Jackson Koivun Turns Pro After 6 Wins in 3 Months and 3M Open Victory

Jackson Koivun enters the professional ranks following a historic college season where he secured every national player of the year award for the second time.

Jackson Koivun won the 3M Open in just his third start as a professional golfer, following a historic amateur career where he secured six victories within a single three-month span. The world's top-ranked amateur officially turned pro at the John Deere Classic after concluding his amateur eligibility at the 2026 U.S. Open. During his tenure at Auburn, Koivun became the first player in college history to sweep every national player of the year award twice. He also led the top-ranked Auburn Tigers to their second national title in three years, punctuated by a performance at La Costa's North Course where he nearly holed a pitching wedge on a downhill par 3 at the 16th green.

Koivun earned his PGA Tour card in May 2025 through the PGA Tour U program but elected to remain at Auburn for an additional year to prepare for the transition. In seven career starts on the PGA Tour as an amateur, he recorded three top-10 finishes. Despite these results, the 19-year-old noted he initially felt unready for the isolation of travel and the potential for missed cuts. He eventually relocated to Jupiter, Florida, in July 2026 to join Panther National, a course designed by Justin Thomas, where he now practices alongside professionals such as Russell Henley.

Technical Development and Coaching History

Fred Garcia has served as Koivun's primary coach since the golfer was 10 years old, though their relationship began at Cinnabar Hills Golf Course when Koivun was six. Garcia, a 66-year-old golf lifer who has worked at the San Jose course for 27 years, charges a fee of $125 per hour for lessons. Even after Koivun moved from California to North Carolina four years ago, the pair continued their work via video calls and FaceTime sessions. Garcia manages a digital encyclopedia of swing videos dating back to Koivun's pre-teen years, focusing on minor tweaks like ball position rather than major mechanical overhauls.

Auburn head coach Nick Clinard and assistant head coach Chris Williams provide additional support for the young pro. Williams, a former top-ranked amateur and Ben Hogan Award winner who turned pro in 2013, has caddied for Koivun in multiple events, including the U.S. Open. Clinard has worked to moderate Koivun’s pace of play, once withholding yardage data for 30 seconds during a round to force the golfer to slow down. The coaching staff also added Josh Gregory to the team specifically to oversee short game development.

Junior Career and Early Ambitions

Koivun’s competitive drive manifested early; by age four, he was winning medals and bobbleheads in junior competitions. At age 10, he wrote a formal letter to Titleist inquiring about sponsorship opportunities for juniors, including his tournament record in the correspondence. He also wrote an essay to his parents to justify the acquisition of a new putter. His father, George, introduced him to the game as a toddler, while his mother, Meghan, spent late summer nights at the driving range watching him hit ProV1 balls—specifically the number 1 model—until dark.

In 2019, Koivun traveled to Alabama to compete in the Future Masters tournament, where he won his age division and first caught the attention of SEC coaches. Garcia accelerated Koivun's development by having him compete against older players at Cinnabar Hills by age 13. This exposure to tougher competition prepared him for AJGA events and his eventual collegiate success.

Transition to the PGA Tour

As a professional, Koivun now navigates a lifestyle that includes paying taxes and managing his own practice structures. He has taken up fishing as a hobby to decompress, though his mother observes that he finds his primary downtime while working alone at the golf course. His current representation is handled by agent Lance Young. Koivun maintains a high level of confidence, stating, "I feel like I can beat anyone," while acknowledging the need to accept that golf is a sport where players do not win every week.

His support system remains focused on long-term stability rather than immediate financial gain. Williams, who struggled after his own professional transition in 2013 with no finish better than a T-30 in 10 starts, advised Koivun to prioritize his game over endorsement deals. The goal established by his team is for Koivun to maintain a 30-year career on the PGA Tour, aiming for multiple major championships and Ryder Cup appearances.