Jackson Koivun, 21, has won his first PGA Tour event, the 3M Open, holding off world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota. Koivun's victory comes just 24 days after he officially turned professional.
Koivun finished the tournament at 25-under-par, securing a three-stroke lead over Scheffler. His final round performance saw him shoot 5-under, solidifying his position despite Scheffler's strong charge on the back nine.
Record-Setting Performance
Koivun's path to victory was significantly boosted by a remarkable third round. On Saturday, he shot a 10-under 61, reaching 20-under for the tournament. This round set a new tournament record, with his 28 on the back nine being the best score ever recorded for those holes.
During Sunday's final round, Koivun maintained his focus, moving 3-under through his first six holes. He added two more birdies on the back nine and completed the round without a bogey to clinch the win.
Scheffler, who was trying to close the gap, made a strong effort with an 8-under final round. He birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine and added two more birdies in his final three holes. However, Koivun responded by playing par on his final two holes, including a crucial par on the 18th, to seal his victory.
"All throughout the crowd, I kept hearing, ‘Scottie’s coming, Scottie’s coming,’" Koivun said after the tournament. "I just tried to tone that out and keep playing the golf I knew I could."
Koivun, who was previously the top amateur in the world, earned $1.584 million for his win, his first on the PGA Tour. He described his relationship with golf as "love at first sight."