Luke Clanton reveals unorthodox prep before first start as PGA Tour member

Luke Clanton told reporters he meditated in the shower to prepare for his first competitive round as a PGA Tour member alongside Rory McIlroy. 

Clanton, 21, was a top-ranked amateur before he turned pro this week ahead of the RBC Canadian Open. 

He already has several notable achievements under his belt and is being billed as a future star.

In 2024, Clanton became the first amateur since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 to record three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in a year. 

He earned his PGA Tour membership in February via the accelerated pathway and believes he can compete for major titles in the future. 

In round one at TPC Toronto, Clanton went round in level par 70. 

Clanton was put in the featured group alongside McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg. 

"Being paired with Rory is no joke," he said. "The crowds are amazing. Watching him hit drivers and iron shots, it's cool. 

"I watched him growing up my whole life, so I guess you could say he's like the Tiger Woods of my life, and it's really cool."

Clanton said he told his caddie he felt okay on the range and in the short game area.

Even walking up to the first tee and shaking McIlroy's hand he 'felt fine'. 

It was a different story when he prepared to hit his first tee shot, though.

"Once I took that club back, I couldn't feel it," he said. "So it was a new experience for sure."

Clanton was asked by one reporter how he prepared for the moment. 

He grabbed a coffee and a bagel but had spent the morning meditating in the shower with the bathroom lights switched off. 

"I can't believe that's getting out," Clanton said. "But yeah, I did."

So where did that come from?

"I've kind of struggled with kind of settling into the moment a lot," he said. 

"I guess about seven months ago I was like, you know what, I'm just going to turn off all the lights and kind of get into the zone. 

"It's been working, so I think I'm going to keep doing it."

Clanton dodges LIV Golf question

Clanton delivered an emotional speech in his news conference on Tuesday. 

The golfer thanked his friends, family, coaches and the big man upstairs for helping him to get to the Tour.

Given his talent, one reporter asked Clanton if he was approached by the rival LIV Golf League over a deal. 

Earlier in the week, the PIF-backed breakaway snapped up one of Clanton's former rivals in the amateur ranks. 

Josele Ballester has joined Sergio Garcia's quartet.  

Clanton said: "I want to play the PGA Tour, pretty simple. I want to play against the best, I want to compete in majors, and that's it. Simple.

"My only goal is to stay process oriented as much as I can. You can look very far into the future and say I want to win majors and PGA tournaments.

"Obviously, everyone wants to do that. To me, it's staying connected to my team, staying connected to my family, and staying connected to the process as much as I can.

"It's a very generic answer as everyone says, but it's something true."