Jackson Koivun Just Put Auburn Golf On An Even Bigger Stage

Rising golf star Jackson Koivun, once an Auburn standout, is gearing up to showcase his skills on the international stage at the prestigious 2026 Presidents Cup in Chicago.

Jackson Koivun’s rise has earned him a spot on one of golf’s biggest international stages.

The former Auburn standout was chosen Tuesday to represent the United States at the 2026 Presidents Cup, with Team USA captain Brandt Snedeker and the PGA making the announcement. The 16th Presidents Cup is scheduled for Sept. 24-27 at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.

For Koivun, the selection adds another major line to a résumé that already keeps growing fast. He becomes the only other Presidents Cup representative in Auburn history, joining Jason Dufner, who played for the United States in 2015.

“xE’D 2? :? 4C65:3=6 9@?

@C E@ 36 D6=64E65 7@C E96 a_ae &?:E65 $E2E6D ! C6D:56?

ED rFA %62>] x’> 8C2E67F= 7@C E96 4@? 7:56?

46 r2AE2:? $?

656<6C 2? 5 E96 E62> 92G6 D9@H? :?

6[”

Koivun will line up alongside Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley, Chris Gotterup, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Jacob Bridgeman on Team USA.

The captain’s praise matched the moment. “%9:D :D 2?

@E96C :? 4C65:3=6 9@?

@C E@ 255 E@ 2? :? 4C65:3=6 2E9=6E6’D C6DF>6] (6 2C6 36J@?

5 AC@F5 @7 y24 C6AC6D6? E E96 &$p]”

Koivun’s path to this point has been packed with winning. The Cary, North Carolina, product became the first golfer to sweep all three national player of the year awards in 2024, taking home the Haskins, Hogan and Nicklaus honors. He was also a three-time First Team All-America pick and a three-time SEC Player of the Year.

He wrapped up his Auburn career in June with a run that included finishing 23rd and tying for low amateur at the U.S. Open. He capped that stretch by helping Auburn win its second NCAA championship in three years.

The numbers behind his amateur career are eye-opening. Koivun set the Auburn record with 14 category marks, won a program-record 11 tournaments for the Tigers and tied for the seventh most in NCAA history. By winning in his third professional start at the BMW Charity Pro-Am in July, he became the second fastest in history to earn a PGA Tour victory.

Koivun also picked up Tour membership through the PGA Tour Accelerated Program, which rewards college players with points based on on-course accomplishments. He earned more than twice the 20 points required for membership.

The United States has won 10 straight Presidents Cup titles, and the 2026 team will try to keep that streak going with Koivun now part of the mix.

In Other News...

Joel Klatt Just Handed Auburn Fans A New Reason To Erupt

Joel Klatts recent comparison of Auburn and Texas A&M football gave Tigers fans another reason to perk up, even if it came wrapped in the kind of blunt national commentary that usually stings before it soothes. He labeled both programs popcorn programs, a nod to teams that are mostly average but still capable of popping for a strong season, and that framing put Auburn in a familiar but still flattering national conversation.

For Auburn, the point is that the brand still carries weight because of its history, its national championships and the fact that the program has managed real coaching success in recent years. Texas A&Ms more uneven run since 2000 was part of the contrast, and Auburn fans have especially liked the idea that Alex Golesh is being viewed as a positive hire after some of the turbulence that came before him. The bigger question now is whether that optimism turns into the sort of season that makes the popcorn metaphor feel a lot more like a warning than a compliment. [Read more 🡒]

Auburn Just Tied Neville Arena To Something Bigger Than Sports

Auburns reach at Neville Arena is about to stretch well beyond basketball and the rest of the fall and winter schedule. Auburn University has expanded its partnership with the U.S. Navys Submarine Industrial Base Program Office, and the collaboration is designed to help promote civilian careers in submarine construction across Alabama, with support from the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and the athletic department.

The deal also brings sponsorship and advertising into Auburn athletic events, turning game-day visibility into a recruiting tool for an industry that needs more attention. For a program that often frames itself around community and statewide impact, this is another example of Auburn using its biggest stage for something that is bigger than sports, even if the full reach of the effort is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]

Auburns Opener May Come Down To One Unsettling Mismatch

Auburn heads into the Aflac Kickoff Game as the favorite against Baylor, but the biggest question facing the Tigers is whether their offense can hold up long enough to show it. There is real optimism around the skill talent, including the chemistry Byrum Brown has already built with key receivers, yet the line in front of him is still the place where the matchup starts to tilt uneasy.

Baylors defensive front looks like the sort of early test that can expose timing issues and force a team to hurry its plan, especially if Auburn wants to lean on tempo to cover up some of the uncertainty in the trenches. Dave Aranda has already pointed to his defensive line as the Bears strength, and with Auburn still sorting through a fresh look up front, the opener may come down to whether the Tigers can keep that pressure from turning a promising night into a survival exercise. [Read more 🡒]