World No. 1 amateur golfer’s dream pro debut ends in heartbreak after his signature skill lets him down
Bildnummer: 03701547 Datum: 24.05.2008 Copyright: imago/Icon SMI Silhouette von Robert Karlsson (Schweden) - PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY (Icon36963444); Vdig, quer, close, Gegenlicht, Golfspieler, Spieler, Golfer, Symbol BMW PGA Championship 2008, European Tour Virginia Water Golf Herren Einzel Einzelbild Aktion Personen Symbolfoto Image number 03701547 date 24 05 2008 Copyright imago Icon Smi Silhouette from Robert Karlsson Sweden PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY Icon36963444 Vdig horizontal Close Gegenlicht Golfer Players Golfers symbol BMW PGA Championship 2008 European Tour Virginia Water Golf men Singles Single Action shot People Symbolic image
Bildnummer: 03701547 Datum: 24.05.2008 Copyright: imago/Icon SMI Silhouette von Robert Karlsson (Schweden) - PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY (Icon36963444); Vdig, quer, close, Gegenlicht, Golfspieler, Spieler, Golfer, Symbol BMW PGA Championship 2008, European Tour Virginia Water Golf Herren Einzel Einzelbild Aktion Personen Symbolfoto Image number 03701547 date 24 05 2008 Copyright imago Icon Smi Silhouette from Robert Karlsson Sweden PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY Icon36963444 Vdig horizontal Close Gegenlicht Golfer Players Golfers symbol BMW PGA Championship 2008 European Tour Virginia Water Golf men Singles Single Action shot People Symbolic image
Jackson Koivun arrived at the John Deere Classic as the most hyped amateur to turn professional in years. He left having missed the cut, and the stat that hurt most was the one nobody expected. Putting. His strongest suit. Gone.
The 21-year-old made his professional debut at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, on July 2-3. The former world No. 1 amateur shot rounds of 73 and 70 to finish at 1 over par, missing the cut by four shots. After two rounds, veteran Lucas Glover held the solo lead at 14 under par.
PGA Tour reporter Sean Martin noted on X that Koivun lost more than three strokes on the greens across two rounds, a striking figure given that putting has been his calling card.
In seven PGA Tour starts last season, he gained more than one stroke per round on the greens. This week it went the other way entirely.
The second round brought an eagle on the par-5 second hole. It wasn't enough. He finished 1 over for the week and exited four shots short of the cut line.
He was candid about the opening round after it was done. "I was just off today," he said, as reported by Golfweek. "At the end of the day, not every round you play is going to be perfect. It's kind of unfortunate I was off today, but there's no reason I can't go out there and play good tomorrow."
The nerves were real from the jump.
"I didn't really expect to feel that nervous off the first, but I definitely felt it," Koivun said, per Golfweek. "Kind of hit it a little left and made a good par, but just didn't really have my A-game today."
He did gain 1.5 strokes off the tee, per Martin's post on X.
World No. 1 amateur golfer’s decorated amateur career that set the bar high
The expectations were always going to be enormous. Koivun was a three-time Golfweek First-Team All-American, a three-time SEC Player of the Year at Auburn, and a two-time Haskins Award winner.
He joined Jon Rahm and Ludvig Åberg as the only players to win the Ben Hogan Award twice. He also earned co-low amateur honors at this year's U.S. Open.
He earned his PGA Tour card in 2025 through the Tour's University program but chose to return to Auburn for his junior season. Auburn won the NCAA National Championship in June.
"My dream growing up was to play on the PGA Tour," Koivun said Wednesday, per Golfweek. "I had that opportunity after my sophomore year and wasn't quite ready. After last summer, it was kind of like, it was just time."
What do you think? Will Koivun bounce back quickly on the PGA Tour? Let us know in the comments!
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Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Shubhi Rathore