Summer comes and returns to birdies this week when the PGA TOUR returns to TPC Twin Cities for the second edition of the 3M Open. Nothing like another dose of temps in the 90s this week, but at least sweat equity will result in low scores in the Blaine, Minnesota suburb. Matthew Wolff is back and will defend his inaugural TOUR victory as he leads a field of 156 looking to earn his share of the $ 6.4 million bag ($ 1,152 winner) and add 500 FedExCup points to the ledger.
The 20-year-old burst onto the scene last year and hit the Par-71, 7,431 yards at a low 21 pace in just his third professional start. The cherry on top was his off-the-green putt for eagle in the final hole to secure the trophy. In the inaugural event, the top 12 players had 16 minors and the top 52 had 10 or fewer. There was a 62 round (-9) posted in all four rounds and 44 rounds without a bogey. The course grade average of 69.46 per week suggests that all attendees are welcome.
The 6,500 square foot Bentgrass greens will provide the biggest goals since the restart. Prepared to run more than 13 feet on the Stimpmeter, those who hit it closer will have an easier time navigating. Although 72 bunkers and 27 water hazards sound daunting, we’ve seen if the weather cooperates (read: no wind), these guys just fly over and over again. This week there are only three or so inches of Bluegrass / fescue rough on the menu, so I’d expect another shootout again this time.
Tom Lehman and Steve Wenzloff have fine-tuned the prairie links at TPC Twin Cities after last year’s mid-summer party. See the linked Rob Bolton Power Rankings below for specific changes.
RELATED: Power rankings The | Sleepers The | Expert Selections
2019 3M Open: Top 25 (entered this week)
1 Matthew Wolff
5 Wyndham Clark
5 Carlos Ortiz
7 Sam burns
7 Lucas Glover
7 Brian Harman
7 Troy Merritt
13 Fabián Gómez
15 Scott Brown
15 Scott Piercy
15 Roger Sloan
15 Shawn Stefani
23 Brice Garnett
23 Denny McCarthy
23 Tom Hoge
23 Arjun Atwal
23 Tony Finau
23 Charles Howell III
23 Johnson Wagner
Recent winner
2019: Matthew Wolff (-21)
Eagle in the final hole to win as a sponsor exemption. … He shot 62 on Sunday to tie the 54-hole lead. … Led the field Blows won: Tee to Green, second Blows won: Approach, third in Putting: Birdie or Best percentage and co-led the field in the Par-4 score. … Seven bogeys (T25) were canceled by 26 birdies and the final blow for the eagle. … led the field in Par Breakers. … only T62 scrambled. … He won the NCAA individual title weeks before.
Notable Club “62” playing this week: Piercy (Round 1) and Glover (Round 4). … Brown and Burns led the field on the Par-5 score (-10). … Wolff (-12) and Glover (-10) were the best two in the Par-4 score. … Brooks Koepka 65a. … 85 players made the cut in 3 below.
Key statistics leaders
The best golfers in every statistic on the PGA TOUR 2019-2020 are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week.
Greens in Regulation
4 Aaron Wise
5 Emiliano Grillo
7 Russell Henley
8 Will Gordon
10 Kyle Stanley
11 Harris English
15 Paul Casey
17 Josh Teater
18 Doc Redman
19 George McNeill
21 Matthew NeSmith
23 Cameron Percy
26 Brice Garnett
Proximity
2 Johnson Wagner
5 Doc Redman
7 Jonathan Byrd
9 Vaughn Taylor
9 Tim Wilkinson
11 Russell Henley
13 Seamus Power
14 Emiliano Grillo
18 Chesson Hadley
18 Michael Gellerman
20 Robert Castro
20 Brian Harman
20 Ben Taylor
23 Jason Dufner
24 Ben Martin
24 Josh Teater
Putting: Birdie or better percentage
3 Dominic Bozzelli
8 Seamus Power
13 Kristoffer Ventura
15 Tony Finau
16 Dustin Johnson
17 Bronson Burgoon
20 Charley Hoffman
24 Wyndham Clark
25 Chesson Hadley
Rounds in the 60s
3 Harry Higgs
3 Lanto Griffin
3 Doc Redman
6 Carlos Ortiz
6 Patrick Rodgers
6 Henrik Norlander
15 Brian Harman
20 Adam Long
22 Kyoung-Hoon Lee
22 Talor Gooch
30 Adam Schenk
30 Tony Finau
30 Bubba Watson
30 Matthew NeSmith
30 Scott posts
30 Sebastian Muñoz
37 Lucas Glover
37 Cameron Tringale
37 Harris English
