Why it's trending
Jackson Koivun's dominant victory over the world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler generated massive excitement, as the 21-year-old rookie beat the top-ranked player head-to-head in a final-round showdown, sparking debate about a generational shift in golf.
Jackson Koivun won the 3M Open on Sunday, defeating world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by three strokes. Koivun, 21, closed with a bogey-free 5-under 66 to finish at 25-under 259, a tournament record. Scheffler matched Koivun's bogey-free effort with an 8-under 63, but could not catch the rookie.
According to the PGA Tour, Koivun earned 500 FedExCup points and $1.58 million from the $8.8 million purse. The New York Times noted that Koivun 'fended off a Sunday charge from the world No. 1,' and the rookie said, 'That's what we train for... Fortunately, it worked out for me today.'
The tournament featured extraordinary scoring: Ben Kohles shot 62 in round one, Michael Kim fired a 59 in round two, and Koivun posted a 61 in round three. Scheffler's 63 on Sunday was his third bogey-free round of the week. Koivun played his final 42 holes bogey-free in 18-under.
Koivun's win is seen as a potential changing of the guard. He swept all major college golf awards in 2024 and led Auburn to two NCAA titles. With no men's major champion under 30 by the 2027 Masters, Koivun's arrival injects fresh youth into professional golf. Scheffler, meanwhile, remains the world's best but now faces a new rival.
Timeline
- Ben Kohles leads with 62
Ben Kohles shot a 9-under 62 to take the first-round lead by two strokes.
- Michael Kim shoots 59
Michael Kim became the 16th golfer in PGA Tour history to break 60, shooting a 12-under 59 to lead by three.
- Koivun fires 61 to take lead
Jackson Koivun shot a 10-under 61 to seize a three-stroke lead entering the final round.
- Koivun holds off Scheffler to win
Koivun shot a bogey-free 66 to finish at 25-under 259, three ahead of Scheffler's 63. Koivun set a tournament record and won his first PGA Tour event.
Questions people ask
How did Scottie Scheffler perform at the 3M Open?
Scheffler shot a final-round 63 to finish solo second at 22-under par, three strokes behind winner Jackson Koivun. It was his third bogey-free round of the week.
Who won the 3M Open?
Jackson Koivun, a 21-year-old rookie, won the 3M Open at 25-under 259, a tournament record. He defeated world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by three strokes.
What records were set at the 3M Open?
Koivun set a tournament scoring record at 25-under 259, eclipsing Lee Hodges' 2023 mark by one. Michael Kim also shot a 12-under 59 in the second round, only the 16th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history.
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