comedian and actor Jackie Gleason, best known for his roles in The Hustler and Smokey and the Bandit, owned a house at Country Club of Miami, where he hosted celebrity golfers such as Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

Older sister, Abby, played soccer at University of West Alabama, an NCAA Division II program in Livingston, Alabama, where she was a starting defender for four seasons (2015-19). Oldest sister, Ray, pursued a career in modeling and photography and spent time living in New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles.

Eleven is a lucky number in the Clanton family. Luke made his first hole-in-one at age 11 on the 11th hole of a tournament, both his and his sisters’ birthdays are on the 11th day of their respective birth months, and his parents’ anniversary is on the 11th. In December 2022, Luke got an 11 tattoo on his ankle.

Forewent his senior season at Florida State University and officially accepted PGA TOUR membership via PGA TOUR University Accelerated after the 2025 NCAA Championship. Followed Gordon Sargent as the second player to earn PGA TOUR membership via PGA TOUR University Accelerated. Officially reached the 20-point threshold for TOUR membership with a made cut at the 2025 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches (February 28) during his junior season at Florida State.

Clanton’s 20 points in PGA TOUR University Accelerated came from a combination of performance in PGA TOUR events in 2024 and 2025 (14 points), along with being the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (five points for reaching No. 1 in August 2024, and an additional point for 26-plus weeks at No. 1 in February 2025).

Followed his PGA TOUR debut at the 2024 U.S. Open with back-to-back top-10s at the 2024 Rocket Classic (T10) and 2024 John Deere Classic (T2), becoming the first amateur to post back-to-back top-10s on TOUR since 1958. After a solo-fifth finish at the 2024 Wyndham Championship, Clanton followed Jack Nicklaus as the second amateur with three top-10s in a PGA TOUR season since 1961.

Earned the 2024 Mark H. McCormack Medal, given to the top male in the World Amateur Golf Ranking following the U.S. Amateur or European Amateur (whichever finishes last). Secured exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Open and 2025 Open Championship, though Clanton forfeited both exemptions upon turning professional after the 2025 NCAA Championship.

Played three seasons at Florida State University (2022-25), where he earned eight collegiate victories, tying the career wins school record previously established by Nolan Henke (1983-87) and John Pak (2017-21), in addition to garnering two All-America First Team selections (2024, 2025).

Garnered a 2024 All-America First Team honor following his sophomore season at Florida State, which saw him set a school record for single-season scoring average (69.33). Also named a 2025 All-America First Team selection after a junior season which saw him post a 69.50 scoring average. Followed Daniel Breger (69.79 in 2012-13) and Pak (three consecutive seasons from 2018-21) as the third player in school history to post a sub-70 single-season scoring average.

Recipient of the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award in 2022. The award recognizes achievements of junior golfers who distinguish themselves with a high level of junior tournament play, excellence in academics, and commitment to community service. Previous winners include Jordan Spieth (2010), Justin Thomas (2011), Wyndham Clark (2012), Scottie Scheffler (2014), Sam Burns (2015), and Akshay Bhatia (2019).

Made deep runs into match play at the 2021 and 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur Championships. Clanton notably defeated Gordon Sargent (6 and 5) in the 2021 quarterfinals, contested at The Country Club of North Carolina. A year later at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, fell to future multi-time PGA TOUR winner Nick Dunlap in the quarterfinals, with the match going 19 holes.

Prepped at American Heritage School, where he won individual Class 2A state championships in 2018, 2020, and 2021. Clanton became the second boys golfer in history to win three individual state titles.

Won the 2015 U.S. Kids World Junior Golf Championship (Boys 11 division) at Talamore Golf Resort in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Nick Dunlap finished solo fourth.