Auburn Golf’s Jackson Koivun admires Ludvig Åberg for paving the way

Auburn Golf sensation Jackson Koivun earned an exemption into the Memorial Tournament after winning the Jack Nicklaus Award.

This week will mark his first PGA Tour start at a challenging Muirfield Village track against some of the best in the world. The 2023 Nicklaus Award winner and fellow standout Ludvig Åberg joined him for six holes on Tuesday leading up to the event.

Koivun admires what Åberg has accomplished in his short career.

“He’s done so much for not only professional golf but for college golf, opening the eyes of patrons and the PGA Tour to how good these collegiate guys are,” Koivun said. “There’s going to be more opportunities with [PGA Tour University] because of guys like that.

Åberg was the first player to earn full-time status through the PGA Tour University program in May 2023. In the year since, Åberg already has built up quite the resume, which includes wins at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland and the RSM Classic in Georgia. He also helped lead Team Europe to a Ryder Cup victory in Rome.

“He inspires me and shows that he’s put his name on some of these awards I’ve won, and I can go do what he’s doing and compete like him,” Koivun added.

The youngster has had quite the freshman season. From winning the individual SEC Championship to helping the Tigers win their first NCAA Team Championship, he has made a name for himself quite fast.

The freshman standout became the first player in golf to sweep the three national Player of the Year awards. In addition to the Nicklaus, Koivun also won the Haskins, the Hogan, and the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award.

Nick Dunlap broke down a wall as the former Alabama golfer won the American Express as an amateur. He was the first amateur golfer to win a PGA Tour event since 1991, when Mickelson did so.

Koivun is one of many talented college players in the NCAA right now. Gordan Sargent, a Vanderbilt senior, is another young player who has already caught the attention of many professional golfers.

Sargent will also have PGA Tour status when he is ready to turn pro.

He is the first player to graduate from PGA Tour University’s Accelerated program after earning 20 points based on his accomplishments in college, amateur, and professional events. However, Sargent chose to stay his senior year and will receive status for the 2025 season.

Guys like Åberg, Dunlap, Koivun, and Sargent are part of this new wave taking over professional golf. They are coming for the PGA Tour and do not need time to adjust because the competition in college is already that fierce.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.