Koivun Makes Quick Rise From NCAA Title to Presidents Cup Debut at Medinah
The short version
- Jackson Koivun, 21, debuts Thursday in fourballs with Justin Thomas, 112 days after Auburn's NCAA title.
- Koivun won the 3M Open in his third pro start and was a captain's pick by Brandt Snedeker.
- The United States has won 10 straight Presidents Cups, losing only once since 1994.
- Adam Scott is playing his 12th Presidents Cup without a victory on the International side.
The 21-year-old Auburn product teams with Justin Thomas for Thursday's opening fourballs as the United States begins its Presidents Cup defense at Medinah Country Club.
Jackson Koivun will make his Presidents Cup debut Thursday at Medinah Country Club, just 112 days after closing his college career by helping Auburn win an NCAA championship. The 21-year-old rookie will play alongside Justin Thomas in one of five fourballs matches that open the competition against the International team.
Koivun's ascent has been unusually fast. Four years ago, as a high school senior, he competed in the Junior Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow and found himself awed sharing grounds with stars like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Thomas. This week he is a teammate. He won the 3M Open in only his third professional start — with Scheffler finishing second — and earned a captain's pick from Brandt Snedeker.
"Definitely going to feel some nerves on the first tee, but we're all human," Koivun said Wednesday. He added that he told Thomas once his opening tee shot is out of the way, he will be fine, and that his job is managing the mix of adrenaline and nerves.
Snedeker leads his first session with Scheffler and Sam Burns against Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im. Cameron Young and Schauffele face Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune, Thomas and Koivun meet Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria, Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark take on Adam Scott and Ryan Fox, and Chris Gotterup and Patrick Cantlay close against Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim.
The Americans enter as heavy favorites, having won the last 10 editions and lost only once since the event began in 1994. Scott is playing for a 12th time without ever being on a winning side. "History can always be changed," Morikawa said. "I think for us, starting tomorrow, it all starts 0-0."
International captain Geoff Ogilvy recalled the 2024 matches at Royal Montreal, where the United States swept the opening session 5-0 before his side answered with a foursomes shutout of its own. He called the format momentum-based and said the goal for Thursday is simply to win a session.
