2021 3M Open Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds

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3M Open Charles Howell III
Charles Howell III hits a tee shot on the 12th hole during round one of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn. on July 23, 2020. (Photo by Nick Wosika for Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Following The 149th Open – the season’s final major, the PGA Tour returns to action with the third edition of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota.

The field teeing it up this week at the Arnold Palmer-designed venue will be headlined by top-20 ranked stars Dustin Johnson (No. 2), Louis Oosthuizen (9), Patrick Reed (13) and Tony Finau (19).

Other familiar names in the field include Rickie Fowler, Brian Harman, Matthew Wolff, Sergio Garcia, and Bubba Watson.

Here are more details on what to watch for this week at the 3M Open.


The 3M Open Preview


The Skinny

Tournament: 3M Open
Title Sponsor: 3M
Tour Debut: 2019
Dates: July 22-25, 2021
Where: Blaine, Minn.
Course: TPC Twin Cities
Distance: Par 71, 7431 yards
Architect: Arnold Palmer
TV Network: GOLF/CBS
Purse: $6,600,000
Winning Share: $1,188,000
Defending Champ: Michael Thompson


How to Follow the 3M Open

3M Open Flagstick
A detail of the 18th flagstick during the second round of the 3M Open on July 24, 2020 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn. (Photo by Stacy Revere via Getty Images)

TELEVISION: Thu-Fri: 2:30-6:30 p.m. (GOLF); Sat-Sun: 1-3 p.m. (GOLF), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)

PGA TOUR LIVE: Thu-Fri: 7:45 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (Groups); Sat-Sun: 7:45 a.m.-3 p.m. (Groups), 3-6 p.m. (Holes)

RADIO: Thu-Fri: 1-6:30 p.m.; Sat-Sun: 1-6 p.m.

LINKS: Website | Instagram | Facebook


History Spotlight

As was the case for the Rocket Mortgage Classic a few weeks back, there’s not a great deal of history to report. Despite just two editions, however, the 3M Open is not completely devoid of past intrigue.

Kenny Perry
Kenny Perry chips on to the 18th green during the final round of the 2014 3M Championship at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. Credit: Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Debuting in 2019 with Minnesota-based 3M as the title sponsor, the tournament was the former 3M Championship, an event that ran on the PGA Champions Tour from 1993-2018, and running continuously at TPC Twin Cities since 2001. That inaugural event was won by the popular Chi Chi Rodriguez.

The event victory record for the long-running stop was three apiece, held by Hale Irwin and Kenny Perry, the latter of whom won the final tournament a year ago. The only other player to win multiple times was Bernhard Langer, who took the title in 2009 and 2012.

TPC Twin Cities was established in 2000 and is a design of the late, legendary Arnold Palmer, with an assist from Minnesota native Tom Lehman, who will be in the 3M Open field this week as a sponsor invite.

Prior to last year’s event, Minnesota had not had a regular PGA Tour stop since 1969. The state has been the site of some very important golf tournaments, though, most notably the 2002 and 2009 PGA Championships, and the 2016 Ryder Cup – all contested at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska.

Matthew Wolff won the inaugural event in one of the most exciting finishes of the 2019 season, while Michael Thompson captured last season’s 3M Open title.


Host Course: TPC Twin Cities

3M Open TPC Twin Cities 18th Hole
A general view of the 18th green during the third round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 6, 2019 in Blaine, Minn. (Photo by Sam Greenwood via Getty Images)

TPC Twin Cities, a par 71, measuring 7,431 yards, was designed by Arnold Palmer with Minnesota native Tom Lehman advising as the player consultant. A former sod farm, the layout criss-crosses naturally rolling terrain with lots of water. One of the signature holes is the 7th, dubbed “Tom’s Thumb” after Lehman himself – it’s a risk/reward par four.

Name: TPC Twin Cities
Owner: PGA TOUR
Website: TPC.com
Architect (Year): Arnold Palmer (2000)
Redesign (Year): Steve Wenzloff (2018)
Distance: Par 35-36-71, 7468 yards
Stimpmeter: 12
Avg Green Size: 6500 sf
Avg Tee Size: 1000 sf
Acres of Fairway: 28
Acres of Rough: 59
Number of Sand Bunkers: 72
Number of Water Hazards: 27
Greens: Bentgrass .100”
Tees: Bentgrass .285”
Fairways: Bentgrass .325”
Rough: Bluegrass/Fescue 3”

Featured Hole
tpc-twin-cities-3m-open-hole-7
The 7th hole at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. The par-4 hole measures 381 yards for the pros. Credit: PGA TOUR Media

No.7, TPC Twin Cities
Par 4, 381 yards

Dubbed “Tom’s Thumb” in reference to PGA TOUR player and course consultant Tom Lehman, the green on this 381-yard par-4 may be reached with a long and accurate tee shot that carries the lake on the left side and avoids Palmer’s signature beach bunkers to the right of the green.

A conservative tee shot into the fairway will often render an approach of less than 100 yards to the two-tiered green.

More Featured Holes:
No. 6, 594-yard, par 5 risk/reward double-dog leg… No. 9, 502-yard par 4 with difficult long-iron approach… No. 14, 437-yard par 4 dogleg around Cavner’s Cove.


Field: Power Rankings

Dustin Johnson 149th Open Championship Royal St Georges
Dustin Johnson plays his second shot on the 8th hole during Day Three of The 149th Open at Royal St George’s on July 17, 2021 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by David Cannon for R&A via Getty Images)

It was slim pickings for this week’s power rankings. World No. 2 Dustin Johnson is far and away the top dog in Minnesota. He is followed by Louis Oosthuizen while Emiliano GrilloBrian Harman and Cameron Tringale round out the top-5 in our rankings.

World Rank | Odds To Win 

  1. Dustin Johnson
    World Rank: 2nd | Odds: 7-1
  2. Louis Oosthuizen
    World Rank: 9th | Odds: 14-1
  3. Emiliano Grillo
    World Rank: 67th | Odds: 40-1
  4. Brian Harman
    World Rank: 44th | Odds: 28-1
  5. Cameron Tringale
    World Rank: 77th | Odds: 28-1

Read Joel Cook’s 3M Open Power Rankings


Full Field & Odds

Matthew Wolff
Matthew Wolff prepares to play his shot from the 16th tee during the third round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 6, 2019 in Blaine, Minn. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Top-5 Betting Favorites
1. Dustin Johnson 7-1
2. Louis Oosthuizen 14-1
2. Tony Finau 14-1
4. Patrick Reed 20-1
5. Brian Harman 28-1
5. Cameron Tringale 28-1
5. Matthew Wolff 28-1
5. Robert MacIntyre 28-1

Place your bets on the 3M Open at DraftKings.

TPC Twin Cities | Blaine, Minn. | July 22-25, 2021


Credit: Getty Images, PGA TOUR Media, TPC Network


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