College star Jackson Koivun turning pro, expected to make debut at John Deere Classic

By

Jackson Koivun, the two-time college player of the year who has already earned his PGA Tour card, will be saying goodbye to amateur golf at next week’s U.S. Open. The 21-year-old announced on Friday that hs is forgoing his senior season at Auburn University to turn professional, doing so formally after the USGA championship. It is expected that he will make his pro debut at the John Deere Classic, July 2-5.

“I’m grateful to everyone at Auburn University for giving me an incredible college experience—competing alongside my teammates, who are brothers for life, and helping bring home this program’s first two national championships, this has been a remarkable journey,” Koivun said in a release. “I’m forever grateful for the tremendous support I’ve received from teammates, coaches, support staff, fans and—most importantly, my family—and I look forward to taking the next step in my career.”

Through the PGA Tour Accelerated program, where golfers can accumulate points for their college and amateur golf success, Koivun has already earned enough to claim full PGA Tour membership through the end of 2027. His exploits as a college golfer include 11 individual victories and a 68.89 career stroke average, while leading the Tigers to team championships in 2024 and 2026. Data Golf ranked Koivun’s college career as the best since it began tracking stats in 2010. Koivun has already showed promised on the PGA Tour as well, posting three top-10s finishes in seven events as an amateur.

https://twitter.com/AuburnMGolf/status/2065418595883008231

After the Tigers won their second NCAA title in three years last week, Auburn coach Nick Clinard jokingly started a “one more year” chant, in reference to Koivun still having another year of college eligibility. But Clinard knows that Koivun is ready to move on after so many accomplishments as an amateur.

“He’s the most elite competitor and the most positive and optimistic player I’ve ever coached in 25 years,” Clinard said last month ahead of the NCAA Championship. “He expects good things to happen, he’s always talking himself up. He has internal optimism. It’s fun and joyful to coach him because of that.”

Before playing in the John Deere Classic, Koivun will be compete in one last tournament as an amateur, next week’s U.S. Open. Koivun earned a full exemption into the championship thanks to winning the Mark H. McCormack Medal last year for being the No. 1 ranked amateur in the world. However, using the exemption is contingent on Koivun still being an amateur.

Koivun has a similar full exemption to play in next month’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale that requires him being an amateur at that time, too, but he decided he didn’t want to hold off.

Given the fanfare around Koivun and his potential as a pro—he reported had an NIL valuation of more than $2 million—it’s not surprising that he has sponsors already lined up. On Friday morning, Malbon teased its new partnership with Koivun.

Koivun is also expected to sign endorsement deals with Titleist and FootJoy, among others.

Koivun doesn’t have to worry his performance over the next few weeks in order to keep his card for 2027. Still, he will have to act quickly if he hopes to earn enough FedEx Cup points to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs that begin in August. After the John Deere, there are five more PGA Tour events in which he is eligible to compete before the end of the regular season.

College golf observers are impressed with Koivun’s ball-striking ability but what stands out particularly about his game, most say, is his putting. It’s a skill that he has honed while growing up playing junior golf in California before his family moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., in high school.

“I just love putting,” Koivun told AuburnTigers.com. “I like practicing it. It’s been something I’ve been good at since I was young. It’s been one of my strong suits for a long time.”

Suffice it to say, it’s talent that can translate well to the pro ranks. But according to Clinard, so are most aspects of Koivun’s game and personality.

“He’s special,” Clinard said. “He’s elite physically, he’s elite emotionally, he’s elite mentally. He’s got the whole package.”

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com