After Ryan Fox's win at the 154th Open Championship on Sunday, the PGA Tour action heads to Minnesota this week for the 3M Open.
The New Zealander produced a superb performance to triumph at Royal Birkdale, managing his way around the difficult links course, and he understandably will not be heading to TPC Twin Cities.
American Kurt Kitayama, who was tied 40th in Southport last week, is the defending 3M Open champion and he is aiming to become the first multiple winner of this PGA Tour event.
World number one Scottie Scheffler will be teeing it up and he has been installed as the 3/1 favourite to win on his 3M Open debut.
Scoring has generally been low at Twin Cities in the previous seven iterations, with at least -23 required for victory in two of the last three editions, so expect to see plenty of low numbers in Minnesota.
3M Open Tips Summary
Best Bet - Kurt Kitayama to win and each-way @ 20/1
Alternative Bet - Joel Dahmen to win and each-way @ 275/1
Alternative Bet - Johnny Keefer to win and each-way @ 55/1
3M Open Prediction
Best Bet: Kurt Kitayama to win and each-way @ 20/1
Links golf is not Kitayama's forte and it was no surprise to see him not challenging for the victory at Birkdale last week, although his tied-40th finish was his best Open Championship result and that should have given him a boost.
The American now heads to Minnesota looking to defend his 3M Open crown and this tournament is all about a strong approach game, which the reigning champion certainly has.
Kitayama, who was tied sixth on his Twin Cities debut in 2024, is eighth in greens in regulation and 10th in strokes gained approach on the PGA Tour this season.
If the 33-year-old can enjoy a strong week with the putter, then he looks to have a great chance of becoming the first player to win this tournament twice.
Alternative Bet: Joel Dahmen to win and each-way @ 275/1
Joel Dahmen has failed to add to his Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship victory in 2021 but there have been signs of revival this season and a second PGA Tour title could be in the offing.
The 38-year-old had two top-10 finishes earlier in the year - at the Farmers Insurance Open and Cognizant Classic - while there have been positives to take from his last two starts at the ISCO Championship (T30) and Puntacana Championship (T24).
Dahmen recorded his best 3M Open effort last year, when taking a share of 39th place, and his approach statistics this season suggest he can improve on that result.
The American is ninth in greens in regulation and 13th in strokes gained approach and, if he can get the putter rolling well, a victory could be within his grasp.
Alternative Bet: Johnny Keefer to win and each-way @ 55/1
Johnny Keefer has been getting closer to breaking his PGA Tour duck this year, registering tied-third results at the Houston Open and Scottish Open and a top 10 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
The 25-year-old American, who won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025, will be making his Twin Cities debut this week and he looks capable of taking this course by storm.
Keefer is second in greens in regulation and 15th in strokes gained approach, evidence of his strong iron play, while he is also ninth off the tee when it comes to strokes gained.
Key Tournament Stats
This is the eighth edition of the 3M Open
TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota has hosted each tournament
The course is a par 71 measuring 7,431 yards, with 11 par-fours, three par-fives and four par-threes
Matthew Wolff won the inaugural event in 2019, finishing one stroke ahead of Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa
Kurt Kitayama is the defending champion, having edged out Sam Stevens by one shot last year
Lee Hodges holds the tournament record score, posting -24 when lifting the trophy in 2023
Read more golf betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
