Jackson Koivun held off a late charge from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to claim his first PGA Tour title in only his third start as a professional, winning the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities by three strokes.
The 21-year-old closed with a five-under 66 on Sunday to finish 25 under par, setting the tournament scoring record. Scheffler birdied and eagled his way to an eight-under 63, posting 22 under in the clubhouse, but Koivun’s steady final round — including a par on the 18th to seal victory — proved enough.
Koivun had built momentum with a sensational, bogey-free 10-under 61 in Saturday’s third round, a day that featured two eagles and four birdies on an eight-under back nine and left him three clear of Emiliano Grillo and Ben Kohles going into the final 18.
A recent convert to the professional ranks, Koivun had made 10 PGA Tour starts as an amateur before turning pro after the U.S. Open in June. He missed the cut in his pro debut at the John Deere Classic but followed that with a tie for 10th at the Isco Championship, then arrived in Minnesota and put together a week of remarkably consistent scoring.
Across the tournament he carded 24 birdies, two eagles (both on Saturday) and just three bogeys, all coming in his second round. The performance also gave him a major FedExCup boost, jumping him 124 places to 70th — the final playoff spot — with two regular-season events remaining.
Reflecting on his win, Koivun said he felt the nerves on the closing holes but managed to stay focused. “I definitely had some nerves coming down 18,” he said. “I heard the crowd saying, ‘Scottie’s coming, Scottie’s coming,’ but I just tried to blank that out and play the golf I knew I could. I was able to find some good putts down the stretch. I love this game, it’s everything I do. It was love at first sight and I just want to say thanks to my parents for getting me into this and supporting me on my entire journey.”
Sky Sports commentator Simon Holmes praised Koivun’s all-around game and presence, saying the youngster is “turbocharged and ready to perform immediately.” Holmes compared him favorably to recent collegiate stars such as Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland and highlighted Koivun’s combination of driving, iron control, short-game creativity and confident putting. “He is a [Harry] Houdini with the chipper,” Holmes added, predicting Koivun’s rise up the game’s ranks.
Koivun’s breakthrough in Minnesota underlines a rapid rise and suggests a bright future on the PGA Tour as he settles into life as a professional.