Jackson Koivun secured his first PGA Tour victory at the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota, on Sunday, finishing three strokes ahead of world number one Scottie Scheffler. In only his third start as a professional, Koivun posted a final round 5-under 66 to set a tournament record with a combined 25-under-par 259, surpassing the previous record of 24-under 260 set by Lee Hodges in 2023.
The 21-year-old, who recently led Auburn University to the NCAA team championship and holds the NCAA career record for per-round stroke average, played a consistent and strategic game throughout the event. Koivun remained bogey-free for the second consecutive day, including a key par-saving putt on the ninth hole that helped maintain his lead. He entered the final round with a three-shot advantage following a third-round 61, which bolstered his position despite the challenging 97-degree weather conditions reported during portions of the tournament.
Scottie Scheffler, playing five groups ahead, posted a 63 in the final round to climb into contention but fell short of overtaking Koivun. Scheffler’s performance marked his fifth runner-up finish of the season, alongside his sole victory at The American Express in California earlier this year. Despite missing a crucial birdie putt on the 14th hole, Scheffler commended Koivun’s composure and mental resilience, emphasizing the level of preparation seen among emerging college players transitioning into the professional ranks.
Koivun, who hails from San Jose, California, and later moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, attributed his success to mental focus and strategic play rather than sheer talent, citing the importance of belief and tactical thinking under pressure. After celebrating on the course with his father, George, Koivun connected via FaceTime with his mother, Meghan, who was unable to attend the event.
This victory earned Koivun a prize of $1,584,000 and propelled him 124 spots up the FedEx Cup standings to 70th place, securing his position inside the playoff cutoff with two regular-season events remaining. Prior to this win, Koivun missed the cut at the John Deere Classic and finished tied for 10th at the ISCO Championship earlier in the month, having competed in 10 professional tour events as an amateur.
Other notable performers at the 3M Open included Hideki Matsuyama, Brian Harman, Chandler Phillips, and Denny McCarthy, who tied for third place at 20 under par. The tournament highlighted the growing impact of young players transitioning from collegiate golf to the professional circuit this season.