Jackson Koivun proved he’s not like other golfers, not because of what he’s done on the golf course, but because of a decision he made off the course.
Koivun has been dubbed golf’s next big thing and turned pro after this year’s US Open, where he was tied for the low amateur. And just three events into his professional career, he’s now a PGA Tour winner after claiming victory at the 3M Open.
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The 21-year-old actually had the opportunity to turn pro last year, but instead he elected to stay in college for another year. The decision paid off big time, as he had an incredible junior year at Auburn, winning six times in 2026.
This was a huge call that worked out well, but one that Koivun didn’t take lightly. He explained this choice in full after winning for the first time on the PGA Tour.
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
Jackson Koivun explains why he spent another season in college before turning pro
In the last few years, NCAA athletes have been eligible to receive NIL money for playing their respective sports. This has completely changed the college sports landscape, for better and for worse.
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But Koivun insists that this had nothing to do with his decision to delay his professional career. Instead, he said he needed a year to mature and mentally prepare himself for life on the PGA Tour.
Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, he explained, “NIL was definitely a bonus of college for me, but just the opportunity to go play at a great school like Auburn with some great players that pushed me to get better was the huge thing for me. I had the opportunity to turn pro after my sophomore year, and I just simply wasn’t ready.
“The PGA Tour lifestyle is definitely different, and I just didn’t really feel like I was mature enough to come out here and focus week in and week out and do this for a living. And then after my junior year, I already mentally decided I was ready to turn pro.
“I’m glad I waited, and I feel like I’ve gotten to that point in my life where I’m mature enough to come out here and compete every week.
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He continued, “Just like I said, my maturity level has definitely grown through my junior year. After my junior year, I felt like I did pretty much everything I could in college.
“There were a few things I would have liked to check off the box, but that’s getting a little picky.
“It’s like I said, it’s a different lifestyle than college golf, and I was well aware of that when I had that opportunity in sophomore year, and you only get college once; I was already cutting it a year short, and I just didn’t feel like I was ready to cut it too short.”
If being mature enough to recognize you’re not ready for the PGA Tour is considered immature, then Koivun has a high standard for himself. That decision took an immense amount of emotional intelligence, which should serve him well throughout his career.
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Jackson Koivun explains what is different about the PGA Tour compared to college golf
Even with an extra year to prepare, playing on the PGA Tour has been an adjustment for Koivun. He said professional golf is a far lonelier world than the college game.
Koivun explained the key difference between playing as a college golfer compared to playing as a professional: “Yeah, college is great because you get to travel with six guys and two coaches who are looking after you and making sure you’re doing the right things, feeding you, and you get to spend time with some of your brothers.
“When you get out on tour, you have your friends, but it’s a lot more lonely and self-oriented, so I think you just kind of have to be more on top of what you’re doing to succeed.”
Despite the adjustment, Koivun appears to be well on top of everything he needs to do. If he keeps this up, he could develop into one of the legends of the game.
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