After national military service and a four-year swing change, you could be forgiven for not knowing who Kim Koivu was by the time he finally turned professional at 26 years old.
However, the Helsinki native did not take long to announce himself to the golfing world. At the second event of the season – the Belt & Road Colourful Yunnan Open – in his third start as a professional, he won by an impressive four strokes.
Already inside the Road to Ras Al Khaimah top 15 after his season-opening tied 14thplace finish at the Barclays Kenya Open, Koivu was one of only three players to spend all 31 weeks occupying a graduation spot. However, unlike any other player on the Challenge Tour in 2018, he did not need to wait until after the Grand Final to earn promotion to the European Tour.
At his home-event, the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge, Koivu strung together impressive rounds of 70-65-66-66, which included a late birdie on the 71sthole, to force a play-off with rising Scottish star Robert MacIntyre. On the first extra play-off hole, Koivu buried a difficult downhill birdie putt, which sealed his second victory much to the delight of the home fans.
In his very next start on Europe’s top developmental circuit, Koivu triumphed again. Opening the limited-field Rolex Trophy with a sublime ten under par 62, he never looked back, as he sailed to a six shot victory in Geneva, securing the immediate battlefield promotion to the top tier under the three-win rule.
Since gaining European Tour Membership, Koivu has not relented, recording two top ten results against the world’s best already.
