Jackson Koivun wins 3M Open for first PGA Tour victory

Jackson Koivun wins 3M Open for first PGA Tour victory

Barely a month after turning professional, Jackson Koivun secured his first PGA Tour victory on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at the 3M Open. The 21-year-old former Auburn star fended off a late surge from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, finishing with a final-round five-under 66 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn.

Koivun closed the tournament with a four-day score of 25-under 259, winning by three strokes. His victory was set up on Saturday, when he carded a 10-under 61 in the third round. That performance included a record eight-under 28 on the back nine, which allowed him to enter the final day with a three-shot lead over Ben Kohles and Emiliano Grillo.

The final round became a test of nerves as Scheffler, who began Sunday tied for ninth place and six shots behind Koivun, surged with an 8-under 63. Scheffler recorded eight birdies, including a steady start of 3 under through eight holes, three consecutive birdies on Nos. 10-12, and final birdies on No. 16 and No. 18.

"I played a great round of golf today, definitely had some nerves coming down 18," Koivun told CBS. "All throughout the crowd I kept hearing ‘Scottie’s coming, Scottie’s coming,’ and I just tried to tune that out and keep playing the golf I knew I could and was able to find some good putts down the stretch."

Jackson Koivun, golfer, via CBS

Despite the pressure, Koivun found five birdies of his own and sealed the win with a two-putt birdie on No. 16 to extend his lead to three. Scheffler settled for second place, his fifth runner-up finish of the year. Scheffler and Cameron Young in 2022 are the only golfers in the last 40 years on the PGA TOUR to have at least five runner-up finishes in a single season. Scheffler's only victory this year came at the season's first event, The American Express.

Scheffler noted that while his front nine on Sunday was not low enough to apply early pressure, the week was statistically strong. He gained nearly six shots to the field with his putter and was +4.6 in Strokes Gained: Approach. He admitted that a poor back nine on Friday and front nine on Saturday had slowed his overall charge.

Further down the leaderboard, Hideki Matsuyama, Denny McCarthy, Brian Harman, and Chandler Phillips finished in a four-way tie for third at 20-under 264. Emiliano Grillo, who was tied for fifth at 17-under through six holes of the final round, had spent the week balancing competition with the birth of his second child, Benito, on July 6, 2026.

Koivun's rapid ascent to the winner's circle follows a historic collegiate career. As the top-ranked amateur in the 2023 class, he became the first college player to win the Phil Mickelson, Haskins, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus awards in a single freshman season. He repeated as the winner of the Hogan, Nicklaus, and Haskins awards this year, helping Auburn secure its second NCAA team title in three years in June.

Koivun officially turned pro on June 22, following the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where he finished tied for 23rd with a five-over 285. The 3M Open was his third start as a professional and his 13th overall on the PGA Tour. In his first 12 tournament appearances, he reached the top 25 six times and the top six three times.

Scheffler, who said he had not yet spoken with Koivun in person, expressed anticipation for future matchups against the young winner as the tour moves toward the FedExCup Playoffs.