One of the great things about the PGA Tour is how new players seem to emerge every year.
Ben Griffin and J.J. Spaun were two of the latest to break through in 2025, even earning spots on the United States Ryder Cup team.
It is still unclear who will make a similar leap next season, but golf writer Ryan Lavner already has someone in mind.
Lavner has backed one amateur to become one of the top putters on Tour as soon as he joins the professional ranks.
Jackson Koivun already being talked up as one of the best putters on the PGA Tour
Few prospects have generated more excitement than Jackson Koivun ahead of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
Koivun made his first appearance at the Memorial Tournament in June 2024, but it was his performances in 2025 that really marked him out as a rising star.
The young American featured in seven events this year, including appearances at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the US Open.
Over the course of those tournaments, he showed real progress, capping off his run by finishing no lower than sixth in each of his final three starts.
The expectation is that Koivun will make the jump to professional golf in 2026, and there are already strong signs he could be one of the top putters on Tour right from day one.
Lavner said: “I’m going with Jackson Koivun, who right now does not actually have a PGA Tour card in his hand. He is still competing in college.
“He is a junior at Auburn, but he has locked up a future PGA Tour card, whenever he chooses to accept it through the PGA Tour University accelerated program. He has deferred until at least after this season.
“But you look at what he did in seven Official World Golf Ranking-recognized events this year: Four consecutive top 11s. He is such a good player already in the limited action that we have seen.”
He added: “And look, maybe things are going to be different when he actually joins the pay-for-play set. We’ve seen what happened with Luke Clanton. Remember 2024, Luke Clanton had a dominant summer as well. Everything was projected quite high for him. Similar run.
“I don’t think Jackson Koivun is quite as much of a boom-bust project as Luke Clanton is. Whenever Jackson Koivun joins the PGA Tour, he is instantly going to be among the very best putters on the PGA Tour. That club has never let him down. Look forward to seeing what Jackson Koivun can do in 2026.”
Phil Mickelson backs Jackson Koivun for the top
Koivun has shown so much talent at just 20 years old that it feels like only a matter of time before he becomes a standout player on the PGA Tour.
He is the only college golfer to sweep all four major awards in a single season: the Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, Ben Hogan Award, and Phil Mickelson Award.
Mickelson offered high praise for Koivun following his T4 finish at the Procore Championship, suggesting big things are ahead.
“This young man is an amazing talent and destined for greatness. He would also look great in a HyFlers outfit,” Lefty posted on social media.
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