The Round Table: Jackson Koivun, LIV Golf and POY contenders

Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.

Last Sunday, in just his third start as a professional, rookie Jackson Koivun held off World #1 Scottie Scheffler to win his first PGA Tour title at the 3M Open. What impressed you most about his victory?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): Sorry, but I’m travelling in Europe and saw none of what happened. But I’m pretty impressed with any rookie who can withstand the world’s number one player creeping up from six shots behind and narrowing the gap to three.  A final round 66 is pretty terrific any time.

Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): Most impressive was the composure. It’s one thing to get yourself in position; it’s another to stare down #1 Scheffler on a Sunday and pull through victorious. It would have been easy to fold and everyone would chalk it up to rookie nerves. But, winning in just his third PGA Tour start, Koivun looked composed, managing his emotions/nerves and executing shots when the pressure peaked. Plenty of young players have talent, few show that kind of patience, confidence and belief against great players.

Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: Without question, his poise. An emerging story is how many usual swings are made by winners. For a while, all swings were big and slow, then Trackman proved that wrong mathematically, even though they worked. Koivun breaks so many accepted standards it’s bound to affect teaching, particularly as we are witness to the #1 in the world’s footwork.

Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: It took a cold and wet weekend for the first-ever viewing of the 3M in this household. And the first reaction was laughter. When the show came on, there was some kid standing in the middle of the fairway and the announcer said: ” As he gets older, he’ll get stronger.” Seconds later the kid hit his 3-wood 309-yards. Ya, can’t wait until Jackson gets buff. His swing, his putting stroke, his pin hunting with the lead were all very impressive. Koivun is exceptional, maybe a generational talent, but he also demonstrated once again that the US college golf factories are churning out players who are battle — and television– tested and ready for prime time.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine: The kid must have ice water in his veins. Being chased by the World #1, trying to get his first PGA Tour win – nothing seemed to faze him. And he really never missed a shot. Pretty impressive display. Too early to draw comparisons or make predictions, but Koivun should continue to make headlines as he did all through college.

The Asian Tour has announced that starting next year it would be aligning with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour in what is a serious blow to LIV Golf. Until now LIV had used the Asian Tour as a feeder circuit and a way for LIV players to gain additional World Ranking points. LIV also appears to be having trouble with its remaining 2026 events since the Saudi PIF announced they were pulling out as a financial backer of the upstart league. LIV CEO Scott O’Neill continues to look for sponsors o keep things going, but so far nobody seems to be buying whatever he’s selling. Is it time to stick a fork in it and admit that LIV Golf is done?

Deeks: Yes, it is.  LIV is completely irrelevant in my opinion and always has been.  Good riddance. Ditto to the has-beens who are still there.

Loughry: LIV isn’t dead yet, but it’s clearly fighting headwinds. Losing the Asian Tour as a strategic ally is significant because it removes one of the few competitive pathways LIV players had outside their own ecosystem. If sponsorship dollars are also proving elusive, the business model becomes much tougher to justify. That said, as long as Saudi money remains somewhere in the picture, I’m hesitant to declare it finished. On the struggle bus? Yes. Done? Not quite.

Schurman: I watched my first LIV event last Sunday. The concept has merit and the standard of play produced a terrific finish. A lot of benefit has come from them. Golf has taken a bigger place around the world, the other Tours are working more closely with the PGA TOUR, and all the bickering and back-biting has created some great media coverage. On the downside, some wonderful historic venues are gone and the old romantic camaraderie among the players has disappeared.

Quinn: Yup, done like dinner. The timer went off quite a while ago, and now all that’s left is to clean up the leftovers from the Saudi funding. Even in a world with Trump crypto coins, there’s no investors out there who can see any upside from investing in this turkey. Historians might one day ask, ‘what was LIV?’ and ‘what was sport washing?’ and ‘who was Rahm?’ And like now, no one will care.

Mumford: Since the PIF pulled the plug, I’ve thought that was the end of LIV, at least as we know it. Now I hear rumours that O’Neill may be close to a deal to fund something that would continue the maverick league. The big questions are to what end, who’s playing in it and who’s watching. Nothing stands out to me that would make it worthwhile to continue.

There are four different major winners in 2026; Chris Gotterup and Matt Fitzpatrick have three PGA Tour wins each; and Cameron Young and Wyndham Clark have two apiece. Who’s your front-runner to win Player of the Year honours on the PGA Tour?

Deeks: That’s a tough call at this point.  Accordingly, I think I’d defer making a choice now and wait to see how the FedEx playoffs play out.  Of the names you mention above, whoever finishes highest in the FedEx would get my vote.

Loughry: Right now, I’m leaning towards Matt Fitzpatrick. Three PGA Tour wins is a serious play, and paired with consistently high finishes in the majors, that’s hard to overlook. Chris Gotterup deserves equal consideration, but Fitzpatrick’s overall résumé, and ability to contend on the biggest stages give him the edge for me. Of course, one more win, or a playoff run from Young or Gotterup could change the conversation.

Schurman: I wish one of Fitzpatrick and Gotterup had won a major, but they didn’t. Player of the Year is an award for one year and the four candidates are close to indistinguishable even though the US Open carries a lot of weight. I am going to invoke my own tie breaker and say Gotterup based on the last 18 months instead of the last 12.

Quinn: Don’t think Clark’s rehab among his peers is complete, so think it might be Young for winning the Fifth Major at Sawgrass and leading in the clubhouse when the Kiwi did his magic act at Royal Birkdale. Voting runs until early December, so FedEx exercise may have an impact. Hope not.

Mumford: I was surprised to read that Fitzie had won three times this year and had to look up which ones. POY almost always goes to a major winner, so if any of the four can conjure a little more magic this season, they’ll get my vote. Otherwise, I lean to Young for almost winning the Open and actually winning the Players.