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Phil Mickelson Tips Jackson Koivun as Golf’s Next Big Star

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Ajayi Segun | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 5:44 PM ET

Phil Mickelson has praised amateur No. 1 Jackson Koivun, tipping the 20-year-old as the next big star in golf after his strong finish at the Procore Championship in 2025. The six-time major champion also jokingly urged Koivun to join his LIV Golf team, HyFlyers GC.

Koivun Earns Mickelson’s Praise After Strong Performance

Koivun tied for fourth at the Procore Championship in Napa to record his third straight top-10 finish on the PGA Tour as an amateur. That run of results put him in rare company, making him the first amateur since Hall of Famer Ken Venturi in 1956 to secure three consecutive top-10s on the Tour. Many fans and pundits admired his performance, and they now widely regard him as one of golf’s brightest prospects.

Mickelson had his best season on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit this year, recording three top-10 finishes. The 55-year-old’s performance helped him finish 24th in the season standings and end the season inside the lock zone. The veteran golfer watched Koivun’s performances closely and now tips the 20-year-old for greatness in the not-too-distant future.

“This young man is an amazing talent and destined for greatness. He would also look great in a HyFlyers outfit

,” Mickelson wrote on X after the World No. 1 amateur, strung an impressive 16-under finish, 3 strokes behind the winner.

Kiovun Continues Incredible Rise

Koivun put in one of the best performances of his career this week. The 20-year-old made it to the weekend and was tied for second behind leader Ben Griffin heading into Sunday for the fourth PGA Tour event in a row. However, Scottie Scheffler pulled ahead to win at 19-under, while Koivun secured a tie for fourth place. He tallied 21 birdies and two eagles across four rounds, but his calm handling of pressure stood out most as he held his own against a field stacked with ten U.S. Ryder Cup players.

Koivun’s rise over the past year has been remarkable. He swept all four of the major college golf honors (the Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, Ben Hogan Award, and the Phil Mickelson Award) in 2024, an unprecedented achievement for a freshman. Earlier this month, officials awarded him the McCormack Medal after he finished the season as the world’s No. 1 men’s amateur and helped the US Walker Cup team defeat Great Britain and Ireland.

The 20-year-old has now earned his PGA Tour card through the modern accelerator program, and many expect him to feature more in 2026. However, Mickelson’s cheeky invite leaves uncertainty over whether Koivun will join HyFlyers GC.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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