Jackson Koivun beat Scottie Scheffler, set a 3M Open scoring record and proved Team USA would be foolish to ignore him for the Presidents Cup.
Jackson Koivun has barely unpacked his PGA Tour suitcase, and he’s already forcing his way into the Presidents Cup conversation. Three professional starts. One victory.
A tournament scoring record at the 3M Open. And, most importantly, a Sunday performance strong enough to keep Scottie Scheffler from chasing him down.
That’s not a hot streak. That’s an audition Team USA captain Brandt Snedeker can’t ignore.
Koivun, 21, isn’t close to automatically qualifying. He sits 51st in the U.S. Presidents Cup standings, far behind a top group led by Scheffler, Cameron Young, Russell Henley, Sam Burns and Ben Griffin. Unless he rockets up the board over the coming weeks, Koivun will need one of Snedeker’s six captain’s selections.
Give him one.
The safe move would be choosing another established veteran with years of PGA Tour experience and a tidy resume.
That’s also the predictable move American captains have made for years. It usually works in the Presidents Cup, where the U.S. has dominated the International Team, but the bigger goal should be building a core capable of succeeding in both team events.
Koivun could become part of that core immediately.
His victory in Minnesota wasn’t some lucky Sunday sprint. He played the final 36 holes without a bogey, established a new 3M Open scoring mark and held off Scheffler, the top-ranked player in the world.
Scheffler praised Koivun’s talent and mental toughness afterward, and that endorsement carries more weight than another comfortable top-20 finish from a veteran.
There’s precedent for gambling on young talent. Fred Couples selected 20-year-old Jordan Spieth for the 2013 Presidents Cup despite leaving proven winner Jim Furyk at home.
A decade later, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald selected Ludvig Åberg shortly after he turned professional. Åberg rewarded that faith and quickly became a cornerstone for Europe.
Koivun offers Snedeker the same kind of opportunity.
Nobody knows whether Koivun will become another Spieth or Åberg. That’s not the point. Captain’s picks aren’t supposed to be lifetime achievement awards.
They’re supposed to help a team win while identifying players who can thrive under pressure.
Koivun has already shown he can handle pressure, close a tournament and beat the best player in golf.
Team USA can choose six familiar names and probably win again. Or Snedeker can make one fearless pick that could shape the next decade of American team golf.
Jackson Koivun has done enough to deserve that chance.
