Jackson Koivun has revealed the role Scottie Scheffler played during his memorable Presidents Cup debut, as the 21-year-old rookie leaned on the experience of Team USA’s biggest stars while making an immediate impact at Medinah.
Koivun arrived at the Presidents Cup with very little experience in team competition, but quickly found himself surrounded by players who had already established themselves on the biggest stages in golf. Among them was Scheffler, who finished the week with three points for the Americans.
While Justin Thomas was the player who officially showed Koivun the ropes during their matches, Scheffler was also available to the young rookie whenever he needed advice.
“When he asks, yeah,” Scheffler said when asked whether he had been giving Koivun advice.
Scheffler also acknowledged just how new Koivun was to the environment.
“He’s very new. He’s basically right out of school,” Scheffler said. “I think the guys have done what they can to kind of make him feel comfortable in the team room.”
Interestingly, Scheffler revealed that Koivun appeared to have settled into the American team surprisingly quickly.
“By the time I showed up to the practice session, he was already pretty comfortable. He didn’t need a whole lot from me,” Scheffler added.
That confidence was eventually reflected in Koivun’s performance. After a nervous opening match alongside Thomas, the rookie settled down and went on to finish the Presidents Cup with an unbeaten 2-0-1 record.
His defining moment came in Sunday’s singles against Si Woo Kim. Kim held a 1-up lead through 11 holes after making four birdies, but Koivun produced a late surge, winning three crucial holes down the stretch, including the 18th, to complete the comeback.
Koivun’s performance earned him an A grade in the post-Presidents Cup assessment and marked an impressive introduction to the pressure of team golf.
For Scheffler, Koivun’s rapid adjustment meant there was little need for extensive intervention. For Koivun, however, simply being around players such as Scheffler and Thomas provided an opportunity to learn what it takes to compete at the highest level.
The rookie ultimately left Medinah undefeated, having earned the trust of his teammates and delivered one of the standout debut performances of the Presidents Cup.