Add The New York Post on Google 21-year-old budding star Jackson Koivun cruised to victory at the 3M Open over the weekend, stunning even the most famed in the golf world, including Jack Nicklaus.
After Koivun’s record-setting first win on the pro tour, Nicklaus penned a message on social media.
“We certainly knew Jackson Koivun was going to make an impression on the @pgatour, but we didn’t know how soon. And not sure we thought this soon!” Nicklaus wrote. “What @jackson_koivun did this week at the @3mopen was simply a great performance. To also have world No. 1 @scottie.scheffler, who starts the day 6 shots back, shoot 63, well, it didn’t even faze Jackson. Scottie shoots 63, which means Jackson—just 21 years old and making his third start as a pro—has to shoot in the 60s to win the golf tournament. And he did! He shoots 65 and wins by 3! That’s pretty darn good for a young guy and pretty good for the game of golf. It’s refreshing to see the young guys come along. I love to see the new blood come in and enjoy success.
Jackson Koivun reacts after winning the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Blaine, Minn. AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim “I’m very happy for Jackson—our latest Bear’s Club member and winner! Jackson, you had a great college career (2 @ncaa team titles at @auburnmgolf, 2 Jack Nicklaus Awards) and great amateur career (tied low am at 2026 @usopengolf), and, now, this is just the start of what should be a terrific pro career. Congrats on your first TOUR win, and we wish you well!” Nicklaus continued.
Jack Nicklaus speaks to the media prior to The Memorial Tournament Presented By Nationwide at Muirfield Village Golf Club on May 29, 2018 in Dublin, Ohio. Getty Images It took Koivun a mere 24 days as a pro to claim his first career win at TPC Twin Cities, where he shot 25-under on the week, a tournament scoring record. It was his third PGA Tour start as a pro. Nicklaus himself took 17 tries to win as a pro, when he defeated Arnold Palmer in the 1962 US Open.
