Golf fans have waited for this moment ever since Jackson Koivun turned professional, and now, finally, the wait is over. Indeed, just 24 days after leaving the amateur ranks behind, the 21-year-old claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory at the 3M Open, and he didn't just win, he dominated. Consequently, when Jackson Koivun wins 3M Open by three shots over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, he also shattered the tournament's 72-hole scoring record with a staggering 25-under 259.
Furthermore, this win didn't come out of nowhere. Rather, it capped off one of the most hyped runs in recent college golf history, and it confirmed what scouts had been saying for years: Koivun was built for exactly this stage.
How the Final Round Unfolded
Koivun entered Sunday in a commanding position, thanks in large part to a scorching 61 on Saturday. From there, he opened the final round 3 under through his first six holes, and he subsequently steadied himself across the back nine with key birdies on Nos. 12 and 16.
However, the round wasn't entirely stress-free. On the 18th hole, he mishit his drive and appeared to take a divot, which forced him to scramble for par. Despite that hiccup, he calmly rolled in a 13 foot putt to close things out, and he allowed himself a small fist pump once the win was confirmed.
As he later put it, the nerves on 18 were real, but he understood exactly what he needed to do to seal the win.
Jackson Koivun Wins 3M Open: Final Leaderboard
Notably, Scheffler's runner up finish marked his fifth of the season, while Harman and Matsuyama, both major champions in their own right, rounded out a stacked top five.
A College Career That Signaled What Was Coming
To fully appreciate why Jackson Koivun wins 3M Open now feels inevitable, it helps to look back at his time at Auburn. During his college career, he racked up 42 points in PGA Tour University Accelerated, more than double the 20 point threshold required to earn a Tour card. Interestingly, he actually crossed that threshold back in 2025, yet he chose to return for his junior season anyway, ultimately adding 22 more points to his total.
Additionally, Koivun spent 56 weeks at No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the third longest streak in the ranking's history. On top of that, he won 11 times at Auburn, a school record, and this spring, he became the first golfer ever to win all three major national player of the year awards (the Haskins, the Hogan, and the Nicklaus) twice.
What Scottie Scheffler Had to Say
Even in defeat, Scottie Scheffler offered high praise for the new wave of talent entering the Tour. According to Scheffler, today's college players arrive far more prepared than previous generations did, and that added confidence, he suggested, comes from watching peers succeed at the highest level.
He also noted that the influx of talent from college golf and PGA Tour U benefits the sport as a whole.
What's Next for Jackson Koivun
Thanks to the win, Koivun now moves up to No. 70 in the FedExCup standings, a meaningful jump as the Playoffs approach. Looking ahead, he's set to tee it up next week at the Rocket Classic, followed by the Wyndham Championship in his home state of North Carolina.
As for celebrations, he kept things low key, hinting only that he and his team would figure out something to mark the occasion.
The Bigger Picture
Ultimately, the moment Jackson Koivun wins 3M Open feels less like a surprise and more like a confirmation. After all, between his amateur dominance, his rapid rise, and now his first Tour win, the signs have been pointing in this direction for a while. Therefore, if this win is any indication, PGA Tour fans should expect plenty more Sundays like this one in the years ahead.
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