Golf NIL Valuation Rankings: Week 5 Movement
- Golf NIL
- Jan 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 23
January 29, 2025
Money Moves
Florida State’s Luke Clanton is holding strong at No. 2 in the Golf NIL Men’s College rankings, while Auburn’s Jackson Koivun has reclaimed the No. 3 spot after a brief drop to No. 4.
Both players are now on the PGA TOUR card watchlist, sitting at 18 Accelerated points, just two shy of the crucial 20-point threshold.
A few things make this a massive win from an NIL perspective.
Clanton and Koivun are guaranteed to stay in the headlines. Rules require that they earn these points before the end of their junior year. While Koivun, a sophomore, has plenty of time, there's no way the TOUR will allow Clanton, a junior, to perform as he has over the last several months without giving him the at-bats needed to secure his card.
With that, the sponsor exemptions will keep coming. There is a tremendous upside for any sponsor that extends an invitation to these players. Their mere participation comes with built-in storylines and the potential to make history. The kind of attention and fanfare surrounding an amateur (or two) earning their TOUR card is exactly the kind of publicity and buzz these sponsors are looking for.
Finally, both are making a name for themselves, which puts them in a stronger position once they're ready to turn pro. They know that moment is coming—and so do brands. Because of this, they can maximize their opportunities as amateurs while strategically planning their next moves with future sponsors.
Benjamin's Kai Trump continues to dominate in the social media arena. Surpassing five million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and X, Trump moves ahead of North Carolina A&T's J.R. Smith, now owning the No. 2 spot in the Golf NIL Top 10 rankings.
Major Moves
Some of this week's biggest moves come from the athletes selected for the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team. Golf NIL-ranked athletes, including Michael Riebe (Cathedral Catholic), Will Hartman (Charlotte Catholic), Henry Guan (Laurel Springs), Ronin Banerjee (Santa Margarita Catholic), Phillip Dunham (Florida Virtual), Anna Fang (Del Norte), Ryleigh Knaub (Lake Mary), and Emerie Schwartz (Andover) are among the names on the 22-player roster.
Along with the announcement, the Golf Channel has been airing "The Future Is Now," a documentary on the program's 2024 inaugural squad, bringing even more attention to the athletes. The popular three-part series, also available on the USGA’s YouTube channel, has averaged over a million views per episode since its release in December.
Kieron van Wyk joins the Golf NIL Watchlist after an impressive playoff victory against the pros at the APGA Farmers. The only college player in the 18-person field, van Wyk made history by becoming the first amateur to win the Torrey Pines event. While the College of Charleston senior couldn’t cash in on the $30,000 first place prize, he did gain major exposure from the Golf Channel’s live Sunday broadcast, the PGA TOUR’s socials, and other major golf outlets.
