3M Open 2026 Tips: Five to watch for TPC Twin Cities

At the end of a fantastic week in the Southport sunshine that had absolutely everything, Royal Birkdale delivered us an impressive and hugely popular breakthrough major champion, as Ryan Fox birdied four of his last six holes to claim The Open Championship.

Our golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with five more each-way picks this week, so let's check out his 3M Open 2026 Tips here at Betfred Insights...

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The extremely likeable, laid back New Zealander, Ryan Fox started the final round at The Open two off the lead and, like many of the frontrunners, he struggled early on in challenging conditions. With Cameron Young flying through the field to set a handy clubhouse target of nine-under-par, someone would need an exceptional back nine to stop the American walking away with the famed Claret Jug.

Elite challengers such as Scottie Scheffler and local hero Tommy Fleetwood came and went, both settling for a 4^th-place finish, whilst 54-hole leader Sam Burns again stumbled from the front.

Fox, however, thrived in the heat of battle, tying the lead with birdies at 13 and 14. That said, it was perhaps his excellent bogey save at the par-3 15^th – having been forced to play out backwards from the front-left bunker before chipping up to 5ft and making the subsequent putt for a four – that was the standout moment from his round.

He then got that shot back on the next hole, and after an unlucky break off the tee on the par-5 17^th hurt his chances of a birdie to take the solo lead, he needed a three on the difficult par-4 closing hole – the toughest hole of the entire week – to secure the title.

Fox duly delivered, finding the middle of the fairway before hitting a superb approach to 11 ½ft, and then holing the putt for major glory at Royal Birkdale. It was a truly special way to end what has been a thrilling major season and it’s going to be a long nine months before it all begins again at Augusta in April next year.

It’s back to the U.S. on the PGA Tour as we approach the business end of the 2026 season. Just six events remain, and it’s to TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota this week, where world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will tee it up at the 3M Open for the very first time.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The 3M Open debuted on the PGA Tour in 2019 and has been played every year since, with each edition taking place at TPC Twin Cities.

That inaugural renewal was a particularly memorable one, as Matthew Wolff eagled the last hole to beat future major winners, Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa, by one shot.

Last five winners:

• 2025

Winner: Kurt Kitayama (-23)

Runner-up: Sam Stevens (-22)

• 2024

Winner: Jhonattan Vegas (-17)

Runner-up: Max Greyserman (-16)

• 2023

Winner: Lee Hodges (-24)

Runners-up: Martin Laird, JT Poston, Kevin Streelman (-17)

• 2022

Winner: Tony Finau (-17)

Runners-up: Emiliano Grillo, Sungjae Im (-14)

• 2021

Winner: Cameron Champ (-15)

Runners-up: Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Jhonattan Vegas (-13)

Kurt Kitayama produced a stunning weekend display to win his second PGA Tour title at TPC Twin Cities in 2025. Having tied the course record with an 11-under 60 in round three, the American closed with a 65 to win by one stroke, denying Sam Stevens his breakthrough victory.

THE COURSE

TPC Twin Cities

• Original architect / Year opened: Arnold Palmer / 2000
• Latest renovation: Steve Wenzloff, alongside Palmer’s design company, remodelled the layout in 2018/19 to prepare it for PGA Tour action. This included tightening the fairways and relocating tees and bunkers, while grassy mounds were expanded around the course to supply greater vantage points for spectators
• Previous tournaments: 3M Championship 2001-2018 (PGA Tour Champions)
• Par / Yardage: Par 71 / 7,431 yards
• Hole breakdown:
  • 4x par 3s (177-228 yards)
  • 11x par 4s (379-502 yards)
  • 3x par 5s (593-596 yards)
• Course style: Built on the site of an old sod farm, this largely exposed parkland course can run firm on the sandy turf. Towering viewing mounds frame most holes, and numerous water hazards provide a prominent threat
• Fairways:
  • Though generous, the mostly doglegged fairways are often positioned at an angle to the tee box, resulting in average driving accuracy numbers
  • They’re lined by four-inch fescue/bluegrass rough and waste bunkers
  • With regular bunkers guarding the landing areas, it delivers a solid driving test
• Greens:
  • The large (6,500 sq. ft.) bentgrass greens are predominantly elevated
  • These reasonably undulating surfaces can run to a speedy 12.5 on the Stimp, but still rate among the easiest to putt on the PGA Tour
  • However, with a combination of deep, penal greenside bunkers, some troublesome patches of rough, and tightly-mown collection areas, they rank as the 15^th-toughest to scramble around
• Defences:
  • Water is in play on 15 holes
  • The greenside surrounds make it tricky to get it up and down
  • Wind can cause problems around this fairly open layout
• Average winning score: -19.4 (seven editions)

Scheduled in the wake of the Open Championship for the last five years, the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities serves up a fun risk/reward challenge where birdies come thick and fast.

With water lurking throughout – guarding three of the four par 3s, several of the shorter, more gettable par 4s, and each of the three par 5s – players can still get into plenty of trouble here.

This is no more evident than on the 596-yard par-5 18^th, which requires an approach over a sizeable lake into a shallow green to set up an eagle chance. It’s a closing hole that ensures an exciting finish, and we’ll no doubt see some big swings take place there once again this week.

THE WEATHER

Following a little rain on Monday, it’s forecast to be a dry, bright and warm week in Minnesota, with temperatures of at least 30°C predicted each day.

A moderate 10-12mph breeze will stick around over the course of the event, gusting at upwards of 20mph. Though not severe, it could help firm the course up, making birdies that little bit harder to come by.

KEY STATS

SG: Off-the-Tee (SG: OTT) / Driving Distance

With winners such as Matthew Wolff, Cameron Champ, Tony Finau, Jhonattan Vegas and Kurt Kitayama, it’s clear that length rules at TPC Twin Cities. Although fairways are generous, danger awaits the most wayward drives, meaning you want to keep those wild misses at a minimum.

• 2025
  • Kurt Kitayama (Winner): 6^th in driving distance
  • Sam Stevens (2^nd): 19^th in driving distance
  • Jake Knapp (3^rd): 1^st in SG: OTT / 5^th in driving distance
  • Pierceson Coody (3^rd): 3^rd in SG: OTT / 3^rd in driving distance
• 2024
  • Jhonattan Vegas (Winner): 8^th in SG: OTT / 9^th in driving distance
  • Max Greyserman (2^nd): 5^th in driving distance
  • Taylor Pendrith (5^th): 1^st in SG: OTT / 16^th in driving distance
• 2023
  • Martin Laird (2^nd): 5^th in SG: OTT
  • Kevin Streelman (2^nd): 11^th in SG: OTT
  • Keith Mitchell (5^th): 8^th in SG: OTT / 1^st in driving distance
• 2022
  • Tony Finau (Winner): 3^rd in SG: OTT / 17^th in driving distance
  • Sungjae Im (2^nd): 2^nd in SG: OTT / 16^th in driving distance
  • Emiliano Grillo (2^nd): 9^th in SG: OTT
• 2021
  • Cameron Champ (Winner): 17^th in driving distance
  • Jhonattan Vegas (2^nd): 15^th in SG: OTT / 9^th in driving distance
  • Keith Mitchell (5^th): 1^st in SG: OTT / 2^nd in driving distance

SG: Approach / Greens-in-Regulation (GIR) / Proximity from 175 yards+

Complementing that power with quality in approach has been key for many. With a large portion of these approaches – over 45% in six of the seven renewals – coming from over 175 yards, it’s the long irons that carry the greatest importance.

• 2025
  • Kurt Kitayama (Winner): 1^st in SG: Approach / 7^th in GIR
  • Jake Knapp (3^rd): 1^st in GIR
  • Matt Wallace (3^rd): 10^th in GIR
  • David Lipsky (3^rd): 10^th in GIR
• 2024
  • Jhonattan Vegas (Winner): 8^th in SG: Approach / 7^th in GIR
  • Max Greyserman (2^nd): 16^th in GIR
  • Matt Kuchar (3^rd): 1^st in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
  • Taylor Pendrith (5^th): 8^th in GIR
• 2023
  • Lee Hodges (Winner): 1^st in SG: Approach / 13^th in GIR
  • T. Poston (2^nd): 4^th in SG: Approach
  • Kevin Streelman (2^nd): 12^th in SG: Approach / 10^th in GIR
• 2022
  • Tony Finau (Winner): 3^rd in SG: Approach / 4^th in GIR
  • Emiliano Grillo (2^nd): 8^th in SG: Approach / 11^th in GIR
  • Sungjae Im (2^nd): 15^th in SG: Approach
  • Tom Hoge (4^th): 1^st in SG: Approach / 2^nd in GIR
  • James Hahn (4^th): 7^th in SG: Approach
• 2021
  • Cameron Champ (Winner): 19^th in SG: Approach
  • Louis Oosthuizen (2^nd): 2^nd in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
  • Jhonattan Vegas (2^nd): 15^th in SG: Approach

SG: Putting (bentgrass)

Birdie-or-Better %

Lastly, players not quite dialling in their irons can make up for it with a hot week on the greens, taking advantage of the abundance of birdie opportunities available.

• 2025
  • Sam Stevens (2^nd): 3^rd in SG: Putting
  • Matt Wallace (3^rd): 11^th in SG: Putting
  • Pierceson Coody (3^rd): 14^th in SG: Putting
  • Jake Knapp (3^rd): 16^th in SG: Putting
  • David Lipsky (3^rd): 17^th in SG: Putting
• 2024
  • Jhonattan Vegas (Winner): 9^th in SG: Putting
  • Max Greyserman (2^nd): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Maverick McNealy (3^rd): 11^th in SG: Putting
• 2023
  • Lee Hodges (Winner): 4^th in SG: Putting
  • Martin Laird (2^nd): 3^rd in SG: Putting
  • T. Poston (2^nd): 11^th in SG: Putting
  • Dylan Wu (5^th): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Keith Mitchell (5^th): 8^th in SG: Putting
• 2022
  • Sungjae Im (2^nd): 16^th in SG: Putting
  • Emiliano Grillo (2^nd): 17^th in SG: Putting
  • Scott Piercy (4^th): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • James Hahn (4^th): 8^th in SG: Putting
• 2021
  • Cameron Champ (Winner): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Charl Schwartzel (2^nd): 4^th in SG: Putting
  • Keith Mitchell (5^th): 2^nd in SG: Putting

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

John Deere Classic (TPC Deere Run)

TPC Deere Run is a spacious parkland course with generous fairways and bentgrass greens that regularly produces low scoring. It ranks closely to TPC Twin Cities in both approach and putting difficulty, while the scoring averages on its par 3s and par 5s are also similar, making it one of the strongest comps.

Notable correlating form:

• Jhonattan Vegas: 3M Open (1^st, 2^nd) / John Deere (3^rd)
• Lee Hodges: 3M Open (1^st) / John Deere (3^rd)
• Kurt Kitayama: 3M Open (1^st) / John Deere (5^th)
• T. Poston: 3M Open (2^nd) / John Deere (1^st)
• Bryson DeChambeau: 3M Open (2^nd) / John Deere (1^st)
• Emiliano Grillo: 3M Open (2^nd, 3^rd) / John Deere (2^nd, 2^nd)
• Kevin Streelman: 3M Open (2^nd) / John Deere (7^th, 8^th, 8^th)
• Max Homa: 3M Open (3^rd) / John Deere (2^nd, 5^th)
• David Lipsky: 3M Open (3^rd) / John Deere (3^rd)
• Scott Piercy: 3M Open (4^th) / John Deere (3^rd)
• Matt Kuchar: 3M Open (4^th) / John Deere (5^th)
• Callum Tarren: 3M Open (7^th) / John Deere (6^th)

CJ CUP Byron Nelson (TPC Craig Ranch)

As a lengthy par-71 layout with large bentgrass greens and wide fairways, TPC Craig Ranch has many of the same characteristics as this week’s host. Long-iron play is at a premium, and scoring is always low, with every edition of the CJ CUP Byron Nelson held there won at 23-under-par or lower.

Notable correlating form:

• Kurt Kitayama: 3M Open (1^st) / Byron Nelson (5^th)
• Jhonattan Vegas: 3M Open (1^st, 2^nd) / Byron Nelson (9^th, 13^th)
• Charl Schwartzel: 3M Open (2^nd, 3^rd) / Byron Nelson (3^rd)
• Sam Stevens: 3M Open (2^nd) / Byron Nelson (3^rd)
• Alex Noren: 3M Open (3^rd) / Byron Nelson (3^rd)
• Matt Wallace: 3M Open (3^rd) / Byron Nelson (4^th)
• Jake Knapp: 3M Open (3^rd) / Byron Nelson (8^th)
• Tom Hoge: 3M Open (4^th) / Byron Nelson (6^th)
• Taylor Pendrith: 3M Open (5^th) / Byron Nelson (1^st)
• Wyndham Clark: 3M Open (5^th) / Byron Nelson (1^st)
• Keith Mitchell: 3M Open (5^th, 5^th) / Byron Nelson (5^th)
• Takumi Kanaya: 3M Open (7^th) / Byron Nelson (5^th)
• H. Lee: 3M Open (6^th, 9^th) / Byron Nelson (1^st, 1^st)

Rocket Classic (Detroit Golf Club)

Since arriving on the PGA Tour in the same year, the 3M Open has struck up notably strong form ties with the Rocket Classic. The tee-to-green test at Detroit Golf Club is akin to what players will face this week, and though the greens are a touch tougher, we still regularly see winning scores exceed 20-under-par.

Notable correlating form:

• Tony Finau: 3M Open (1^st) / Rocket Classic (1^st)
• Matthew Wolff: 3M Open (1^st) / Rocket Classic (2^nd)
• Bryson DeChambeau: 3M Open (2^nd) / Rocket Classic (1^st)
• Collin Morikawa: 3M Open (2^nd) / Rocket Classic (2^nd)
• Max Greyserman: 3M Open (2^nd) / Rocket Classic (2^nd)
• Alex Noren: 3M Open (3^rd) / Rocket Classic (4^th)
• Jake Knapp: 3M Open (3^rd) / Rocket Classic (4^th)
• Cameron Tringale: 3M Open (3^rd) / Rocket Classic (5^th)
• Adam Hadwin: 3M Open (4^th, 6^th) / Rocket Classic (2^nd, 4^th)
• Taylor Pendrith: 3M Open (5^th) / Rocket Classic (2^nd)
• Ryan Armour: 3M Open (6^th) / Rocket Classic (4^th)
• Brian Stuard: 3M Open (6^th) / Rocket Classic (5^th)

Mexico Open (Vidanta Vallarta)

Vidanta Vallarta is a bombers paradise that provides a similar ball-striking challenge to TPC Twin Cities. Fairways are wide, greens are reasonably easy to hit, and with approaches of 175 yards+ commonplace, it works well as a comp.

Notable correlating form:

• Tony Finau: 3M Open (1^st) / Mexico (1^st, 2^nd)
• Kurt Kitayama: 3M Open (1^st) / Mexico (2^nd)
• Cameron Champ: 3M Open (1^st) / Mexico (6^th, 8^th)
• Emiliano Grillo: 3M Open (2^nd, 3^rd) / Mexico (5^th)
• Jake Knapp: 3M Open (3^rd) / Mexico (1^st)
• David Lipsky: 3M Open (3^rd) / Mexico (6^th)

Canadian Open (TPC Toronto)

With its generous fairways, similar-sized bentgrass greens, and comparable around-the-greens and approach challenge, TPC Toronto is a venue that could develop close ties with TPC Twin Cities.

Notable correlating form:

• Lee Hodges: 3M Open (1^st) / TPC Toronto (9^th)
• Cameron Champ: 3M Open (1^st) / TPC Toronto (9^th)

THE FIELD

Scottie Scheffler returns to the U.S. following a 4^th-place finish at Royal Birkdale and will make his 3M Open debut this week. The world No. 1 is one of eight players from inside the top 50, with Hideki Matsuyama (No. 30) and Tom Kim (No. 34) the second and third highest-ranking.

Defending champion Kurt Kitayama comes next on that list. He is joined by three other previous winners: Lee Hodges (2023), Tony Finau (2022) and Cameron Champ (2021).

Former No. 1 amateur Jackson Koivun continues his professional journey. The man who replaced him at the top of those rankings, Preston Stout, is also in the field as one of four sponsors invites. Meanwhile, Stefano Mazzoli makes his first start as a PGA Tour pro after winning last week’s Corales Puntacana Championship.

Market leaders (1/4 - 5 places): Scottie Scheffler 5/2, Maverick McNealy 22/1, Kurt Kitayama 22/1, Jackson Koivun 25/1, Tom Kim 28/1, Hideki Matsuyama 28/1, Jake Knapp 28/1

Check out the full 3M Open Odds here

2 pts Hideki Matsuyama each-way (1/ 5 - 8 places) @ 25/1

After overcoming a slow start to finish an eye-catching 14^th at Royal Birkdale, I’m taking Hideki Matsuyama to return to winning ways this week. Though no longer the weapon it once was, he’s driven it well on his last couple of starts and, thriving with the long irons, he looks poised to contend in Minnesota.

Alongside a run of made cuts that stretches back to May last year, Hideki has recorded nine top-25s in 2026. His standout effort came when 2^nd at the Phoenix Open back in February, which he immediately followed with an 8^th at Pebble Beach. More recently, he’s recorded back-to-back 14^th-place finishes at the Travelers Championship and last week’s Open Championship.

He rates as the fifth-best iron player in the field, particularly excelling with the long irons, sitting 11^th from 200 yards+ and 23^rd from 175-200 yards. This compensates for the power he’s lost off the tee over the last couple of years and, having started to find more fairways in recent events, his ball-striking is in a good place.

Matsuyama was 7^th at the very first 3M Open in 2019, going low in rounds one and three with a 64 and 66 respectively. He returned in 2023 following a missed cut the previous year, again opening with a 64 before eventually finishing 30^th.

Ranking 5^th in SG: Ball Striking on each of those outings, this is a layout that clearly suits his eye. If able to keep that driver under control, I’m confident he can be among the main contenders come Sunday evening.

1.25 pts Pierceson Coody each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 45/1

Pierceson Coody was 3^rd at TPC Twin Cities 12 months ago and returns as a stronger iron player this year. Buoyed by a positive Open Championship debut in Southport, the 26-year-old Texan looks to have every chance of earning a PGA Tour breakthrough this week.

Beginning the season with five top-20s in six starts, including an excellent runner-up finish at the Farmers Insurance Open, Coody’s momentum was derailed by a back injury that caused him to miss out on his Masters debut.

He picked things back up at the RBC Heritage, finishing 16^th and has only missed three of his last 10 cuts. One of those did come in the PGA Championship at Aronimink, though he signed off major season in much more upbeat fashion, following a 23^rd at the U.S. Open with a 28^th at Royal Birkdale.

The driver remains his strongest club, ranking 11^th in driving distance and 23^rd in SG: OTT this campaign. That said, he has made gains with the irons – sitting 78^th in SG: Approach in 2026 compared to 94^th in 2025 and 159^th in 2024 – and, having rediscovered his touch on the greens, he’s got everything you need to attack this layout.

Coody did just that last year, firing rounds of 65-65-67-67 to finish two shots behind Kitayama in 3^rd. Hitting his irons considerably better this time around, this former No. 1 amateur can claim a maiden PGA Tour victory on Sunday.

1.25 pts Sam Stevens each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 45/1

I’m going to follow Coody with another big-hitting Texas-born player who has made improvements to his iron play in 2026, Sam Stevens. With two top-10s in three 3M Open starts, including a 2^nd-place finish last year, this is the perfect place for him to notch up a first PGA Tour win.

Though Stevens didn’t enjoy his two-week stint in the UK, missing the cut at both the Scottish Open and Open Championship, it was only four outings ago that he was 7^th at the U.S. Open. That was one of three top-10s this season, as he previously finished 5^th at the Houston Open and 6^th at The AmEx, while he also hit the top 25 on his Masters debut.

He’s a top-class driver, combining power and accuracy to rank 31^st in SG: OTT. Although a placing of 72^nd in SG: Approach doesn’t look especially impressive, it’s a vast upgrade on 149^th (2025) and 143^rd (2024) in the previous two years.

That enhanced approach play has come at a cost, as he’s regressed on the greens in 2026. Mind you, he’s putted strongly on each of his three visits to TPC Twin Cities, particularly last year, ranking 3^rd in SG: Putting on his way to finishing 2^nd.

Having been 10^th on debut, this is evidently a test that suits Stevens’s game. With a 3^rd-place finish at last year’s CJ CUP Byron Nelson strengthening his case, there’s every reason to expect a bold showing in Minnesota.

1 pt Karl Vilips each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 150/1

Having witnessed three winners at 100/1+, this is a tournament where longshots often fare well. Bearing that in mind, I’ve taken a punt on a couple at three-figures showing some positive signs of late, the first of which is Aussie youngster Karl Vilips.

Vilips made an immediate impact during his rookie 2025 season, winning the Puerto Rico Open on just his third start of the campaign. He’s shown a greater level of consistency this year, recording four top-25s, and he arrives at TPC Twin Cities after encouraging finishes of 39^th at the John Deere Classic and 30^th at the Scottish Open in the last month.

Rising from 166^th in SG: Putting in 2025 to 21^st in 2026, he’s improved considerably on the greens. His iron play has been up and down, but he has gained strokes on those most recent appearances and is comfortable with long iron in hand, ranking 28^th from 200 yards+.

As a player who doesn’t lack for power, he should enjoy the challenge that awaits this week. That wasn’t necessarily evident as he missed the cut last year, though he had missed four in a row prior to that. With his form much better this time around, I expect Vilips to be an entirely different prospect.

1 pt Patrick Fishburn each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 150/1

Patrick Fishburn didn’t quite do the business for us in the Dominican, but I was again encouraged by his ball-striking. He now tees it up in this admittedly deeper field at more than three times the price, and having finished 6^th here on debut in 2024, he’s well worth sticking with at TPC Twin Cities.

There was little to get excited about at the beginning of Fishburn’s season, though he has looked far better since the beginning of May. A 19^th-place finish at the Myrtle Beach Classic was his first top-20 of the campaign, and he’s since gone on to make five of his last six cuts.

His driving has really warmed up over this period, with this reasonably lengthy hitter ranking 24^th in SG: OTT across the last three months. He’s also 11^th in GIR and is at his best with the long irons, sitting 29^th from 175-200 yards and 32^nd from 200 yards+.

Fishburn sat 4^th here with a round to play on debut in 2024 before ultimately finishing an impressive 6^th. There was also plenty to like about his 44^th last year, as he fired three rounds in the 60s, suggesting that TPC Twin Cities is a layout that plays to his strengths.