Jackson Koivun is going pro. The world’s top amateur golfer announced Friday that he is foregoing his senior year at Auburn and will join the PGA Tour following next week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.
“I finally hit that mental acceptance that I’m ready to go and play on the big tour,” Koivun told Sports Illustrated. “It feels like the right time. I’m ready to get out there and compete against the big boys.”
Koivun will make his professional debut at the John Deere Classic on July 2-5. He will debut his Malbon partnership at the U.S. Open next week.
The resume he’s leaving behind is historic. His 11 wins rank first in Auburn program history, tied for first in SEC history, and tied for seventh in NCAA history. Data Golf ranked his college career as the best since it began tracking stats in 2010. He became the first men’s golfer to twice sweep the sport’s three major national player of the year awards — the Haskins, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus awards. He also posted three top-10 finishes in seven PGA Tour starts as an amateur.
This spring alone, Koivun won six of Auburn’s eight tournaments. At the Amer Ari Invitational, he shot 62-62 to break the NCAA 36-hole scoring record previously held by Tiger Woods.
Through the PGA Tour Accelerated program, Koivun has already earned full PGA Tour membership through the end of 2027. His card is secure before he even tees it up as a pro.
On the apparel side, Malbon landed him after a considerable bidding war for his services. “It was ambitious of us to sign Jackson, considering all the options and opportunities he has,” said Stephen Malbon, who co-founded Malbon with his wife Erica in 2017. “He’s definitely not the cookie-cutter human or professional golfer. It couldn’t be a better fit.”
Jason Day, Charley Hull, Freddie Couples, Sungjae Im and Anthony Kim are among Malbon’s notable professional players. They’ve also collaborated with Jimmy Choo, rappers ScHoolboy Q and Chief Keef, graffiti artist Futura, and the New York Knicks. Adding Koivun gives them the most hyped young prospect in the game.
Koivun fits the brand’s identity. “It’s something different than what everyone else is wearing, and I like that aspect of it,” Koivun said. “I’m wearing Malbon everywhere I go now. Their off-the-course stuff is great.”
He is also expected to sign deals with Titleist and FootJoy, among others. He reported an NIL valuation of more than $2 million coming out of college.
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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. He will need to move fast to accumulate enough FedEx Cup points to reach the playoffs in August.
“From bringing home a pair of national championships to the late nights and early mornings grinding at the facility and competing alongside guys I’ll call brothers for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Koivun said.
The PGA Tour knows what it’s getting.
