Koivun to make pro debut at John Deere: 'I feel very ready, I'm excited to go out there and compete'
Jackson Koivun talked with Golf Channel's Hailey Hunter about his upcoming professional debut at the John Deere Classic and said that he feels ready to compete.
Video Transcript
So what an exciting week for the world number one amateur, Jackson Koyan, getting to finally make that professional debut.
As you mentioned, could have made, that pr- pro debut last year, but decided to go back and play college golf his junior year for Auburn.
I know his team has gotta be really happy he made that decision, as they would win their second national championship in the last three years.
And I had a chance to talk with his college coach at Auburn, Nick Clinard, about him coming into this week, and got to actually watch him at the US Open a couple weeks ago, which was really exciting for him, and told me that the biggest thing that will help him adapt quickly to the PGA Tour level is confidence and work ethic.
When it comes to his confidence, he told me that even though he's so young, he genuinely thrives in those really high pressure situations, such as we saw from him in Napa this past September in the final grouping on Sunday.
And he said that he genuinely loves having the cameras on him and around him as well.
He's not phased by anything and truly isn't scared of anything.
When it comes to the work ethic, he told me a funny story about how, of course, we know regionals for college tournaments, one of the most taxing, exhausting weeks of the year.
but his assistant coach got a phone call about 9:30 PM after they had gotten back from the tournament at 6:00 PM, and there was Jackson on the putting green in the dark with the flashlight on his phone, with four different new putters that he was trying.
So the work ethic there is there.
The confidence is there.
Looking forward to seeing that showcased in his first pro debut here at TPC Deere Run this week, and this is more on what he had to say to me earlier about how excited he is coming into that pro debut.
You know, it's just great to get back here to the John Deere, back in Moline in the Quad Cities.
just love this golf course, love this area of the country, and just super happy to come compete.
And love this golf course as well, right?
Yeah.
Because you played pretty well last year.
Oh, yeah.
It's, it's so much fun, always in great condition, and a good test of golf.
Well, last year when you were here, you mentioned that you just honestly didn't feel ready yet to turn pro.
So now that it's a year later, how much more ready do you feel for the PGA Tour?
No, I feel very ready.
I'm, I'm excited to, to go out there and compete on a weekly basis.
And, yeah, it's, it's kinda weird to call myself a professional.
Along with that, I know you really wanted to play your junior year of college golf, and I'm sure your Auburn teammates are pretty happy about that considering you helped lead them to their second national title in the last three years.
How rewarding was it for you to kind of cap off your collegiate career in that way?
Oh, it was the best.
It was the best way I could've g- could've gone out, and, just super happy to do it under Coach Clinard and Coach Williams.
And, you know, we, we put in a lot of, lot of sweat and effort as a team to, to get to where we were.
And, you know, just getting that second natty was great.
Speaking of Coach Clinard, I just talked to him earlier this week.
He told me that you're working a lot on your short game right now with Josh Gregory.
Of course, important, collegiately, but even more of a game changer out here.
What are some of the specific things you guys are working on?
Yeah, I mean, just basically s- making the, the basics more simple 'cause- Okay I kinda struggle on the basic chips, and if I have to show off a little bit, that's kinda my specialty.
But those, those basic chips, we're just working on making them a little easier.
Well, looking forward to seeing those chipping skills out here this week, and I know you have family close by.
Your dad grew up here.
Who's all gonna be out there watching you?
I'm not quite sure.
He's got a lot of friends and family in this area, and I'm sure, sure he's invited all of them out.
But, I'm, I'm excited to see.
We got a pretty fun group tomorrow, and, it'll be a good time.
