THE MODERATOR: We would like to welcome Jackson Koivun to the interview room here at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Jackson, playing this week as a sponsor's exemption in the Arnold Palmer Cup exemption which you received by virtue of a vote from your peers from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup. Just maybe what it means to get that exemption, knowing it was from that vote from your peers.
JACKSON KOIVUN: Yeah, it was definitely something really special to be voted on by my peers. There's a lot of really, really good golfers on that team, and for them to select me, it means a lot to be able to come out here at Bay Hill this week and try to go compete.
THE MODERATOR: Just looking back at that week at Lahinch, obviously coming out on top, what was that experience like for you?
JACKSON KOIVUN: Yeah, definitely winning on international soil was awesome. We had really good connectivity between the team, and we fought hard for that win against the other side. They fought really hard, but to come out on top was, it was something special.
THE MODERATOR: Then shifting here to Bay Hill this week, you've mentioned you played here a couple of times in the past, I guess what brought you here, what were the circumstances to get to experience this place?
JACKSON KOIVUN: Yeah, I came out here probably three months ago. The course was a little different than what it is now, but yeah, knowing I had the exemption I felt like I should come out and play a couple times. Being able to come out and play definitely helped. I played yesterday and the course is truly something special.
THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Lastly from me, 18 points in PGA TOUR University Accelerated, obviously an opportunity this week making the cut, a top 10 would get you that 20 points. Knowing you have obviously a lot of time to reach that, how much is that on your mind when you get these opportunities to compete on TOUR?
JACKSON KOIVUN: Yeah, I mean, it's hard not to think about that, knowing going into an event if I top 10 I can get my PGA TOUR card. But just trying to put that in the back of my mind and go play like I know I can. If everything falls into place, that's great, but at the end of the day I'm just trying to come out here and have fun.
THE MODERATOR: All right. We'll take some questions.
Q. How much inspiration do you take seeing what Luke Clanton did last week, and he kind of finally talked after he got the card last week about the pressure and just how much it kind of weighed on his shoulders. Do you feel any of that right now and I guess just your thoughts on seeing what he did last week?
JACKSON KOIVUN: Yeah, I mean, I know Luke very well, he's a good person and he works his tail off to go compete, and he's been playing really well. It's great for him to get that card and I'm happy for him. I just, knowing that I'm kind of in that same situation, I just have a little more time than he did, just, obviously it's going to be weighing on me a little bit, but like I said before, I think if I can just go have fun and try to put that on the back burner I think I'll play a little better.
Q. Could you talk about the athletes that you looked up to as you were growing up, not just in golf but maybe in other sports as well.
JACKSON KOIVUN: Yeah, it's hard not to say the names like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer. Arnold Palmer had such a great legacy, what he stood for, and obviously his golf game was very, very good. I really idolized Tiger's mindset. When he goes out he tries to win and he tries to beat everyone, and that's something not a lot of guys have, it's impressive and something I try to do as well.
Q. How would you describe yourself emotionally as a golfer? We saw Luke is very demonstrative out there, you seem to be a little bit more level headed.
JACKSON KOIVUN: Yeah, I try to play as level headed as I can, try not to have the peaks and valleys. I think every golfer needs a little bit of fire to get momentum going, and there's been some times where I've gotten a little hot, but that's something I tried to work on, just trying to stay a little more level headed and try to stay even, not getting up or down on myself.
Q. Where do you feel like your game is ready for the TOUR and where do you feel like you're still needing improvement?
JACKSON KOIVUN: I think there's little things here and there I could improve on if I want to get to one of the top players in the world. But I think, game-wise, I think I'm ready to get out and compete. I think it's just growing a little bit, maturing a little bit mentally that needs some work, and that's why staying in college I think is a good idea for me and, you know, I think having one or two more years could really, really benefit me. Traveling week in, week out is definitely mentally tolling on players, and I think that's where I could improve on a little bit.
Q. Coming off a season like you had as a freshman, what's the follow-up to that? Has it been more difficult, did you find expectations going higher, how do you deal with such a weird game like golf?
JACKSON KOIVUN: Yeah, it's hard not to grow expectations after last year, but I talked with my coach, Coach Clinard, my swing coach, and a bunch of people about it. Just trying to go into every tournament not having as many expectations, not trying, I mean, not expecting to play like I did last year, but I think if I go in just as free as I can be I'll be able to go compete.
Q. What was your senior year into high school like? Did you kill it there, too?
JACKSON KOIVUN: I played pretty good junior golf as well. Senior year, between the junior ranks, I was ranked pretty high. That definitely helped me grow momentum and maturity going into freshman year.
THE MODERATOR: All right, Jackson, best of luck this week. Thanks for the time.
JACKSON KOIVUN: Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports