Status update: Koivun is -15 through 54 holes, solo 2nd and just one shot behind Ben Griffin. He will play in the final group on Sunday at Silverado.
Just a week removed from delivering three points for Team USA at the Walker Cup, Jackson Koivun has carried that momentum straight into the PGA TOUR. After rounds of 67-66-68, the 20-year-old Auburn standout sits at -15, one stroke off the lead at the Procore Championship. With his place in the final Sunday pairing, the world’s No. 1 amateur is giving fans another glimpse of his professional potential. Here are five things to know as his name trends this weekend.
1) He’s bringing Walker Cup form to the PGA TOUR
Koivun anchored the U.S. Walker Cup victory at Cypress Point with a team-high three points, including opening-match singles wins both days. That confidence has translated to Silverado, where his precision iron play and steady putting have kept him in contention every round. He’s shown no signs of fatigue despite the quick turnaround from Pebble Beach to Napa.
2) He’s already proven on PGA TOUR leaderboards
This week isn’t an outlier. Koivun has already logged strong results in PGA TOUR events, highlighted by a T5 at the Wyndham Championship. Silverado marks his ninth TOUR start, and with three top-15 finishes in 2025 alone, his comfort against the pros is becoming increasingly obvious.
3) A historic college résumé at Auburn
At Auburn, Koivun became the first player ever to sweep the Haskins, Hogan, Nicklaus, and Mickelson Awards in a single season. He also led the Tigers to the 2024 NCAA team championship. Now a junior, he has returned to school despite his PGA TOUR status, balancing team golf with selective professional opportunities.
4) PGA TOUR card secured — patience by design
Thanks to the PGA TOUR University Accelerated program, Koivun already has his PGA TOUR card locked up. He earned the necessary 20 points by finishing T4 in stroke play at the NCAA Championship. Still, he has chosen to defer turning professional, a move that shows both maturity and commitment to Auburn.
5) McCormack Medalist with major exemptions ahead
As the 2025 McCormack Medal winner, Koivun holds exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Open and 2026 Open Championship if he remains amateur. With major championship starts already secured and PGA TOUR membership waiting, his path to the game’s biggest stages is already paved.
