Auburn star Jackson Koivun has decided to forgo his senior season and head to the PGA Tour, according to an announcement released Friday morning.
Koivun, the No. 1 amateur golfer in the world, has brought home some serious hardware during his time on the Plains. The two-time national player of the year has won two national titles and three SEC individual titles, among other program and NCAA records.
“I’m grateful to everyone at Auburn University for giving me the most incredible college experience I could’ve ever imagined,” Koivun said. “From bringing home a pair of national championships to the late nights and early mornings grinding at the facility and competing alongside guys I’ll call brothers for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. With that being said, I’ve decided to forgo my senior year to pursue my lifelong dream of playing on the PGA Tour. To my teammates, coaches, support staff, fans and most importantly, my family, thank you for supporting me in this chapter of my life. I am incredibly excited for what’s ahead, but no matter where this game takes me, I will always carry the A-U with me as a proud member of the Auburn Family.”
The Chapel Hill, North Carolina, native will hit the course one final time as an amateur next weekend at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, before turning pro at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, July 2-5.
Koivun earned his PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University Accelerated program, which allows collegiate players to earn points based on outstanding accomplishments in the sport. After returning to Auburn for his junior season, he now has double the 20 points required for PGA Tour membership.
In his first season on the Plains, he immediately made an impact, becoming the third player in SEC history to win Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season, en route to Auburn defeating Florida State in the 2024 national championship.
There was no sophomore slump for Koivun, as he was crowned the 2025 SEC Player of the Year and led Auburn back to the NCAA Championship before it ultimately fell to Virginia in the quarterfinals.
His junior season was arguably his best, and he started off red hot, winning the Amer Ari Invitational and breaking Tiger Woods’ 36-hole scoring record. The rest of the season, he was outstanding, recording wins at the Gator Invitational, The Hayt, the Mason Rudolph Championship, the Ford Collegiate and another SEC Championship. He capped off his Auburn career last week, defeating UCLA in the national championship.
Koivun will leave behind a legacy at Auburn, as he holds the program record with 11 wins as well as the lead in 15 other categories.
Koivun will make his professional debut at the John Deere Classic.
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Rory Garvin, junior in journalism sports production, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since Spring 2025. Garvin previously served as a Sports Reporter. He is currently serving as the Assistant Sports Editor.
