Brandt Snedeker named 21-year-old Jackson Koivun a captain's pick for the Presidents Cup at Medinah, Sep 24-27, three months after Auburn. Koivun is 48th on the U.S. points list and 66th in the world. Ben Griffin, 8th in points, and J.J. Spaun, 10th, were left home. Snedeker said he had a gut feeling about the kid and that it is not fair. Koivun won the 3M Open on July 26 at 25-under 259, three shots ahead of Scottie Scheffler, in his third start as a pro. He spent 56 weeks at No. 1 in the World
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Koivun spent 56 weeks at No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the third-longest run on record. He piled up 11 college wins, swept the Haskins, Hogan, and Nicklaus awards twice, and was a three-time SEC Player of the Year. He earned a PGA Tour card through PGA Tour University Accelerated as a sophomore, then deferred a year and went back to Auburn. He is from Chapel Hill.
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On July 26 at TPC Twin Cities, Koivun shot 25-under 259, a tournament record, three shots clear of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, in his third start as a pro. Sunday was a 66. He made an 18th-hole par from about 13-15 feet after a chunked driver. PGA Tour tape of Round 4.
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Round 3 at TPC Twin Cities was a 10-under 61 with a back-nine 28. Official PGA Tour tape of the Saturday round that set up the Sunday win. Five pro starts later he was in the FedExCup Playoffs, then T-24 at St. Jude.
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Golf Channel's record package on the 25-under 259. Third start as a pro. 13th Tour start counting amateur exemptions. Russell Henley, who practiced with him off Auburn's campus, told the PGA Tour he would retire when Koivun turned pro. Coach Nick Clinard called him the best he has coached in 25 years.
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Before Tuesday's picks, Ryan Lavner called putting Koivun on the team a can't-lose proposition in the Ludvig Åberg mold. Rex Hoggard said the Presidents Cup is not training camp and you do not auto-stamp a 3M winner. Snedeker then took Koivun and Patrick Cantlay, 13th in points, and left Griffin and Spaun home. Koivun said he was happy the captain took a chance on him.