Wildly wide open this week.
Have fun, get out of your lane for a minute.
Enjoy plenty of Par Breakers as well!
3M Open
TPC Twin Cities
Blaine, Minnesota
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,468 |
| Par: | 71 (35-36) |
| Greens: | Bentgrass; 6,500 square feet. |
| Stimpmeter: | 12.5 feet. |
| Rough: | Bluegrass and fescue at 3.5 inches. |
| Architects: | Arnold Palmer (2000): PGATOUR (Steve Wenzloff, 2018). |
| Purse: | $6.6 million and $1.188 million (winner); 500 FedExCup points. |
| Defending Champion (event): | Michael Thompson, -19. |
| Fact of the Week: | Just the third edition. |
| Fact of the Week II: | Follow The Open for the second time (2019). |
Notes:
- 156 players; Top 70 make the cut.
2020-21 Winners
** – first time winner on TOUR
| Event | Winner |
| Safeway Open | Stewart Cink |
| 120th United States Open | Bryson DeChambeau |
| Corales Punta Cana Championship | Hudson Swafford |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Sergio Garcia |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children | Martin Laird (playoff) |
| CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK | Jason Kokrak** |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Patrick Cantlay |
| Bermuda Championship | Brian Gay |
| Vivint Houston Open | Carlos Oritz** |
| 84th Masters Tournament | Dustin Johnson |
| The RSM Classic | Robert Streb |
| Mayakoba Golf Classic | Viktor Hovland** |
| Sentry TOC | Harris English |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Kevin Na |
| The American Express | Si Woo Kim |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Patrick Reed |
| Waste Management Phoenix Open | Brooks Koepka |
| AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | Daniel Berger |
| The Genesis Invitational | Max Homa |
| WGC – Championship at The Concession | Collin Morikawa |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Bryson DeChambeau (2) |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | Justin Thomas |
| The Honda Classic | Matt Jones |
| WGC- Match Play | Billy Horschel |
| Corales Puntacana | Joel Dahmen** |
| Valero Texas Open | Jordan Spieth |
| 85th Masters Tournament | Hideki Matsuyama |
| RBC Heritage | Stewart Cink (2) |
| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | Cameron Smith/Marc Leishman |
| Valspar Championship | Sam Burns** |
| Wells Fargo Championship | Rory McIlroy |
| AT&T Byron Nelson | KH Lee** |
| 103rd PGA Championship | Phil Mickelson |
| Charles Schwab Challenge | Jason Kokrak (2) |
| Memorial Tournament | Patrick Cantlay (2) |
| Palmetto Championship (Congaree) | Garrick Higgo** |
| 121st US Open | Jon Rahm |
| Travelers Championship | Harris English (2) |
| Rocket Mortgage Classic | Cam Davis** |
| John Deere Classic | Lucas Glover |
| 149th Open Championship | Collin Morikawa (2) |
| Barbasol Championship | Seamus Power** |
Event Winners:
| Year | Player | Notes |
| 2020 | Michael Thompson 19-under | Won by two shots for his second TOUR win; age 35. |
| 2019 | Matthew Wolff 21-under | Made eagle at the final hole in the final group to win on his just his third start as a pro on TOUR. |
Facts and Figures:
| Course Record: | 62; Four players including Matthew Wolff (2019) and Scott Piercy (2019), both entered this week. |
| Tournament Record: | 263 (-21); Wolff, 2019. |
| Recent Defending Champion(s): | N/A. |
| Multiple Winners (entered) | N/A. |
| Oldest Winner: | Thompson, 35. |
| Youngest Winner: | Wolff, 20. |
| First Time TOUR: | Wolff. |
| First Time EVENT: | Wolff (inaugural). |
| Odd Fact: | TOUR returned to Minnesota for the first time since 1969 when this event was created in 2019. |
Quick Thoughts
Have fun this week.
It’s very similar to the JDC and Rocket Mortgage where anybody from anywhere at any time can challenge and/or win.
I’m heading on vacation tomorrow so there won’t be any Olympics preview or guide, sorry.
I’m blending heat with a few long shots but leaving the chalk alone. Guys with enough money in the bank and FedExCup points are just checking another box before the WGC-FESJC and the FedExCup Playoffs begin next month.
Let’s recap last week first:
Last Week – 149th Open Championship
Chalk
Jon Rahm (+800): Prohibitive favorite and it’s not hard to explain why so I won’t. Winning back-to-back majors doesn’t happen every week but there’s no question he has the game and temperament to do so. With wind, humps, bumps, bunkers and an elite field, I’ll sit this possibly historic occasion out. Too many variables and too high of a price. T3, fantastic recovery after opening 1-over. Leeeeeeeeeegit.
Brooks Koepka (+1600): Double Rahm? For 3 more majors? Last 3 of 4 top 5 including Torrey and Kiawah. Hates the course. Hates his three ball. Hates Bryson. Looks like he’s ready to pop. Yes please, first win ticket, plus Top 10 and Top 20. T6 collects and Top 10 and Top 20 but puts the first L on the board.
Xander Schauffele (+1800): Too many examples to ignore in big events. Dropped the arm lock putter this week just like he picked it up before a top 10 at Torrey. T26 and that was with 65 on Sunday. Not happening right now. Wait for East Lake where he dominates.
Justin Thomas (+1800): Not much evidence in this event to run him to the front of the line. T40 reinforces the struggle.
Jordan Spieth (+1800): Too much form to ignore as he’s rattling off T20 or better for fun, just like the old days. Last Open in England he won at Birkdale. Super short game and ability to grind in wind doesn’t hurt either. Solo second after a very good week. Great to see this happening again.
Rory McIlroy (+2200): Ok, I’ll bite. Again. Said he found something on the range over the weekend. Of his last five visits, four are top 5s. Hard to ignore, especially when he’s not the favorite. His record after MC is something as well. Win ticket. This is a ME PROBLEM, not a him problem. I’m the sucker. Lick me. L.
Dustin Johnson (+2500): Went close here in 2011 but that bad news that’s his best of the bunch. Nice bounce this week as he cashed T8 after showing exactly zero form leading in.
Louis Oosthuizen (+3000): 2nd and 2nd in the last two majors. 2010 winner also lost in a playoff in 2015 (both at St Andrews). Perfect demeanor for the uncertainty of links golf. Win, Top 10 and Top 20. T3 adds two more winning tickets but another L.
Viktor Hovland (+3000): First Open. No question about the talent or pedigree. The short game is always in the back of my mind. T12. Can’t and won’t stop.
Next Wave
Patrick Reed (+3300): Scrambling and grinding always sticks him out in difficult events. Starting to figure it out in this event as well after 10th at Royal Portrush. Finally crashed and burned. Didn’t expect it this week. MC.
Patrick Cantlay (+3300): Solid, two-win season and excellent thru the bag. Name the last USA player to win their first major at The Open. Cink then Curtis. Tough. MC.
Tyrrell Hatton (+3300): Crowd will help but not sure if his temperament is ready if it turns a bit sideways. MC.
Bryson DeChambeau (+3300): Way too many “ifs” this week. Gusting winds don’t help maths. Neither does waist-high fescue. Pass. Hoo boy that was some week and it included closing with 65 for T33. What a circus.
Shane Lowry (+3500): Fell in love with him before Torrey, where he WASN’T the defending champion. Look where that got me haha. T12 in a very credible defense.
Collin Morikawa (+3500): Fearless but will need to hole putts and that’s the biggest concern. Nobody questions it tee to green. Nobody. Nibble. Maybe I should have taken a bigger bite.
Tommy Fleetwood (+3500): It’s his home country, his style of golf and he’s trending in the event. He might be the most comfortable this week. If he was, he didn’t show it. Damp fart.
Matthew Fitzpatrick (+4000): Thrives on hitting fairways but not sure anybody is doing that this week. T26.
Scottie Scheffler (+4500): Tougher the better and this qualifies. Texan won’t mind a bit of blowing wind either. Get it. Hope you got it. T8 for another major top 10. Fantastic.
Branden Grace (+5000): Excellent form, already has won this season, just one thing left! And that one thing was NOT back-to-back MC on links courses…
Sergio Garcia (+6000): Might be another 40-something to add to the collection. T20 or better in 3 straight world wide. T20 or better this week as well. T19 and another winner. Barely.
Funny Money
Robert MacIntyre (+7500) – T8
Ian Poulter (+7500) – T26
Jason Day (+9000) – MC
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+9500) – T53
Phil Mickelson (+10000) – MC
Francesco Molinari (+14000) – MC
Kevin Kisner (+15000) – 73rd
Andy Sullivan (+20000) – T26
Jason Scrivener (+22500) – MC
Aaron Rai (+25000) – T19
Ryan Fox (+30000) – T67
This Week – 3M Open
Chalk
Dustin Johnson (+7500): Solid week last week will entice some but I’ll pass. He’s a beast in Memphis and that’s my next focus.
Louis Oosthuizen (+1600): His only TOUR win is the 2010 Open Championship. That feels weird to type.
Tony Finau (+1600): His only TOUR win is the 2015 Puerto Rico Open. That feels weird to type.
Patrick Reed (+2000): Prefer him on more difficult courses and bigger events. You gotta do you. Save him for Governor’s Island.
Matthew Wolff (+2800): His course form sets this number, not his recent play. Beware or jump on the HORSE FOR COURSE. I’ll pass.
Emiliano Grillo (+3300): Hitting every green won’t matter if you two-putt all of them. Wonderfully erratic weekly.
Next Wave
Cameron Tringale (+3500): Sign up for your Top 20 and cash late on Sunday.
Robert MacIntyre (+3500): Playing with house money as he’s inside the OWGR Top 50. Just might be free enough to not care and win. I’ll take a nibble that he does just that. Win ticket.
Sergio Garcia (+3500): T20 or better in four straight. I like a streak. Make it five. Top 20.
Keegan Bradley (+3500): MC in three of his last four but when he cashes it’s top 20. So I’m in, Top 20.
Bubba Watson (+3500): Interesting he returned after MC last year. I’ll let you read between the lines with your cash tho.
Hank Lebioda (+4500): It’s now three straight in the top 10 for the lefty so I’m going to jump on one final time. It’s not like the courses are getting more difficult or the fields much deeper. Top 10 and Top 20.
Doug Ghim (+4500): He’ll need at least two days of above average putting this week to contend. Not ridiculous.
Lucas Herbert or Luke List (both +5500): Maybe on both. Both are in uncharted territory, careful.
Patrick Rodgers (+6000): We’ve been waiting. 6 straight and the last four have trended into T5. I’m down. Across the board Win, Top 10 and Top 20.
Funny Money
Jhonattan Vegas (+6000)
Ryan Moore (+6000)
Patton Kizzire (+7000)
Brandon Hagy (+9500)
Brian Stuard (+10000)
Beau Hossler (+11000)
Adam Schenk (+11000)
Ryan Armour (+14000)
Brice Garnett (+20000)
Kevin Tway (+225000)
Mark Anderson (+30000)
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out through Twitter or email me mikeglasscott@gmail.com.
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