Rising Amateur Golfer Shows PGA Tour’s Harsh Reality After Facing Pros at $6M Event A rising amateur golfer shares the intimidating reality between a college player and a professional after his head

Jackson Koivun has already proven he belongs on the same stage as the world’s best. At the Procore Championship, the rising amateur stunned the field with a T4 finish, ending just three shots behind World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler . That performance didn’t just turn heads—it also gave Koivun a unique perspective on the contrasts between college golf and life on the PGA Tour.

Appearing on The Smylie Show after his breakthrough week, Koivun fielded a question from Charles Barkley about the intimidation factor of competing against amateurs versus professionals. His answer revealed just how different the two environments feel. “I would say college players, it’s very intimidating because they’re fighting for guys they know and they love… for their school, and these five or six guys they pl