At the 2026 Presidents Cup held at Medinah Country Club in Illinois, veteran PGA Tour player Justin Thomas praised the composure of 21‑year‑old American rookie Jackson Koivun. Thomas, a three‑time Cup veteran, was paired with Koivun for the third match of the opening day’s four‑ball session.
Koivun’s calm start
Thomas recalled how Koivun appeared almost “blacked out” in a good way, focusing intently before placing his tee. “I’ll never forget the smile on his face when he put the tee in the ground on Thursday morning,” Thomas said. “He kind of blacked out, then picked up the tee and it was just laying there when I went to put my tee in the ground. It’s kind of cool to experience those moments with someone.”
Early victories
The Thomas‑Koivun duo secured a 4&3 win over the International pairing of Nico Echavarria and Corey Conners. Although Team USA captain Brandt Snedeker sat Koivun out during Friday’s foursomes, the rookie returned for Saturday’s four‑ball, helping the pair take a 2‑up lead with four holes to play before a late rally by the Korean duo of Sungjae Im and Min Woo Lee.
Singles success
In the singles matches, Koivun faced veteran Si Woo Kim, a consistent ball‑striker throughout the week. After falling 2‑down after ten holes, Koivun rallied to win 2‑up, finishing his debut with a 2‑0‑1 record.
Thomas’s enthusiastic comments underscore the depth of American talent on display, with Koivun’s performance standing out as a highlight for Team USA.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
