The stars of the PGA Tour are descending on TPC Twin Cities on Thursday, July 25 for the 2024 3M Open, with Tony Finau leading the field as defending champion. Finau showed his mettle at this event two years ago, holding his nerve down the stretch to win by three strokes and collect his second trophy at the picturesque Minnesota layout. He'll be one to watch again as he looks to continue his recent resurgence on the bag.
Justin Rose is also in the mix after delivering one of the performances of his career to finish runner-up at the British Open at St. Andrews. That stirring result saw the 43-year-old record his best result in over a year and should give him valuable momentum heading to Blaine. Rose is a past winner on the PGA Tour and still believes big things are possible - he'll fancy his chances of going one better than his British Open display.
Justin Rose finished second in the Open, two shots behind winner Xander Schauffele CREDIT: Getty Images/Harry How
However, there are plenty of young guns eager to make a stamp on this event. Sam Burns (18-1) has proven himself a force to be reckoned with in recent seasons, using his superb ball-striking and consistency to rack up five wins so far. He'll rely on that deadly accuracy at TPC Twin Cities as he looks to break through for his first victory of 2024. Fellow American Sahith Theegala (22-1) is also still searching for his maiden win but possesses the all-around game to get it done.
Canadian lefty Taylor Pendrith and South African Erik Van Rooyen have also hit encouraging form of late and will aim to capitalize. One player who represents excellent each-way value is American Tom Hoge. His superb iron play and prowess around the greens make him a real contender, and his price of 33-1 could look generous come Thursday.
SportsLine's proven forecasting engine has also simulated the 2024 3M Open 10,000 times. It identified 4 other golfers at 30-1 or longer who have a real chance at winning, including 3 available at 60-1 or greater that the model sees finishing inside the top 10.
With such a star-studded field and potential for drama over the Minnesota layout, an exciting day of action surely awaits us. The 2024 3M Open is shaping up to be one of the can’t-miss events of the summer.
Read more: Xander Schauffele Wins British Open for Second Major of 2024
What makes TPC Twin Cities challenging for golfers
TPC Twin Cities is a par-72 course that measures 7,468 yards from the tee and puts players' length to the test. During the 3M Open, the challenging 495-yard par-4 third hole serves as a prime example. Given the length of the course, overall precision is required from the tee and on approach shots.
Water hazards, bunkers and native areas come into play frequently. The signature beach bunker on the drivable par-4 seventh hole is one such hazard that requires accurate placement. Avoiding these hazards is crucial to scoring well.
The elevated, expansive greens and four large native area bunkers also add strategic complexity. Proper club selection and shot shaping are important to successfully attack pins.
Fairways were narrowed and trees added as part of upgrades, increasing the importance of accurate driving. Rough was also installed in some areas to tighten defenses.
The closing stretch of holes, especially the large lake-guarded par-5 18th, pose a sterner test for the field following improvements. Players must strategize to lay up properly and avoid the water on this difficult finishing hole.
Overall, the length, hazards, and shot-making requirements on and around the difficult greens have increased, necessitating a whole game to compete at TPC Twin Cities. Driving accuracy and good tactical golf are critical.
2024 3M Open odds, top contenders
Tony Finau +1000
Sam Burns +1800
Sahith Theegala +2200
Akshay Bhatia +2500
Luke Clanton +2800
Keith Mitchell +3000
Keegan Bradley +3000
Tom Hoge +3300
Billy Horschel +3500
Taylor Pendrith +3500
J.T. Poston +3500
Erik van Rooyen +4000
Maverick McNealy +4000
Cam Davis +4500
Nick Dunlap +4500
Patrick Rodgers +4500
Michael Thorbjornsen +5000
Adam Hadwin +5000
Emiliano Grillo +5500
Kurt Kitayama +5500
Sam Stevens +5500
Justin Rose +5500
Ben Griffin +5500
Mac Meissner +6000
Chan Kim +6000
Jhonattan Vegas +6000
Harry Hall +6000
Rico Hoey +6500
Mackenzie Hughes +6500
Ben James +6500
Matt Wallace +7000
Max Greyserman +7500
Adam Svensson +8000
Neal Shipley +8000
Jake Knapp +8000
Lee Hodges +8000
Patrick Fishburn +8000
Doug Ghim +8000
Andrew Novak +8000
Beau Hossler +8000
Seamus Power +8000
Thriston Lawrence +8000
Austin Eckroat +9000
Ben Silverman +9000
Ryo Hisatsune +9000
Pierceson Coody +10000
Michael Kim +10000
Taylor Moore +10000
Lucas Glover +10000
Kevin Yu +10000
Hayden Springer +11000
J.J. Spaun +11000
Sam Ryder +12000
Dylan Wu +12000
Chesson Hadley +12000
Andrew Putnam +12000
Santiago de la Fuente +12000
Matti Schmid +12000
S.H. Kim +12000
Carson Young +15000
Hayden Buckley +15000
Alex Smalley +15000
Daniel Berger +15000
Gary Woodland +15000
Chandler Phillips +15000
Nate Lashley +15000
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