Luke Clanton called Scottie Scheffler one of his idols and credits him for a lot of his recent PGA Tour success.
—
LukeClantoncanvividlydescribeoneofthefirstmomentshemetScottieScheffler.
Itwasatthe2024U.S.OpenatPinehurstNo.2inNorthCarolina.ClantonadvancedviaqualifyingtohisfirstU.S.Open,andhegottoplaywithSchefflerduringaTuesdaypracticeround.Clantonandhiscaddiearrivedtotheteeabout20minutesearly,andnotalotofpeoplewerearound.
“Weweresonervoustoplaywithhim,”ClantonrecalledWednesdayatapre-tournamentpressconferenceaheadofthe2025WMPhoenixOpen.
Andthenhearrived,Scheffler’sauramarkinghispresenceaheadoftheyear’sthirdmajor.
“Helookedlikeavideogamecharactertome,honestly,”Clantonsaid.“Andtoseethousandsofpeoplestartliningupthefairway…hewaslike,‘oh,youcangofirst.’Isaid,‘allright.’Iputdownthetee,andIjustwhackeditashardasIcouldjusttogetitdownthere.”
Clantonhasgrownaccustomedtolargecrowdsofhisowninrecentmonths,becomingoneofthebeststoriesingolf
