Blog#161 3M Open 

Blog#161 3M Open 

TPC Twin Cities, MN. Par 71

Purse $8.3M+500K +6% 

July 25-28 2024

HISTORY

Tournament started in 2021.  Last years winner was Lucas Glover and it qualified him for the Tour Championship.  It continues to be a secondary tournament with the quality of the field.  Last year the only 2 top players were Tony Finau who won by 3 strokes in 2022 and Justin Thomas who was a late entry as he attempted to qualify for the tour championship and finished 12th.  This year there are no top players in the field but the top 10 favorites are excellent golfers who have not been able to win this year.  So like many other tournaments this is an opportunity for them.  However they have not shown the ability to win, so I feel the winner will come out of the pack.  This tournament will be like watching the A’s and White Sox in September.  Meaningless but an opportunity to see some unknowns shine.

My PREDICTION TO WIN

It is very difficult if not impossible to pick a winner in these secondary tournaments.  However I feel that Billy Horschel has the best chanced as he is playing the best golf.  However he was tied with Shane Lowry at the OPEN and was out of it after 3 bogies in the middle of his RD.  He did birdie the last 2 holes but Schauffele had wrapped it up. 

FAVORITES

1 Tony Finau 11/1 He has played well in spurts and with this field could win but I don’t think so.

2 Sam Burns 18/1 Same as Finau.

3 Sahith Theegala 20/1 He has been in many tournaments but too many bogies.

4 Akshay Bhagia 22/1 Another good young player who is picked by Golf Digest to win.

5 Luke Clanton 28/1 An amateur who has outplayed the pros but bubble breaks this week.

6 Tom Hoge 30/1 A good player but has not won in a long time.

7 Kieth Mitchell- 30/1 Like Hoge usually picked in top 10 for these tournaments.

8 K Bradley 30/1 I would pick him, but being made Ryder Cup Captain will be a distraction. 

9 Billy Horschel 30/1 Faded in the 4th RD last week, not this week, he wins.

10 Taylor Pendrith 35/1 He just doesn’t show the full game to win.

LONGSHOTS

1 Justin Rose 50/1 Finished 2nd at OPEN except for Schauffele’s great back 9 who knows? 

2 Erik Van Rooyen 40/1 A real sleeper always seems to have 1 good RD but fades.

3 M Hughes 60/1 Canadian has had a few good tournaments & wants to make Presidents Cup.

4 Jake Knapp 70/1 His first win was last Feb at Mexico Open with a similar field. 

5 Pierceson Coody 90/1 A real longshot but he and his twin brother have played well this year.

THE FIELD Anyone could Gert hot and win this tournament.  It is very difficult to pick a winner but I think it will come from these 15.