Jackson Koivun's Big Win at the 3M Open: 5 Things to Know about the PGA Tour Rookie
Jackson Koivun reaffirmed his status as one of golf's brightest young stars by winning the 2026 3M Open in just his third start as a professional. The rookie carded a final round 5-under 66 to set a tournament-record 25-under 259, defeating world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by three shots.
Koivun played bogey-free over the weekend, shot an impressive third-round 61, and showcased his calm and poised demeanor while Scheffler made a charge on Sunday. The victory made Koivun the fourth PGA Tour rookie to win this season. Along with the winner's check of $1.58 million, he vaulted 124 spots in the FedEx Cup standings to 70th, moving inside the playoff cut line before the final two regular-season events.
Here's what you need to know about the first-time PGA Tour winner.
Started Playing Golf on a Public 9-Hole Course
Unlike many professional golfers who grew up in golfing families, Koivun carved his own path into the sport. Stars such as Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and LPGA major champion Brooke Henderson all benefited from having fathers who were club pros or all-around athletes, but Koivun's introduction came on the public nine-hole par-3 course at Santa Teresa Golf Club in San Jose, California. He later honed his game at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club under assistant professional Fred Garcia, proving that elite talent can emerge without deep family ties to the game.
Competed in PGA Tour Events as an Amateur
Although the 3M Open was just Koivun's third start as a professional, he had already gained valuable experience competing against the world's best as an amateur. He made 10 PGA Tour starts before turning pro, beginning with a tie for 52nd at the 2024 Memorial Tournament. In 2025, Koivun made the cut in six of his seven PGA Tour appearances, including three consecutive top-10 finishes at the ISCO Championship, Wyndham Championship, and Procore Championship.
In his final event as an amateur, Koivun finished tied for 23rd at the 2026 U.S. Open in just his second start in a major. He missed the cut at the 2025 U.S. Open.
Amateur Tournament Victories
Koivun built one of the most decorated amateur resumes in recent memory before turning professional. His rise began with junior victories, including the 2019 UHY St. Louis Junior, before breaking through nationally by shooting a final-round 3-under 69 to win the 2021 Northern California Junior Championship. He added prestigious titles such as the Jack Burke Jr. Invitational, Rolex Tournament of Champions, and Dustin Johnson World Junior before dominating the collegiate ranks at Auburn.
Koivun captured multiple NCAA titles, including at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate, Wake Forest Invitational, and Inverness Intercollegiate, while becoming just the second golfer in SEC history to win three consecutive individual conference championships. He set an SEC Championship record in 2024 with a 19-under 191, finishing seven strokes ahead of runner-up Jase Summy of Oklahoma.
Koivun's 2026 NCAA campaign was particularly remarkable, featuring victories at the Amer Ari Invitational, Gators Invitational, The Hayt, Mason Rudolph Championship, Ford Collegiate, and another SEC title in stroke play format. After leading Auburn to the NCAA National Championship in June, he won the Jack Nicklaus Award for the second time, again being named the best collegiate golf player in the country. He left Auburn with the NCAA career record for per-round stroke average (68.89), cementing his status as one of college golf's all-time greats.
Earned PGA Tour Card in 2025
Koivun earned his PGA Tour card in 2025 through the PGA Tour University Accelerated program after tying for fourth at the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship, giving him the 20th and final point needed to secure full tour status. Rather than turning professional immediately, however, the then-world No. 2 amateur chose to return to Auburn to continue developing his game.
Koivun became just the third player to earn PGA Tour membership through the Accelerated program, joining Gordon Sargent and Luke Clanton, and the youngest ever to reach the 20-point milestone, doing so just days after his 20th birthday. He accumulated his points through his outstanding amateur career and strong PGA Tour performances, including making the cut at both the Farmers Insurance Open and Arnold Palmer Invitational in early 2025.
Mentality and Maturity
It may be early in his career, but with his first professional win Koivun has already exhibited a high degree of maturity and resilience. He made what he called his biggest putt all week on the ninth hole in the final round of the 3M Open, keeping his lead at three strokes over Scheffler. He maintained composure all round while having to listen to people in the crowd shout, "Scottie's coming," and even earned praise from the world No. 1 after the round, with Scheffler commenting on his talent and mental strength.
"I feel like I've gotten a lot better over the past couple years of being able to beat guys with my mentality," Koivun said after his victory, speaking to the press. "Sometimes I watch guys hit on the range and I don't feel like I'm the most talented out there, but if I can go out there and believe and use my brain to my advantage, then that's definitely kind of like a superpower."