Rookie Koivun holds off Scheffler for maiden PGA win
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American rookie Jackson Koivun completed his maiden PGA Tour victory, holding off world number one Scottie Scheffler by three strokes to win the 3M Open. The 21-year-old, playing in only his third event since turning professional, produced a composed final round to resist a late surge from the four-time major winner, capping a remarkable rise that came just two months after he helped Auburn win the US college championship.
Koivun built a three-shot lead with a third-round 61 before extending it to five ahead of the final round at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota. Scheffler mounted a fierce comeback, carding five birdies on the back nine for a 63, but Koivun held firm with a closing 66 to finish on 25 under par, admitting he had to block out crowd shouts of "Scottie's coming" down the stretch. Americans Denny McCarthy, Brian Harman and Chandler Phillips tied for third alongside Japan's Hideki Matsuyama on 20 under, while Michael Kim, who had fired a 12-under 59 on Friday, slipped to a tie for 10th after closing rounds of 70 and 69.
- Jackson Koivun won his first PGA Tour title at the 3M Open
- The 21-year-old rookie beat Scottie Scheffler by three strokes
- Koivun closed with a 66 to finish 25 under par overall
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Jackson Koivun is a 21-year-old American golfer who only turned professional this year, having previously played college golf for Auburn University. His victory at the 3M Open, a regular PGA Tour event held at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, is his first as a professional and comes remarkably early in his career.
Scottie Scheffler, the player Koivun beat, is the world's top-ranked golfer and a four-time major champion, widely regarded as the dominant figure in the sport at present. A challenge from a rookie holding off a player of Scheffler's standing is notable because such wins by newcomers, especially over an established world number one, are unusual on the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour is the main professional golf circuit in the United States, featuring weekly tournaments where players compete for prize money and world ranking points. Strong performances at events like the 3M Open can shape a young player's reputation and career trajectory going forward.
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