Jackson Koivun’s Major Moment: Is This the New Face of Golf? Plus, the Majors Recap and LIV’s Lingering Questions

Alright, let’s cut the crap. Golf’s been a bit of a soap opera lately, hasn’t it? You’ve got rookies popping up like weeds, established stars doing… well, whatever it is they do, and a whole damn circus on the other side with LIV. This week, we’re diving deep into the latest from the PGA Tour, dissecting the absolute madness of the major season, and trying to make sense of LIV’s never-ending drama. Buckle up, it’s going to be a ride.

Koivun’s Breakthrough: More Than Just a Win?

So, Jackson Koivun. Kid wins the 3M Open. Thirteen starts, third as a pro, and he’s holding off Scottie Scheffler. Not exactly a nobody, but still. What did you make of it? Was it just a good week, or is this the start of something big? Because honestly, watching him down the stretch, there was a weird calm about it. Even with a shaky par here or there, he just… got it done. No histrionics, no meltdowns. Just solid golf.

It’s that poise, man. That’s what gets you. Especially with Scheffler breathing down your neck. You’d expect a young guy, even one with all the talent in the world, to start showing his age, right? But Koivun? Nah. He just kept hitting fairways, hitting greens, and making the putts that mattered. It felt like he knew he was going to win, even when things got a little tight. That’s not something you see every day. It’s the kind of stuff that makes you think, ‘Okay, this kid’s got something.’

The veteran poise thing is a real kicker. You see so many talented youngsters come through, and they’ve got the shots, sure. But then the pressure cooker cranks up, and they fold. Koivun? He just seemed unfazed. Birdie on the first hole, and he just kept pushing. No backing down. It’s like he was born for this. And honestly, that’s rare. You see it with a handful of guys, but not many.

The 3M Open Gamble: Stars, Schedules, and the Future

Now, let’s talk about this Scottie Scheffler showing up at the 3M. Massive for the tournament, right? Ticket sales went through the roof. Everyone was there. But here’s the kicker: the Tour’s new two-track system in 2028. Players on the Championship Series can’t just drop into Challenger Series events. So, that whole star-player splash we saw this week? Might be a thing of the past. Is that a raw deal for these communities? Or is it just the price of doing business with this new Tour structure?

Look, as someone who’s been to the 3M, I can tell you, the crowds this year were something else. I’ve never seen anything like it. Usually, it’s a decent turnout, but Scottie being there? That drew everyone. It was fun. But the Tour schedule needed a shake-up, badly. I get why they’ve put these rules in place. Letting guys cherry-pick events here and there? That sounds like a recipe for chaos. It’s gotta be cleaner.

It’s the same story we heard at the John Deere, too. Former champs can’t defend, winners of Track 2 events can’t play the next year. It sucks for places like Minnesota or the Quad Cities. They deserve to see the big names. But this Tour? It couldn’t keep going the way it was. It needed a serious overhaul. Make the schedule and the stakes make sense. Everything needs to lead somewhere, not just be a bunch of random events that end in some confusing playoff.

The schedule had to change. No question. But does this new structure actually fix the core problem? You know, the fact that there are only so many golfers people actually give a damn about watching? If you don’t have the big names, and you don’t have the eyeballs they bring, how long can these smaller events really survive? Are we just kicking the can down the road until they have to cut even more events?

The 2026 Major Season: A Weird, Wild Ride

Alright, let’s rewind and talk majors. The 2026 season. What was your biggest takeaway? Because honestly, it felt… weird. You had guys like Rory, Scottie, Bryson, Xander, Brooks winning the previous few years. Then this year, you get Ryan Fox and Aaron Rai popping up. And Wyndham Clark, who’d won one before, but still. The guy who trashed lockers at a U.S. Open wins it again a year later? Come on. And get this: he was getting heckled by American fans the whole damn round. Unbelievable.

And here’s a fun fact that’s stuck with me: Scottie Scheffler. Outside the top 10 at a major just twice in the last three years. Winning these things is brutal. You’d bet he’d snag one next year, but he played damn good major golf in 2026 and didn’t add to his tally. That’s how tough it is.

The big story after years of the usual suspects dominating was the three straight surprises. Heading into the PGA, eight of the last nine majors were won by Rory, Scottie, Bryson, or Xander. The only real curveballs since 2021 were Spaun and Harman. Then boom: Rai, Fox, and Clark. Clark, especially. Back from the wilderness, wins his second U.S. Open. So, looking ahead, past the whole “Can Rory win another Masters?” thing, who from the non-Rory/Scottie crew finally breaks through in 2027? Morikawa’s been stuck on two for five years. Rahm, three years. JT, four. Xander and Bryson, two years without a major, still at two. Spieth? Nine years and still at three. Someone’s gotta step up, right?

For me, a lot of the drama wasn’t even about the golf itself. Rory chasing a repeat. The fan abuse of Clark. Bryson’s penalty meltdown. When it came down to the actual play, only the Open Championship had a genuinely dramatic finish on the final hole.

The Most Memorable Major Moment? It’s a Debate.

So, what was the moment? The one you’ll actually remember in ten years?

• Garrick Higgo’s late arrival, penalty, and explanation at the PGA. That was something. And the fan treatment of Clark at Shinnecock Hills. But beyond Rory’s second green jacket, what sticks out for Bryson’s bizarre Friday night at Royal Birkdale? That’s what we’ll probably still be talking about.
• Bryson’s penalty and the whole damn scene. Him dragging officials back out there, threatening to withdraw, reportedly calling Trump to try and get it overturned. It was insane. That’s what the 2026 Open will be remembered for. Honorable mentions go to Scottie’s runner-up at Augusta and his subsequent rant about conditions, and Haotong Li’s final-round 80 where he spent half an hour in the bushes on No. 13.
• Bryson’s penalty saga, hands down. My personal barometer for a big golf moment is when my friends who don’t even watch golf start texting me. The noise around that ruling? That nearly blew up my phone.

It’s clear that Bryson’s rules kerfuffle took the cake for most people. It transcended the game, which is a rare feat these days.

Who’s Your 2027 Major Stock Pick?

Alright, looking ahead to next year. Whose major stock are you buying?

• Sam Burns. He was one shot off the lead at the Masters after 54 holes. Finished a shot behind Clark at the U.S. Open. Led the Open Championship after three rounds. He’s close. More importantly, he’s handling these pressure situations well. Sometimes you just need those near misses to learn how to close.
• Cam Young. He led on Sunday at the Masters and then had a blistering final round at Royal Birkdale to nearly snatch the Open. He’s made a massive leap in the last year. Wins at Wyndham, a Players Championship, and dominated at Doral. The majors are coming for him.
• Scheffler. I know, I know. He’s Scottie Scheffler. But if I wasn’t already all-in, I’m definitely buying now. It’s hard to imagine him going another year without adding another major. He’s too good.

These are all solid picks. The game is wide open, and that’s what makes it exciting. We’ve got talent bubbling up everywhere.

LIV Golf: The Slow Burn of Collapse?

Now, the elephant in the room. LIV. What’s the more troubling news this week? The Asian Tour bailing as a feeder program, or the whispers that the season-ending team event in Michigan might not even happen? What’s your take on these latest developments? Does it change how you see LIV’s future?

Honestly, it’s getting harder to keep up with all the rumors, reports, and lawsuits surrounding LIV. Add it all up, and it’s not a pretty picture. The Michigan thing isn’t official yet, so maybe it’s not the death knell. But losing the Asian Tour? That’s a big hit. Did you see how fast Rory McIlroy backed that move? Not a coincidence. Funding drying up this year doesn’t mean some deep-pocketed investor won’t swoop in. But right now? The whole thing is starting to sputter. It’s leaking oil, badly.

Can I just say… both? If that Michigan event gets canceled, that feels like the final curtain call for a league that’s been desperately trying to avoid the inevitable for months. But the Asian Tour cozying up to the PGA and DP World Tours? That might be even bigger. Rumor had it LIV’s pitch to investors involved 10 Asian Tour events and 10 LIV events. That’s off the table. Without the Asian Tour as a feeder, those OWGR points LIV fought so hard for could be toast, even if the league survives. Things are not good at LIV HQ. It feels like we’re prepping the eulogy after the Indianapolis event.

Both. Put a fork in it. This league is in zombie mode. Dead in all the ways that actually matter.

The future of professional golf is always in flux, but the current landscape with emerging stars, a revamped Tour schedule, and the ongoing LIV saga makes for compelling viewing. Whether it’s a new face like Koivun rising to the top or the continued evolution of the established tours, one thing’s for sure: golf keeps us talking. And for now, that’s a win.