Phil Mickelson believes amateur sensation Jackson Koivun is ‘destined for greatness,’ and the six-time major champion loves the idea of the Auburn talent playing for his LIV Golf team
Phil Mickelson has an open spot on his LIV Golf team, and the six-time major champion has made no secret of the fact that he would love to sign history-making amateur sensation Jackson Koivun.
The 20-year-old is a junior at Auburn, but he has made a splash on the PGA Tour this season. Not only has he been a standout player in the collegiate ranks for the Tigers, but he has also held his own against the pros.
Koivun has played in seven PGA Tour-sanctioned events this season, including the U.S. Open at Oakmont, which was the site of his only missed cut. In four events since, he has finished T11 or better, and he only narrowly trailed world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at last week’s Procore Championship.
Scheffler claimed the title at 19-under-par after a stellar final round in Napa, California, and Koivun finished only three shots back.
In the process, he became the first amateur to have three top-10s in succession on the PGA Tour since Ken Venturi in 1956.
That form has certainly caught the eye of Micklelson, who has a spot to fill on his LIV Golf team, the HyFlyers after the relegation of Andy Ogletree last month.
Mickelson, 55, went on record with his admiration of Koivun, hinting on social media that he will try to lure the youngster to the HyFlyers.
“This young man is an amazing talent and destined for greatness. He would also look great in a HyFlers outfit,” Mickelson posted on X, adding a winking emoji.
This young man is an amazing talent and destined for greatness. He would also look great in a HyFlers outfit 😉 https://t.co/PcBF60QMAP
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) September 15, 2025
LIV made its entry into the professional golf world by poaching established stars from the PGA Tour, including Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Brooks Koepka.
The breakaway league’s strategy has changed markedly over the past couple of seasons, though, with increased emphasis on signing talents straight out of college. LIV’s aim is to build its own stars to supplement the core of big names.
The likes of Josele Ballester and Caleb Surratt, formerly of Arizona State and Tennessee, respectively, are evidence of LIV’s new tactic, and they have both acquitted themselves well in their first steps as professionals.
Koivun is the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, with five wins in 42 counting events. His success is no surprise after being the top-ranked recruit in the 2023 class.
And he has delivered on that promise in NCAA competition. He won the Haskins Award, presented to the outstanding player in college golf, as a freshman in 2024. He also won an award named after Mickelson, the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award.
He narrowly missed out on the NCAA Individual Championship in 2024, finishing in a tie for second, but he did enough to lead the Tigers to the first national title in the program’s history.
Koivun has already earned a PGA Tour card through its University Accelerated program, but he has deferred it until next year. He has chosen to return to Auburn in pursuit of an individual national title.
When the 2025/26 collegiate season is up, he will likely face the biggest decision of his career so far. PGA Tour membership has already been secured, but it is clear Mickelson – and other LIV teams, for that matter – will have their eyes on signing one of the top talents in the sport.
