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Luke Clanton says what Rory McIlroy has done for him is ‘really cool’

Originally posted on HITC | By James Shearman | Last updated Feb 26, 2026 8:47 AM ET

Luke Clanton discussed his experiences with Rory McIlroy in his press conference before the Cognizant Classic.

The former world number one amateur golfer turned professional last June and made his pro debut at the Canadian Open.

Clanton has enjoyed a strong start to his golfing career, making the cut at his first major championship (2024 US Open) and finishing runner-up at a PGA Tour event (2024 John Deere Classic).

He was even invited to play in the Golf Channel Games with McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler last December.

Clanton has now shared what McIlroy has previously done for him, which he finds “really cool.”

Luke Clanton appreciates Rory McIlroy’s support

Clanton was asked to name which players have helped him the most since joining the PGA Tour.

“Yeah, Camilo Villegas is one of the big guys, who’s a massive help,” said the 22-year-old. “He’s a great dude.”

Villegas, a five-time Tour winner, is twice Clanton’s age, so he must have plenty of wisdom to share with the next generation of golfers.

However, there may not be anyone better to learn from on the circuit right now than Grand Slam champion McIlroy.

Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images

In addition to learning through watching him up close, Clanton revealed that McIlroy has actually given him tips before.

“Obviously, I can talk about Scottie and Rory and playing with Rory and watching him play and the tips he gives me,” he added. “It’s really cool to see that.

“Obviously, I watched Rory hit his 5-wood here in 2014 to that right pin. I was, I think, 10 years old. To be back here playing now, it’s pretty cool.”

Luke Clanton loved Golf Channel Games with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler

Clanton had the opportunity to spend time with the top two players in the world, Scheffler and McIlroy, at the recent Golf Channel Games.

Clanton played alongside Scheffler, Keegan Bradley, and Sam Burns in a series of entertaining games, such as the fourteen-club challenge.

“Yeah, the Optum Games were awesome,” he reflected. “The first event we did was the long drive, and I remember they told me I was going last, and I had to wait 30 minutes and watch them all hit drivers. Rory was hitting high draws 330. It was really cool to watch.

“But again, something that we all look forward to is that kind of moment, the pressure of it, and the feeling that you can do something really cool.

“I think those Golf Channel Games were a pretty cool way to showcase a little bit more talent and obviously a lot of fun, like the one-hole challenge and the speed golf. That stuff is a lot of fun. So it was cool to do that for the younger generation.”

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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