3M Open 2024 Preview, Picks & Analysis

You have to feel a bit sorry for the organisers of the 3M Open. This is a tournament that has been beset by problems - the first year, it was over the Fourth of July, then the COVID-19 pandemic forced the tournament to happen without fans and the Olympic Games were sandwiched in the schedule. And now it follows The Open Championship and is once again being held on the eve of the Olympics.

So you will not be surprised to learn that the event at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine does not boast the strongest of fields. Nonetheless, Tony Finau, Sam Burns and Sahith Theegala are all playing, along with defending champion Lee Hodges and former US Open champion and runner-up at Royal Troon, Justin Rose.

"Our field at this time has never been that strong with past winners," 3M Open Tournament Director Mike Welch said. "They all know that we are the tournament in this part of the schedule that takes care of players, players’ families and caddies to that next level. That sometimes is a differentiator for them to play or not."

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

However, it helps that the 3M Open is the penultimate tournament before the FedEx Cup Playoffs, meaning players outside the points window can only get inside by playing. That was the case last year for Justin Thomas.

Last year Hodges became the tournament’s first wire-to-wire winner, and it was his first PGA Tour win. And, unsurprisingly, he cannot wait.

"It’s pretty wild, driving in just came back with all those emotions of last year. I didn’t really know how I’d feel but just super happy to be back," Hodges said. "Every hole, something from last year would come back in my mind, it was just awesome."

Hodges took the early lead with an opening round eight-under par 63. He shot a four-under par 67 on Sunday, and all but cemented his first PGA win with a three-wood on the par-5 12th to just a few feet for an eagle.

Coming up the 18th, he didn’t let the thought of that first win get into his head until he was on the green and had a seven-shot lead, the largest in tournament history. He was looking for his family, and spotted his college golf coach, Alabama’s Jay Seawell. After sinking the winning putt, he dropped his putter and got a strawberry milkshake from his college coach.

"Whenever we won a team tournament, we would go to a Dairy Queen or wherever and he would buy us all a milkshake. That was his thing, he still does it to this day," Hodges said.

He flew home to be with his family and celebrate the milestone.

"Brain cut off and I was just ready to see my people. We flew straight from here to Alabama, we drank a lot. It was awesome, I might still be hung over from that," Hodges joked.

This event holds a special place in the heart of Finau, who won in in 2022. It was the first of three tournaments he secured that year, landing the Rocket Mortgage Classic the very next week, before finishing the year with a win at the Houston Open.

He also won the Mexico Open in 2023 and although he has failed to add to his total, he has played some quite superb golf this year, the highlight of which was a tied third at the US Open at Pinehurst.  Although he is one of the biggest hitters on the PGA Tour, Finau has a compact swing, and that means not an awful lot can go wrong. He is a wonderful striker of the golf ball but would be the first to admit that he can be a streaky putter.

The same cannot be said of Theegala, who is enjoying a sensational year. 

He only recorded his first top-10 finish on the PGA Tour at the Sanderson Farms in October 2021. He finished third at the Phoenix Open in February 2022 tied for second in the Travelers Championship and made it to the Tour Championship by finishing in the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings.

Theegala opened his 2022–23 season with a top-10 finish at the Fortinet in September 2022 and then tied for second at the RSM Classic in November. 

On September 17, 2023, he earned his first official PGA Tour victory at the Fortinet, finishing on 21 under par to secure a two-shot victory. He hasn’t won this year but has come close several times.

The tournament has raised more than $7 million for charity the past five years.

This year’s 3M Open winner will pocket nearly $1.5 million, and 500 FedEx Cup points. The tournament is set for July 22-28 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2019 by Matthew Wolff, in 2020 by Michael Thompson, in 2021 by Cameron Champ, in 2022 by Tony Finau and last year by Lee Hodges.

The Course:

TPC Twin Cities is a par 71 that measures 7,164 yards. It was designed by Arnold Palmer and upgraded by Tom Lehman. The course record is 60, so you know that the scoring is going to be low. It is a tree-lined course that features no fewer than 27 water hazards.

Form Guide:

Sahith Theegala is the real deal. He does everything well and keeps putting himself in positions to close the deal. This is a golf course that will suit his game.

To Win:

Sahith Theegala. Has every shot in the book

Each Way:

Tony Finau. Great memories

Each Way:

Sam Burns. Could do with a decent week

Five to Follow:

Sahith Theegala. Having a fine season

Tony Finau. Terrific ball striker

Sam Burns. Massive talent

Billy Horschel. On road to recovery

Justin Rose. Needs a massive week

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Zach Johnson. Still a fierce competitor

Daniel Berger. Looking for a way back

Neil Shipley. Fan favourite

Lee Hodges. Has failed to kick on

Michael Thorbjornsen. One for the future