Jackson Koivun, 20, from the United States, has been awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the leading male in the 2025 World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®).
The medal secures Koivun exemptions into next year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
“It’s a huge honour to win this award,” Koivun said. “I’m very grateful to everyone who has helped me, and it’s a dream come true. It’s the medal every amateur golfer strives for. To be able to say I’m a McCormack Medal winner is just really, really cool.”
Koivun, who lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has risen to the top of the amateur game following a remarkable run of performances over the last two years.
His 2024 freshman season at Auburn University was one of the best in collegiate history. He won the SEC Championship, never finished worse than sixth in 13 starts, and became the first player to capture all four major collegiate awards (Jack Nicklaus, Fred Haskins, Ben Hogan and Phil Mickelson Awards) in a single season. He also helped Auburn secure its first-ever NCAA team title, winning all three of his match-play games.
In 2025, Koivun added the SEC Men’s Golf Championship Stroke Play and the NCAA Auburn Regional titles, alongside a runner-up finish at the Mason Rudolph Championship. His success at the amateur level has already translated to professional opportunities, including a debut at the U.S. Open and three PGA TOUR top-12 finishes at the John Deere Classic, ISCO Championship and Wyndham Championship.
He has also been selected to represent the USA in the upcoming 50th Walker Cup against Great Britain and Ireland at Cypress Point, close to where he grew up in California. “I’m super excited for the Walker Cup at Cypress Point,” he said. “To be named a Walker Cup player is something I will never forget and is truly special.”
Leaders in the game praised Koivun’s rise. USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said: “Jackson has shown that he is a force in the amateur game and we’re proud to see him accept this honour and reap the benefits of all that comes with it.”
The R&A’s Professor Steve Otto added: “Jackson has enjoyed an outstanding year and we congratulate him on winning this prestigious award. He has demonstrated exceptional skills and is a thoroughly deserving recipient.”
The McCormack Medal, co-awarded annually by the R&A and USGA, is named in honour of Mark H. McCormack, founder of IMG and a long-time supporter of amateur golf.
The WAGR® now tracks more than 4,800 male players across 118 countries and over 4,300 counting events, with Rolex as its official partner.