Auburn Golfer Wins PGA Tour in 3rd Pro Start at 3M Open

Five weeks ago, Jackson Koivun was celebrating an NCAA championship with his Auburn teammates. This weekend, he walked off the 18th green at the TPC Twin Cities as a PGA Tour winner.

The 21-year-old from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, won the 3M Open on Sunday with a stunning 25-under par performance. He becomes only the second-fastest golfer ever to win on the PGA Tour after turning professional.

Koivun held a three-shot lead heading into Sunday's final round. The pressure intensified when Scottie Scheffler, the world's top-ranked player, shot an 8-under 63 to close the gap to just three strokes.

"I definitely had some nerves down 18, but I was able to find some big putts down the stretch," Koivun said after sinking a 15-foot par putt and celebrating with a fist pump. He went 42 holes without a single bogey to close the tournament.

The young golfer carried a familiar touch of home with him throughout the competition. His trusty "WDE" (War Damn Eagle) yardage notebook stayed in his back pocket all four rounds, a tribute to his Auburn roots.

Koivun's college career was nothing short of extraordinary. He became the first SEC golfer in 60 years to win three consecutive individual conference championships and helped Auburn capture two NCAA titles in three years.

His transition to professional golf happened earlier than most. Koivun earned his PGA Tour membership after his sophomore year through exceptional college performance, racking up more than twice the required points in the Tour's accelerated program.

Why This Inspires

Koivun's journey shows how quickly excellence can translate across levels when paired with the right mindset. His coach, Nick Clinard, credits his mental game as much as his technical skill.

"He wants to be the best player in the world and this is a step in that direction," Clinard said. "His mindset and mentality will continue to set him apart from other players."

The victory caps a remarkable summer for the young golfer. He finished 23rd at the U.S. Open last month as an amateur, tying for low amateur honors before officially turning pro.

After making the final putt, Koivun reflected on staying calm under pressure. "I think I did a really good job this week staying levelheaded," he said.

Now a PGA Tour winner before his 22nd birthday, Koivun's dream of becoming the world's best player doesn't seem far-fetched at all.