Fresh Class, Big Stage: Clanton, Sargent and Ford Debut as PGA TOUR Members at RBC Canadian
PGA TOUR University delivers on promise as next wave of collegiate stars tee off in Canada
Paju, Korea - The PGA TOUR’s youth movement gets an official boost this week as three of college golf’s brightest stars—Luke Clanton, Gordon Sargent and David Ford—make their professional debuts as full PGA TOUR members at the RBC Canadian Open, held for the first time at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley’s North Course.
Clanton and Sargent earned their status via PGA TOUR University Accelerated, a fast-track pathway for exceptional underclassmen. Ford, meanwhile, topped the 2025 PGA TOUR University Ranking, capping off a remarkable senior season at North Carolina.
“This is the most competitive tour in the world, and we’re proud to officially welcome three phenomenal talents,” said Commissioner Jay Monahan. “They are proof that the PGA TOUR University pipeline is working exactly as intended.”
Clanton, 21, arrives from Florida State with a glittering résumé: seven collegiate titles, the 2025 Ben Hogan Award, and a world amateur No. 1 ranking. He’s no stranger to pro leaderboards either, finishing runner-up at both the 2024 John Deere Classic and RSM Classic as an amateur.
Sargent, 22, a Vanderbilt standout, made history by winning the NCAA individual title as a freshman in 2022. He was low amateur at the 2023 U.S. Open, earned the McCormack Medal, and after securing his TOUR card in 2023, opted for one more collegiate season before stepping up.
Ford, 22, dominated college golf in 2024-25, winning five titles and every major player-of-the-year award available. His win at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational earned him a sponsor exemption to the Charles Schwab Challenge, but this week marks his official start as a TOUR member.
The class of 2025 joins an increasingly influential group of PGA TOUR University alumni—17 in total this season, nine of whom rank in the FedExCup top 100. With past No. 1s like Ludvig Åberg and Michael Thorbjornsen making waves, the bar is high—but this new trio seems more than ready.
As the Canadian crowd assembles and the North Course awaits, the message is clear: the future of professional golf has officially arrived.