With only five tournaments remaining in the 2026 season, the window of opportunity is closing for the 26 newcomers vying for the coveted title, PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Could it be possible that the ROTY is awarded to someone not technically considered a rookie?
A 10-event minimum to qualify as a PGA Tour rookie may disqualify the hottest up-and-coming golfer in the world, Jackson Koivun. After foregoing his senior season at Auburn to turn professional, he has quickly elevated himself to future-star status on the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour’s Jackson Koivun Is A Bona Fide Star In The Making
Koivun’s list of collegiate awards, accolades, and achievements is eye-popping, impressive, and historic in nature. The 21-year-old’s resume at Auburn reads like a dream. During his freshman season in 2024, Koivun became the first player in NCAA history to win all four of the major collegiate golf awards in the same year: The Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, Ben Hogan Award, and the Phil Mickelson Award. Beyond that, he helped lead his team to the SEC Championship and garnered runner-up honors at the NCAA Division I Men’s Individual Championship.
Again, that was just his freshman season at Auburn. Koivun also won SEC Player of the Year in 2024, 2025, and 2026. He went on to reach No. 1 in the official World Amateur Golf Ranking in June 2025. Experts thought Koivun would turn professional after his sophomore season, but the youngster wasn’t finished with his college career just yet.
In 2026, Koivun finished as the low amateur at the U.S. Open, tying for 23rd at ultra-difficult Shinnecock Hills. He then turned pro and went on to miss the cut in his first start at the John Deere Classic in early July. He followed the MC with a T-10 at the ISCO Championship before teeing it up last week in his third start at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities.
With a red-hot Scottie Scheffler right on his tail in the final round, Koivun was able to not only hold off Scheffler for the win but post a tournament scoring record of -25 (259). The victory propelled him up both the FedEx Cup points list (70th) and the Official World Golf Rankings (73). Koivun was able to win in only his third start as a professional on the PGA Tour, a remarkable achievement for a golfer who just turned 21 in May.
Is Jackson Koivun The PGA Tour Rookie Of The Year?
Admittedly, the 2026 PGA Tour rookie class has had mild success this season. Before Koivun’s victory at the 3M Open, two names stood out for the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year award: Kristoffer Reitan and Alex Fitzpatrick. Both have one win this season, although Fitzpatrick’s was a team victory at the Zurich Classic with his brother, Matt.
Reitan has had a stellar 2026 campaign, earning a clutch victory at the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow in May, a PGA Tour Signature Event. He also has a runner-up finish, as well as two Top 5s and 4 Top 10s.
Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, has that one victory with his brother, as well as two Top 5s and five Top 10s. Both Reitan and Fitzpatrick have had solid seasons for rookies, but what about Koivun? He has a win and one Top 10 in just three starts. Here’s the rub, though: the PGA Tour has a 10-event minimum to be officially considered a rookie. What does that mean for Koivun, who has just three starts so far?
Even if Koivun plays the rest of the events on schedule, including the three playoff events, he’ll still fall short of the minimum threshold. Perhaps the PGA Tour should make an exception this one time?
The ball is in the PGA Tour’s fairway, but one thing seems certain: Koivun has a bright future ahead, whether he wins PGA Tour Rookie of the Year or not.
