How awesome was it to watch golf last week at the Memorial? With the tough conditions and the set up of the course, we saw a true test of skill last week that baffled beefy Bryson and made shot makers shine such as John Rahm and Matthew Fitzpatrick? This week will be a tough follow for my home state as the PGA Tour takes on the TPC Twin Cities. What a difference a year makes. Last year, my friend, a 3M employee, got us free tickets and we followed Matthew Wolff around Round 3 watching him shoot an effortless 62. This year, PGA events are without fans and we are all stuck at home in midst of a global pandemic. Lets hope TPC Twin Cities gives us the entertaining “birdie-fest” it gave us last year.
The Tournament:
The first 3M Open was last in 2019 and was originally called the 3M Championship, a regular stop on the Champions Tour for over 26 years. The event was originally at nearby Bunker Hills and after 8 years was moved to a then, 1 year old TPC Twin Cities. With 3M taking over as the main sponsor in 2001, the tournament pot grew and attendance flourish until it blossomed into a full blown PGA Tour stop last year. The only 3M winner is Matthew Wolff but other stars such as Bernhard Langer and Kenny Perry (who won the 3M Championship 3 different times) won the event when it was called the 3M Championship.
The Course:
TPC Twin Cities, located north of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Blaine, was opened in 2000. It was originally designed by Arnold Palmer in cooperation with Minnesota native and legend, Tom Lehman. In 2018, with the announcement of the 3M Championship turning into the 3M Open, Lehman worked some updates to the course including longer tee boxes as well as repositioning some bunkers. The course is a Par 71 for the PGA tour at 7,169 Yards (75.4/143).
The Field:
Matthew Wolff is returning to Minnesota to defend his first PGA Tour victory, the 3M Open. Last year he was able to fight off fellow young and rising stars Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa who both have won on tour this year already. However given the relatively strong fields that we have seen on tour, this field is relatively weak. But don’t let that deter you from watching, last year this event surrendered the most under par scores on tour. That means Matthew Wolff, Tony Finau and other big hitters should be lighting up the scoreboard.
My personal picks this week are Will Gordon and Tony Finau. I know that Finau at this point needs to be talked about in how poorly he chokes away some leads, but the dude can flat out play and is due here. Additionally Will Gordon is 8th in GIR on tour this year. Hitting Greens in Regulation is never a bad thing.
A Good Walk Spoiled 