While the eyes of the sporting world focus on Paris this coming weekend, the PGA Tour ploughs on regardless. TPC Twin Cities plays host this week for the 2024 edition of the 3M Open in Minnesota from the 25th to the 28th of July. The Arnold Palmer designed course is the backdrop this week as Seamus Power looks to cement his standing in the FedEx Cup order and make the post season action.
Power heads into the week in 66th place in the rankings with four events to come before the Tour Championship at East Lake. The twice PGA Tour winner needs a solid showing to maintain his top-70 position and ensure his spot in the FedEx Playoffs. The Waterford man comes into the 3M Open off the back of a top-twenty at the John Deere Classic and a T65 at the Scottish Open and will look for consistency heading into the sharp end of the season. If Power can get his driving and putting in order and a match for his solid approach play this season, he is capable of troubling any scoreboard. A late-summer run would be timely for the 37-year-old.
TPC Twin Cities is the challenge facing the field this week and as defending champion, Lee Hodges returns to defend his crown in Minnesota. Iconic holes litter this course and with the beach bunker on the 7th hole and 27 bodies of water to negotiate, TPC Twin Cities is a course to give any amateur nightmares.
A par-71 this week for the pros, playing 35-36 Twin Cities has two short par-3s on the third and eighth on the walk out, with the tough 594-yard par-5 sixth to focus the mind. Two of each come on the walk homeward with the knee-knocking 202-yard over water 17th followed by another long par-5 to finish. “Here be dragons” for the business end of the week come Sunday.
Among the pack this week sits 2022 champion Tony Finau, as well as his predecessor Cameron Champ, attempting to wrestle their title back from Hodges, not forgetting the 500 FedEx Cup points on offer this week. With some of the big hitters out of town, the 3M Open presents a perfect opportunity for the likes of Power to bank a good week and consolidate his position.
“I love being here,” said Finau. “It’s a golf course that I really enjoy and seems like I’ve grown quite a cool fan base here, so I love coming back and playing in front of them. All just good vibes anytime I’m back here in Blaine and I’m looking forward to another hopefully memorable week here.”
One of the players to travel back from Europe to take part this week, Finau gave his thoughts on the travelling aspect of life on tour and the toll it can take.
“Yeah, I have a lot easier time adjusting when I come back to the States,” he commented. “It’s a lot harder for me to fly over to Europe and adjust to that time. It seems like my jetlag is pretty severe. It took me a handful of days to feel like I had my mind and my feet underneath me over there in Scotland. I feel a lot better about myself this week. I usually do when I come back to the States.”
All the action kicks off on Thursday with the lead out three-ball of Michael Kim, Ryan Moore and Scott Gutschewski getting the ball rolling at 12.45 Irish time. Power will begin his tilt at the week at 1.29PM and will have J.J. Spaun and Ryan Brehm to talk to as they navigate day one of the 3M Open. The two previous champions Hodges and Finau will share their first two rounds on Twin Cities as they are joined by Akshay Bhatia in what could be an intriguing three-ball. They head out from the 10th at 1.18PM.
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