“PGA Tour professional is impressed by the unknown side of Rory McIlroy.”

Rory McIlroy, one of the biggest names in world golf, continues to surprise even those closest to him on the course. While he is widely known for his impressive drives, the reality of what he can do with the ball goes far beyond what television can capture. This was the revelation of Luke Clanton, a young professional on the PGA Tour, who had the chance to play alongside the Irish icon at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. Clanton was struck by McIlroy’s strength and technique, highlighting that the television broadcast does not do justice to the true magic that happens during the games.

“I remember it was maybe on Friday or Thursday at hole 18, I hit a long ball, and we both knew we were going to miss the cut. I looked at him and said, ‘Catch this!’ I shouldn’t have said anything because he teed up and the ball flew 20 yards past mine, and I was like, ‘Wow, dude,’” shared Luke Clanton in a conversation with Smylie Kaufman on The Smylie Show. He emphasized: “TV doesn’t show any of what the ball fight is. It’s incredible to see. Playing with these guys teaches you a lot. You realize you can’t just adapt to what they do; you need to adapt and improve on what you already do.”

Clanton, who is a golf prodigy and graduated from Florida State University, turned professional in 2025 and quickly secured his place on the PGA Tour through the PGA Tour University accelerated program. His amateur career was remarkable, with four top-10 finishes while playing in college in 2024, something that had not happened since Jack Nicklaus in 1961. Alongside McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg, Clanton had the opportunity to witness up close the skill of one of the greatest players in history.

However, the week was not one of McIlroy’s best, as he found his performance placing him at the bottom of the leaderboard, which is unusual for him. On the first day, he recorded three birdies and four bogeys, finishing at 1 over par. The second day was even more disastrous, with only two birdies, four bogeys, one double bogey, and one quadruple bogey. Although Clanton did not see McIlroy advance to the weekend, he was able to admire his driving skills.

On the 18th hole of the first day, Clanton made an impressive drive of 330 yards, challenging McIlroy to surpass him. The Irish icon did not disappoint, responding with a 343-yard drive. However, Clanton did not fall behind and, on the second day, he managed a 350-yard drive, proving that he also has potential. But, as he pointed out, the numbers do not capture the true essence of what McIlroy is capable of, especially regarding ball trajectory.

Trackman data shows that McIlroy has a clubhead speed between 120 and 130 mph, with a spin rate around 2,100 to 2,300 rpm. This combination of speed and high launch allows the ball to stay in the air for an impressive amount of time, resulting in drives that many analysts describe as “flying to the moon.”

Luke Clanton’s journey on the PGA Tour, despite being filled with challenges, is a story of perseverance. After a promising start to his amateur career, where he made the cut in 7 of the 8 events he played before turning professional, the transition to the professional circuit has not been as smooth. In his rookie season, he participated in 18 events, making the cut in 11, but with only two finishes inside the top 25. So far, in 2026, he is still searching for his first major performance, having failed to make the weekend in his first three appearances.

Now, Clanton is preparing to face the elite of golf at the 2026 Cognizant Classic, where he will compete against big names like Shane Lowry, Brooks Koepka, and Max Homa. He tees off at 1:11 PM, alongside Jesper Svensson and Kensei Hirata. For Clanton, life on the PGA Tour is a work in progress, filled with valuable lessons that can only be learned by facing the best. Watching McIlroy launch drives that seem to defy gravity was just one of the many lessons he will carry into his career.