Defending champion Xander Schauffele has labled Jackson Koivun a “worldbeather” as well as “super impressive” in the wake the 21-year-old capturing last week’s 3M Open in just his third event as a professional.
Koivun sensationally captured last week’s PGA Tour by three shots and in the process impressively denying World No. 1 Scottie Scheffele into second place and two other major champions in Hideki Matsuyama and Brian Harman who shared third in Minnesota.
The 21-year-old Florida pro rookie has now made his way to Detroit, Michigan for this week’s $10m Rocket Classic on the host Detriot Country Club course where World No. 15 Schauffele is contesting the tournament also for a first time.
“HE’S A WORLD BEATER, HE’S SUPER IMPRESSIVE” ….
Xander Schauffele @XSchauffele blown away by golf’s newest sensation Jackson Koivun ahead of this week’s @RocketClassic
Read: https://t.co/lwgEEmySGE
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— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) July 28, 2026
And the 32-year-old double major champ was asked his thoughts of golf’s newest sensation.
“Yeah, was able to meet Jackson in Florida. He was out playing with JT (Justin Thomas) and a few guys at a course and kind of ran into him,” said Schaufelle.
“He was really polite. Met him once, watched him play on TV. He’s obviously a worldbeater. These kids are coming out not afraid at all. I think that’s sort of what his win showed is he’s won in college, all these young amateurs, now young pros, they look like mini Tour pros to me coming out.
“I think of when I was in college and what that looked like and it did not look like that. It’s super impressive. It’s really good for the game, it’s really good for our tour to have as many Jackson-like players as we can get.
“It makes me want to work even harder, so congrats to him”.
Very well said Schauffele.
Looking back on the Official World Golf Rankings and Schauffle was a little like Koivun in terms of his position in the game, ranked No: 159th in the world in capturing a maiden Tour title at the 2017 Greenbrier Classic, and victory taking him to World No. 82 and in his 48th event.
Koivun last week was ranked World No. 206th and with victory lifting him to be the new World No. 73.
