Back in the Swing of Things

So, I’m back. You might have noticed the absence of Par Talk last month—essentially, the best weekly golf column out there took a short break while I was on maternity leave. Late June saw me transitioning from just being a dad to a father of two under four. Yes, life got a bit hectic, but in a good way.

In the meantime, quite a bit has unfolded in the golf world. It’s tough not to mention Ryan Fox clinching the British Open, Bryson DeChambeau making headlines, and Scottie Scheffler still holding his spot as the top player—though he seems to be having a rough patch in terms of wins. Oh, and Chris Gottterp’s victory at the John Deere Classic propelled him to the No. 7 ranking in the world.

Following last weekend’s 3M Open, which typically leads to some sluggish play post-British Open, we witnessed Jackson Koibun snag a win in just his third professional start. Quite impressive.

Jackson Koibun’s Breakthrough

Koibun captured attention by winning his first PGA Tour event, marking just 24 days since he turned professional.

With a bogey-free 66 and a sharp final-round 63, he managed to outplay the world’s No. 1 by a three-stroke margin. Not bad at all for a 21-year-old who just recently wrapped up his college career at Auburn. We’ll dive deeper into Koibun’s remarkable week and other noteworthy moments shortly. It’s good to be back.

Jackson Koibun Meets Expectations

Things escalated quickly for Koibun. In his three years at Auburn, he not just reached but demolished expectations. This California native won virtually every collegiate award and became the top amateur in the world. While many face immense pressure with such a label, he seemingly thrived from the get-go.

Though he secured a PGA Tour card through the college program in 2025, he chose to stay in Auburn and maintain amateur status until the 2026 U.S. Open, where he had a solid T-23 finish. He then turned pro, but, interestingly enough, didn’t qualify for the John Deere Classic on his first attempt.

Fast forward just three weeks: Koibun is now a winner on the PGA Tour, and it seems like things are falling into place for him effortlessly. Throughout the tournament, he only missed 11 greens and 12 fairways, with three missed bogeys across 72 holes—a stunning achievement for such a young player.

As for Sunday’s final round, it wasn’t just good—it was remarkable. Koibun started with a solid three-shot lead, but with rookies like Scheffler breathing down his neck, the pressure was palpable. Yet, he delivered a flawless performance, not showing any signs of stress on a stage that was entirely new for him.

Glover’s Quirky Moment

Aside from Koibun’s stellar win and Scheffler’s commendable final round, a fun moment of the day was when Lucas Glover decided to kick off his shoes post-putt on the 10th. Some thought it was a protest against the aimpoint method that many players are using these days, but reports suggest he was just addressing spike marks as advised by officials during his round.

It’d have been more entertaining if it truly were a protest. The aimpoint method can indeed slow down the game, leading to more foot traffic around the hole. Given Glover’s known criticism of it, perhaps it was a blend of protest and adherence to advice. At least we can choose how to view it.

A Memorable Father-Son Moment

My recent father-son experience during what felt like my second parental leave was markedly different from the first. Most of my time was spent with my older son while my wife took care of our baby daughter. Fortunately, golf is a shared interest, and we spent some quality time on the course.

One particularly sweltering Sunday, we headed out, enduring what felt like extreme heat. We managed to enjoy ourselves but ended up drenched in sweat—not the most glamorous sight! My son hit his first tee shot into the bunker but quickly found the green with his next shot. As I sweated it out raking, he surprised me by retrieving the ball from the cup.

Then, he took off his hat and sunglasses, staring at me with an expectant look. I asked what was up, and he wondered if he could give me a hug. Naturally, I said yes, and he clung to my sweaty feet, saying, “That’s what athletes do.”

I’m still not quite versed in golf etiquette with a three-year-old, but it melted my heart. He’s been watching tournaments on TV with me, so he’s picked up a few things, including the hugging and handshaking that follow matches. I feel immensely proud and fortunate.

Wrapping Up

Expectations for Koibun will likely keep soaring—qualifying for the FedEx Cup Playoffs and even getting into the Presidents Cup may now be on the table before the year wraps up. Fair or not, that’s the nature of the game.