Jackson Koivun’s meteoric rise is continuing, and now it’s taking him indoors.
Fresh off an unbeaten Presidents Cup debut that helped spark one of the most dramatic comebacks in event history
, the 21-year-old has joined Motor City Golf Club's inaugural TGL roster, giving Detroit's expansion franchise a rising young star to pair with five-time major champion Brooks Koepka for the league's 2027 season.The move is a natural fit for Koivun, whose resume is already packed with team golf success. From winning national championships at Auburn to representing the United States in the Walker Cup and Presidents Cup, he has repeatedly shown an ability to thrive when the spotlight is brightest.
"Some
of my best experiences have come while playing team golf, from winning national championships at Auburn to representing the U.S. at the Presidents Cup," Koivun said after joining Motor City Golf Club. "Having teammates alongside you and feeling that energy from the fans makes those moments even better."
Motor City Golf Club officials believe the same qualities that made Koivun an instant success in international competition will translate to TGL.
"Jackson showed at the Presidents Cup that he is built for the big moments," said team governor Michael Hamp. "His competitive spirit, grit and the energy he brings to a team are exactly what we envision for Motor City Golf Club."
Koivun arrived at the Presidents Cup as one of the most debated captain's picks in event history. He had turned professional only three months earlier, and despite winning the 3M Open in just his third PGA Tour start, there were questions about whether the former world No. 1 amateur was ready for a stage of that magnitude.
By Sunday evening, those questions had been answered. Trailing Si Woo Kim by two holes through 10 holes in singles, Koivun flipped the match by winning four of the next six holes. After halving the 17th, he stepped onto the 18th tee with a one-hole lead and the confidence of a veteran. His club twirl started before the ball had finished its flight.
He doubled down moments later, firing his approach to 8 feet and punctuating it with another emphatic club twirl. When Kim failed to convert his birdie chance, the match was over.
Koivun's 2-up victory capped an undefeated week in which he went 2-0-1 and earned 2½ points, making him the only American player to finish unbeaten as the United States rallied from a three-point deficit entering Sunday to capture its 11th straight Presidents Cup.
"It's just been such a cool learning experience," Koivun said afterward. "Being under captain Snedeker and being around all these guys is so cool, and obviously to come out on top after a large deficit coming into today is just a feeling I can't explain."
For those who followed his amateur career, the performance was hardly surprising.
Koivun built one of the strongest collegiate résumés of the modern era at Auburn, becoming the first player to twice sweep the Fred Haskins, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus awards. He helped lead the Tigers to NCAA championships in 2024 and 2026 and produced winning performances in nearly every major team competition he entered, including the Walker Cup, Arnold Palmer Cup and Junior Presidents Cup.
His transition to the professional game has been just as seamless. Along with his victory at the 3M Open, Koivun finished tied for fifth at the Biltmore Championship Asheville before becoming one of the breakout stars of the Presidents Cup.
Considering everything Koivun has accomplished in the past few months, it is difficult to argue. A PGA Tour winner in his third professional start. An undefeated Presidents Cup rookie. Now a cornerstone piece of a new TGL franchise.
Tim Schmitt is the managing editor of Golfweek and the golf coordinator for the USA Today Network.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Presidents Cup star Jackson Koivun joins TGL team
