Jackson Koivun, at the age of 21 and with only 24 days as a professional golfer, achieved a significant milestone by winning a PGA Tour event. He secured his victory at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, surpassing world No.1 golfer Scottie Scheffler in the process.
Koivun’s final round saw him shoot a 5-under, bringing his total score to 25-under for the tournament. Despite Scheffler’s impressive 8-under final round, he finished three strokes behind. This remarkable performance by Koivun could soon make his name widely recognized in the golfing community.
On Saturday during Round 3, Koivun set the stage for his triumph by shooting a 10-under 61, setting a tournament record. His score of 28 on the back-nine was the best ever posted in those holes. Starting the final round with a strong focus, Koivun achieved 3-under in the first six holes, affirming his determination to win.
Koivun further solidified his performance with two birdies on the back-nine and completed the round without any bogeys, cementing his victory in what was his breakout tournament appearance.
Having turned professional earlier this month, Koivun earned a prize of $1.584 million, marking what he hopes is the first of many PGA Tour victories. In an interview after the event, Koivun shared his mindset during the competition. Despite the pressure and buzz about Scheffler’s progress, he focused on maintaining his game.
“All throughout the crowd, I kept hearing, ‘Scottie’s coming, Scottie’s coming,’ but I just tried to tone that out and keep playing the golf I knew I could,” Koivun stated.
Scheffler, known for climbing leaderboards, started strong with a 3-under on the front nine and continued with key birdies on the back-nine. However, Koivun remained composed, finishing the final holes with pars, and celebrated his victory with a fist pump after securing a par putt on the 18th hole.
The victory was a new experience for Koivun, a former top amateur golfer, but it aligned with his passion for the game. “I just love this game. I love golf, it’s everything I do,” Koivun explained. “It’s been love at first sight.”
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