After PGA Tour success, Jackson Koivun returns for Auburn encore

AUBURN, Ala. – As summer jobs go, Jackson Koivun’s made up for with celebration what it lacked in compensation.

Competing as an amateur on the PGA Tour rendered Koivun ineligible to claim more than a million dollars in prize money the Auburn junior would have earned as a professional so far in 2025.   

For Koivun, that’s a small price to pay for another year on the Plains.

“It was a no-brainer for me,” said Koivun of his decision to return to Auburn for his junior season despite already securing his PGA Tour card. “I love Auburn and I’m happy to be here. I wasn’t ready to turn pro after my sophomore year. It made so much sense for me to stay.”

Gaining PGA Tour experience this summer while getting to play another season at Auburn represents the best of both worlds, he says.

“A hundred percent,” Koivun said. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I’m very happy to play in these PGA Tour events but I’m still a college golfer and looking forward to starting up this college season.

“It’s definitely tough out there. It’s just a different lifestyle. Auburn’s so great. Teammates are so great. You get out there, it’s definitely a lot self-centered. It’s a complete 180 from college golf. That’s something that kept me coming back.”

When Koivun finished tied for fourth in mid-September at the Procore Championship in California, he became the first amateur with three consecutive top-10 PGA Tour finishes since hall of famer Ken Venturi in 1956.

“It gives me confidence that I can go out there and do it,” Koivun said. “There have been so many good amateurs to play on the PGA Tour and eventually turn pro and be successful. To put my name up there into that category is truly special.”

The previous week, Koivun helped the United States win the 50^th Walker Cup, earning three of Team USA’s 17 points at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California.

“That might have been one of the best experiences of my life,” he said. “Getting back to California, getting with a lot of friends who were on the U.S. team and being able to get a win. That was unbelievable. There were so many family and friends out there to support me and my teammates. Cypress Point is truly one of the best golf courses in the world. To do it at a place like that, I can’t put it into words.”

A gallery favorite, especially among young fans at PGA Tour events, Koivun autographed a dollar bill, a keychain and a bag of a potato chips during the Wyndham Championship in his home state of North Carolina.

“It’s really cool to be able to potentially inspire people,” said Koivun, who won the McCormack Medal in August as the world’s No. 1 amateur. “I do my best to keep my head down, not do anything flashy. Just get to work and keep getting better and inspire people through my golf game.”

Koivun’s precision putting often separates him from the rest of the field, a product of preparation and providence.

“I’d say a combination,” Koivun said of his prowess on the green. “You need to have a great mental game to be able to putt well. It’s easy to get in your head over the putts. There are feels people are gifted with, and fortunately I was gifted with a couple of them. There are a couple things I wish I did a little better, but it definitely comes down to practice. Putting in hours and hours on the putting green. Understanding how putting works and getting the ball in the hole.”

Even without the seven-figure PGA Tour payday, Koivun still monetizes his golf mastery, thanks to the NCAA’s 2021 policy change that allows student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness.

“NIL’s great,” he said. “It’s benefited me and a lot of my peers in a very positive way. It’s not just about the money, it’s about growing relationships with brands for when you turn pro. They can see you’re loyal to them and they might value you a little more as one of their sponsors.”

Not being concerned with prize money allows Koivun to do what he does best: aim for the top of the leaderboard.

“I want to go out there and win,” he said. “That’s my mindset. Coach (Nick) Clinard talks about all the time, we play for trophies, and the other stuff comes after that. If you go out there playing to win, you’re going to have a lot better shot than worrying about a check.”

In his groundbreaking freshman season, Jackson Koivun led Auburn to the 2024 NCAA championship. In 2025, he showed he belongs on the PGA Tour, a circuit he will soon call home. But first, there’s the 2026 college season, a chance to take the Tigers back to the top.

“I know our whole team wants to win again,” Koivun said. “Only three of us felt it my freshman year and we’ve got some newbies on the team. If we can play like I know we can, we can definitely get it done.”