Blaine, Minnesota: 3M Open returns to TPC Twin Cities

By Michael Carter — 22 July 2026 — 3 min read

Tournament overview and course conditions

The PGA Tour returns to the United States for the 2026 3M Open, taking place at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. This event is one of three remaining tournaments before the FedEx Cup Playoffs commence. The course, a par 71 stretching 7,431 yards, is known for its fair testing conditions, where players are often challenged to perform at their best.

TPC Twin Cities features three par 5s, which can be advantageous for long hitters, provided they can avoid the 3½-inch bluegrass rough. The course also includes bentgrass greens, averaging 6,500 square feet, designed to equalize play on approach shots. These greens are prepared to roll up to 13 feet as measured by the Stimpmeter, encouraging an offensive strategy of attacking pins and sinking putts.

Last year’s tournament saw a record-breaking scoring average of 68.84. This low average was largely attributed to calm wind conditions throughout most of the event, despite preferred lies being in effect for the opening round. Similar calm air is forecast for this week, with prevailing breezes expected from westerly directions early on, potentially shifting to blow from the north by Sunday. Daytime temperatures are anticipated to be in the mid-80s before the cut, rising into the mid-90s by the finale.

Key contenders and course history

Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1, is listed at +240 on the odds board, making him a prominent contender. He has 20 wins on the PGA Tour, though only one of these occurred in his debut appearance at a tournament. This marks Scheffler’s first time competing at the 3M Open. The only debutant to win this tournament was Matthew Wolff in its inaugural edition in 2019. Since then, every winner has had at least one prior start at TPC Twin Cities.

Kurt Kitayama, last year’s champion, is second on the odds board at +2200. Other notable players include Hideki Matsuyama (+3000), Maverick McNealy (+2500), Max Homa (+5500), and 2022 winner Tony Finau (+6500). Gary Woodland, ranked 29th in the FedExCup standings, is also among the higher-ranked golfers participating. The gap in standings between Scheffler and Woodland is notable, with Scheffler positioned 31 spots ahead of Kitayama, mirroring a significant historical margin of victory in another sporting event.

Approximately 110 entrants in this eighth edition of the tournament have prior experience on the course. This history could provide an advantage, as the course’s consistent fairness means that poor performance is often attributed solely to the player’s execution.

Model predictions and longshot opportunities

A proprietary computer model, which has simulated the 3M Open 10,000 times, has provided some surprising predictions for the tournament. The model has a history of accuracy, having correctly predicted 17 majors, including five consecutive Masters tournaments and last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship.

Among the model’s unexpected forecasts, Maverick McNealy, considered one of the favorites, is not projected to finish in the top 5. Conversely, Johnny Keefer, with longer odds of +5500, is predicted to rise significantly on the leaderboard. The model also identifies another longshot with odds higher than +6000 who is expected to contend for the title. Casey Jarvis, who finished sixth at The Open, is another longshot to consider at +6500.

The tournament begins on Thursday.

Source: pgatour.com