Presidents Cup rookie Jackson Koivun was the odd one out at the pre-tournament gala
Jackson Koivun shined solo at the Presidents Cup by posing alongside the wives and girlfriends of his fellow golf stars.
The 21-year-old Presidents Cup rookie earned a shock call-up to Team USA’s squad for the biennial competition, as they take on the international team at Medinah Country Club, Illinois, this week.
Koivun began the year at Auburn University but turned professional following the US Open in June. He won his first PGA Tour event in only his third start to earn his spot on this week’s Team USA roster.
Before the golf got underway, Tuesday night’s gala dinner saw the captains, players and their partners all gather for an evening of team photos and entertainment, dressed in dinner suits and ball gowns. Chicago’s Cloud Gate in Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago were the centerpiece for the evening’s entertainment.
But, donning a navy jacket and a claret tie, the Californian sensation was the only single member of the US team and the only player without a date. As such, during the ladies-only photo, the rookie was called by the WAGs to come and join them.
Koivun could not hide his embarrassment as he sheepishly posed at the centre of the picture behind the trophy. He buried his head in his hands and awkwardly laughed his way through the shoot while the wives and girlfriends posed.
The official PGA Tour social media account added insult to injury by tweeting a video of him in the uncomfortable situation along with the caption: “Rookie with no date? No problem.”
Koivun follows the tradition set by Rickie Fowler and Viktor Hovland before him. Team USA’s Fowler made the photo opportunity famous in 2016, when he was left in the middle of a team picture that had all the US players kissing their partners. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled in the memorable snap.
Meanwhile, Hovland took social media by storm at the 2023 Ryder Cup. As the only single member of the team, he famously posed with the trophy all smiles lying on the grass – with the rest of the glam European partners crouched all around.
With the action set to get underway on Thursday, Koivun will find out in the Opening Ceremony just how involved he will be on Day 1, when Snedeker announces his pairings for Thursday’s five fourball matches.