Following two consecutive weeks in Ohio, the PGA Tour heads to the state of Minnesota for the second edition of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities.
The field teeing it up this week at the Arnold Palmer-designed venue is easily the weakest set since the Tour’s reboot in May. In fact, only four top-20 ranked players will be featured: Dustin Johnson (4), Brooks Koepka (6), Tommy Fleetwood (12), and Tony Finau (17).
Other familiar names in the field include Branden Grace, Paul Casey, Bubba Watson, and defending champion Matthew Wolff.
The Skinny
Tournament: 3M Open
Dates: July 23-26, 2020
Where: Blaine, Minnesota
Course: TPC Twin Cities
Format: 72-holes, stroke play, 36-hole cut
2019 Winner: Matthew Wolff
Purse: $6,600,000
Winning Share: $1,188,000
TV Network: GOLF/CBS
Social: @3MOpen
TV, STREAM GUIDE
Thu. July 23, Rd 1
06:30 – 6:00 pm: PGA TOUR Live (Groups)
03:00 – 6:00 pm: Golf Channel
Fri. July 24, Rd 2
06:30 – 6:00 pm: PGA TOUR Live (Groups)
03:00 – 6:00 pm: Golf Channel
Sat. July 25, Rd 3
08:00 – 3:00 pm: PGA TOUR Live (Groups)
01:00 – 3:00 pm: Golf Channel
03:00 – 6:00 pm: PGA TOUR Live (Holes)
03:00 – 6:00 pm: CBS
Sun. July 26, Rd 4
08:00 – 3:00 pm: PGA TOUR Live (Groups)
01:00 – 3:00 pm: Golf Channel
03:00 – 6:00 pm: PGA TOUR Live (Holes)
03:00 – 6:00 pm: CBS
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 a single edition, however, the 3M Open is not completely devoid of past intrigu.
This tournament is the graduated 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.
Stat of the Week
1 – The number of top-10 finishes by Matthew Wolff since winning last season’s 3M Open. In 19 starts since his breakthrough victory, Wolff has posted just a single top-10 result.
On the plus side, it was a runner-up finish and it occurred just three starts ago at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
In 24 starts to his PGA Tour career, the win at the 3M ($1,152,000) second-place at the Rocket Mortgage ($817,500) account for nearly 50% of his career earnings.
Wolff will defend his title with a world ranking of No. 55.
Power Rankings
It was slim pickings for this week’s power rankings. World No. 4 Dustin Johnson is far and away the top dog in Minnesota. He is followed by a still-injured Brooks Koepka while Tommy Fleetwood, Tony Finau, and Paul Casey round out the top-5 in the rankings.
World Rank | Odds To Win | Last 5 Starts
- Dustin Johnson
4th | 10-1 | MC, 1, 17, MC, 48 - Brooks Koepka
6th | 16-1 | 62, MC, 7, 32, 47 - Tommy Fleetwood
12th | 16-1 | MC, 3, 18, 11, 2 - Tony Finau
17th | 20-1 | 8, 53, MC, 33, 23 - Paul Casey
27th | 20-1 | MC, 32, 11, 37, 64
The Golf Course
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: 6,500 sq. ft.
Avg Tee Size: 1,000 sq. ft.
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
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 doubledog leg… No. 9, 502-yard par 4 with difficult long-iron approach… No. 14, 437-yard par 4 dogleg around Cavner’s Cove
Full Field and Odds
Place your bets on the 3M Open at Bovada.
End Quote
A Welcome Return
“It’s unbelievable. I think as soon as I got on property, I kind of had all the memories of last year flowing in and I got a little chills walking in the clubhouse. Everyone’s been extremely friendly. I’m seeing all the familiar faces and even got a parking spot right at the front row, which is usually a rarity considering my last name was with a W.
“It’s awesome to be back here, and the course is looking great. Obviously in these crazy times they’re doing everything that they can to make it normal, but just really happy to be back. Like I said, everyone’s been super friendly and looking for another great week.”
– Matthew Wolff
Credit: Getty Images, PGA TOUR Media, TPC Network
