The PGA Tour rolls right into Blaine, Minnesota this week for the 2nd edition of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. The program, a par-71, 7,468-yard web links program, was developed by Arnold Palmer as well as Tom Lehman to initially hold a PGA Tour Champions occasion.
Following the last 3M Championship in 2018, the training course underwent remodellings to be lengthened as well as made harder to test the PGA Tour golf players who would be taking it on starting with the 2019 3M Open.
Though the training course was refurbished, it proved to be golfer-friendly throughout in 2014’s event with the victor, Matthew Wolff, carding a 21-under to edge out Bryson DeChambeau as well as Collin Morikawa for the win. That said, the reduced scoring really did not enable any individual to escape from the field and also in fact, offered a significant ending.
After Dechambeau eagled on 18 to go up one stroke, Wolff carded an eagle of his own to win.
AMAZING! @Matthew_Wolff5 makes EAGLE to win! It’s the 20-year-old’s very first PGA TOUR success. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/LYMXFIduPI
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 7, 2019
One can just wish for a likewise dramatic surface this moment around. Wolff is back to protect his title while DeChambeau as well as Morikawa are taking the week off. Nonetheless, globe No. 4 Dustin Johnson as well as No. 6 Brooks Koepka will tee it up this week as will No. 12 Tommy Fleetwood that goes back to the course for the very first time because the Player’s Championship.
” It’s amazing to have Fleetwood back on the PGA Tour. I know he’s been quarantining the last few weeks and also I’m sure during that quarantine he has been playing a lot of golf, which can only help him returning and also violating this gifted field at the 3M Open,” stated Andrew Catalon, who will certainly be on the phone call in the 18th tower this weekend break for CBS Sports. “I assume everybody is happy to have his existence available this weekend.”
It’s difficult to anticipate what Fleetwood will appear like after a four-month discharge. Some golfers have actually come back from their prolonged off durations playing terrific golf. Others, like Tiger Woods recently, have had some corrosion to get rid of. Yet, the oddsmakers seem to such as the Englishman’s opportunities of taking the win, installing him simply behind Johnson and Koepka as the third-favorite getting in the weekend.
Favorites apart, the course lends itself to that dramatic activity that we saw in 2014. The par-5 596-yard 18th opening absolutely gives difficulties with a pond leaving the appropriate side of the fairway, it provides possibilities for eagles like the ones we saw DeChambeau as well as Wolff finish with last year. It was the third-easiest opening on the training course during last year’s competition surrendering 62 birdies and 3 eagles.
” I was in the 18th tower in 2015 for the inaugural 3M Open as well as what an unbelievable program it was down the stretch. That course produced the most birdies of any type of other event in 2015, near to 2,000,” claimed Catalon. “And, I do not see any type of reason why we wouldn’t have a lot much more once more this year. The way that it’s established with the 18th opening, we saw Matthew Wolff with the eagle to win it at the end. I assume this golf links is actually established for fireworks at the surface and I anticipate it again this year.”
In addition to players going low, the story lines heading into this week are what has Catalon delighted for the action at TPC Twin Cities.
” Dustin Johnson coming off of back-to-back rounds in the 80s at The Memorial. How will he get better? Brooks Koepka remains in the field again still fighting a left knee injury,” claimed Catalon. “Tony Finau, he remained in the search last weekend break and afterwards did not get it done down the stretch. I look at a guy like Lucas Glover. He played in the 3M Open a year back, shot a 62 on the weekend break. He is an individual that goes low a lot, makes a great deal of birdies. You have a great deal of excellent prospects that can emerge this weekend and obviously, you can’t forget Matthew Wolff as well as his history with this training course as well as the good feelings that accompany it.”
Catalon notes that the course provides itself to those players who are on factor with their iron play, calling it a “2nd shot” program.
” These guys are so called in with their irons from within 200 that you seed them getting excellent settings on the environment-friendly and that makes all the distinction,” claimed Catalon.
While the course did healthy gamers’ eye in 2015’s competition. It had not been to be taken too lightly either. Catalon keeps in mind that there mored than 260 spheres place in the water in 2019’s 3M Open making it the tournament with the 3rd-most shots ending in the water on excursion last period. Keeping it in the fairway will be vital, however it does not constantly ensure a great outcome as shown by the par-4, 502-yard 9th hole which was the hardest opening on the course in 2015 no matter where your very first shot landed.
More including in the drama of the week is another 2 spots in the U.S. Open up for grabs to the leading 2 players that are not currently exempt that surface inside the Top 10. The exact same incentive was readily available recently as well as saw Ryan Palmer and Mackenzie Hughes lock up areas for the tournament at Winged Foot in September.
” That is definitely a big carrot for a lot of guys who would not otherwise remain in the U.S. Open in September,” claimed Catalon. “I definitely think that belongs of the story heading into the weekend and I credit the U.S. Open for them establishing this U.S. Open qualifying series that these golf enthusiasts can capitalize on right here in Minnesota.”
Those areas will just add to the drama of Saturday and also Sunday. Here are the players the oddsmakers view as favorites this week:
Dustin Johnson (10-1)
Johnson did card those back-to-back 80s last weekend at The Memorial, however that was the very first tournament back considering that winning the Traveler’s Championship at the end of June. Maybe it was simply a bit of shaking the rust off. We saw Johnson miss out on the cut at the Charles Schwab prior to then going on to publish a T-17 (-15) at RBC Heritage and afterwards the win at Traveler’s. Most significant inquiry will be whether he gives himself sufficient opportunities. He rates 107th in Greens in Regulation to this point.
Brooks Koepka (12-1)
Dealing with the damaged knee doesn’t appear to be terrifying the oddsmakers away from Koepka at all. He battled at The Memorial as the weekend break took place publishing considerably higher rounds in each of the four days. He played well at this course last year (-6) though not well enough to get to the top of the leaderboard. Like Johnson, placing himself in good position to be on the green in guideline will be vital. Koepka is 179th because classification this year striking simply 64%.
Tommy Fleetwood (14-1)
First tournament back for Fleetwood and also high assumptions featured it. The period has actually been a little a variety for him prior to the time out with a T-18 at the WGC Mexico Championship, a 3rd at the Honda Classic and after that a missed cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Still, there’s plenty to like concerning the 29-year-old who has been right on the cusp of winning at several events over the last number of years.
See the 3M Open Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26, 3:00– 6:00 p.m. EST on CBS.