Johnson-Wagner hinted that he was surprised by the distance he hit a golf ball after following Jackson Koivan at the 3M Open last week, while his playing partner was also stunned by the drive he hit on the 16th hole of the third round at TPC Twin Cities.
Koibun won his first victory on the PGA Tour and has become a hot topic of conversation. The 21-year-old not only needed just three starts as a professional to win at the highest level, but he also managed to hold off Scottie Scheffler to get over the line.
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It was remarkable how comfortable the youngster seemed in the spotlight, especially during Sunday’s final round in Minnesota. There were few moments when Koibun’s victory seemed in doubt.
Johnson Wagner reacts to Jackson Koibun’s follow at Saturday’s 3M Open
What’s so impressive about Koivun’s game is the fact that he seems to have all the tools.
Koibun himself cited his mental game as his strongest attribute. But this was another skill that impressed Johnson-Wagner during the 3M Open.
Wagner described on his scorecard how amazed he was at the way Koibun hit the ball off Blaine’s tee.
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“If you ask him or anyone around him, they say obviously his mental play is the best part. I saw it in person that Saturday and I couldn’t believe how calmly he went down the last six holes and shot 28 on the back nine. He looked as if he’d been there before and done it and was so comfortable,” he said.
Photo credit: David Berding/Getty Images
“The other thing that really struck me about him is he’s got a lot of bounce off his bat. I remember watching him in college and never thought he could fly this far. He hit this little chippy cut driver off the 16th tee that went down the hill and popped out there on Saturday. The group in front of me waved at him. So as I was walking to the green, he was playing with Troy Merritt, and Troy walked right next to me. Koibun was there too, and he said, ‘Well, I’ve never seen anyone hit a bump-and-run driver from 296 yards.’ The fact that he has that kind of speed and is able to put it back together has honed his wedge game.
“His start on Sunday was completely asleep in the lead, a late tee time, he stripped off one, hit a wedge on the kick-in, went back on a little ledge and got into a pretty tough pin-on. It’s hard to control the spin there. Considering you’re a young player, that’s the final piece. I think Michael Thorbjornsen, he’s still new to the wedge game. But Jackson Koibun is, and that’s why he was able to separate on a golf course in soft conditions where he hits a lot of off-speed wedges. ”
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Jackson Koibun’s Remarkable Driving Statistics by TPC Twin Cities
Koibun’s driving statistics at the 3M Open are interesting.
He actually finished the week 55th in driving distance, averaging just under 294 yards off the tee, according to the PGA Tour website.
But there are good reasons to be impressed with Wagner’s driving, especially on Saturday. This day, along with Thursday, was one of just two days where Koibun averaged over 300 yards, with 314.4 yards per drive.
This left him tied for seventh place in the third round.
That suggests Koibun has a lot of gear to play with. That versatility will definitely serve him well in the coming years.
