Amateurs Jackson Koivun, Miles Russell represent future of the game at U.S. Open
From left: Jackson Koivun, 21, the No. 1 amateur golfer in the world, and Miles Russell, 17, the No. 1 junior golfer in the world. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
This duo wasn’t quite Arnie and Jack, Tiger and Phil or Scottie and Rory.
Not close.
But plenty of fans at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club envisioned that maybe one day — just maybe — they could be.
Jackson Koivun, 21, the No. 1 amateur golfer in the world, and Miles Russell, 17, the No. 1 junior golfer in the world, played alongside each other Saturday in the third round of the U.S. Open.
Their scores — they each shot a 4-over-par 74 on Saturday to move to 7 over for the tournament — were hardly relevant to the big picture considering many believed they were witnessing their first look at golf’s future in an elite championship-level test.
Come 2036, when the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills, this experience may be a footnote in a much greater story for the young pairing. For now, both seemed to enjoy playing with each other.
“It was cool,” Russell said. “Somebody not too much older than me, but it was good to watch him play and see how he does it.”
Said Koivun: “It was good. I hadn't spent a lot of time with him in the past. He's a great kid, obviously a great player. We had a fun day.”
Koivun, who played at Auburn University, didn’t just burst onto the professional golf radar overnight. And he isn’t your typical amateur playing a major.
He actually will turn pro after the U.S. Open as he earned his PGA Tour card in May 2025, when he tied for fourth in stroke play of the NCAA Championship to reach the 20 points needed as part of the PGA Tour University Accelerated program. That came a year after he had one of the best freshman seasons in college golf history in 2024, winning the SEC title by six shots, tying for second in the NCAA Championship and leading Auburn to its first national title. He also helped Auburn win this year’s national title and won all three awards (Hogan, Nicklaus and Haskins) for the best player in college golf for the second time.
Koivun, who had an exemption into the U.S. Open for being the world’s best amateur golfer at the conclusion of the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship, had to maintain his amateur status to remain exempt. He’ll make his pro debut on July 2 at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.
Russell, from Jacksonville Beach, Fla., is verbally committed to play at Florida State in 2027. He qualified for the U.S. Open after surviving a 3-for-2 playoff in final qualifying at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on June 8. Charlie Woods, Tiger’s son and a fellow Florida State commit, was his caddie that day.
In addition to his long list of junior golf accolades, Russell already has found success on the pro level. As a 15-year-old in April 2024, Russell was the youngest player to make the cut in Korn Ferry Tour history, tying for 20th at the LECOM Suncoast Classic.
He also turned heads Saturday with a massive 407-yard drive on the 18th hole.
Koivun said he had met Russell in passing before, though Saturday was the first time they got to spend extended time together. Russell said they talked about school, life and the PGA Tour U program during their round.
Other amateurs who made the cut included University of Oklahoma two-time All-American Ryder Cowan — the top performing amateur who entered Saturday in a tie for 11th place — University of South Carolina’s Marek Fleming, and Oklahoma State standout Eric Lee.
“Amateur golf is in a great spot right now,” Koivun said. “The college kids are definitely showing off, showing off how good they are. For five of us to make it through, it's quite impressive.”
But for these two specifically to be tabbed the future of the game?
“I don't know, that's kind of crazy,” Russell said. “I think the main thing is just keep enjoying it, because if you're not enjoying it, you may not have much of a future in it. So just keep doing what we're doing and see where it takes us.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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