The PGA Tour’s swing through the Midwest continues this week with the inaugural playing of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. The Tour hasn’t had a regular stop in Minnesota since 1969 and players will be greeted by an upgraded course. Headlining the field is world No. 1 Brooks Koepka, who is also the betting favorite at online sportsbooks. Eleven of the top 30 golfers in the latest FedEx Cup standings make for some interesting matchups, and odds for those are available at BookMaker.eu.
3M Open Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Mackenzie Hughes -108 vs. Martin Laird -122
Charley Hoffman +107 vs. Lucas Glover -137
Danny Lee -123 vs. Pat Perez -107
Luke List -125 vs. Jason Dufner -105
Kyle Stanley -150 vs. Talor Gooch +120
Peter Malnati -105 vs. Nick Watney -125
Daniel Berger -116 vs. Collin Morikawa -114
Ryan Moore -121 vs. Phil Mickelson -109
Bud Cauley -141 vs. Cameron Tringale +111
Rory Sabbatini -126 vs. Sung Jae Im -104
Jimmy Walker -120 vs. Brian Harman -110
Cameron Champ -111 vs. Sung-Hoon Kang -119
Tony Finau -130 vs. Viktor Hovland +100
Patrick Reed -140 vs. Joaquin Niemann +110
Jason Day -125 vs. Hideki Matsuyama -105
Kevin Streelman -115 vs. Kevin Na -115
Keith Mitchell -122 vs. JJ Spaun -108
Viktor Hovland -108 vs. Keegan Bradley -122
Bryson Dechambeau -157 vs. Patrick Reed +125
Bryson Dechambeau -181 vs. Joaquin Niemann +143
Adam Hadwin -140 vs. Nate Lashley +110
Brooks Koepka -133 vs. Hideki Matsuyama +103
Scott Piercy +101 vs. Charles Howell III -131
Brooks Koepka -122 vs. Jason Day -108
Tony Finau -129 vs. Keegan Bradley -101
Need to Know
I split my matchup picks last week going 2-2 with a tie when Chez Reavie and Gary Woodland both missed the cut. Overall, not a bad haul, but I can and should do better. This week’s 3M Open offers several enticing matchups as the Tour stops in Minnesota for the first time since the 2009 PGA Championship. TPC Twin Cities was recently overhauled in anticipation of the Tour arrival and now stretches to nearly 7,500 yards at par 71. The venue hosted a stop on the Champions Tour for 18 years and was considered by many to be one of that Tour’s top layouts. The Arnold Palmer design features 27 water hazards and a number of bunkers sprinkled throughout. The obstacles shouldn’t impede too much and low scores are expected. In each of the past seven years on the Champions Tour the course ranked first or second in birdies.
3M Open Matchup Picks
Phil Mickelson -109 vs. Ryan Moore -121
After watching Mickelson spread the ball all over the golf course in recent events, this is a risky take. However, I have a feeling that Lefty is about to break out of his slump. This isn’t the ideal layout for him with all the hazards, but it does offer a good amount of scoring opportunities and it fits his game. Phil committed a few months back so this has been circled on his calendar. He also needs to find his stroke before the Open Championship, which could easily happen this week.
Sung Jae Im -104 vs. Rory Sabbatini -126
As good as Sabbatini has been playing, Im has been even better. Im’s logged a lot of miles on Tour already this season and took a week off after a solo seventh at the Canadian Open. He came back to log a pair of T21s and has six top-10s and 12 top-25s in 28 starts. The rookie has shown he isn’t afraid of the competition and the lack of Tour experience hasn’t hindered him either. I like the young Korean in this matchup.
Tony Finau -130 vs. Viktor Hovland +100
With family in the area, Finau has spent plenty of time in the state and on the course. A return to familiar surroundings could be just what he needs to snap out of his current funk. Since a runner-up finish at the Charles Schwab Classic, Finau has three straight MCs. He missed just two cuts in his previous 16 stroke play Tour starts. He’s too good to continue scuffling and his time spent at TPC Twin Cities should serve him well as he looks to end his slide. I like for that to happen and I’ll grab Finau in this matchup despite the odds.
Joaquin Niemann +110 vs. Patrick Reed -140
This is my upset pick of the week despite both players tying for fifth at 17-under in Detroit last week. Reed’s game has been on an upswing of late, but he hasn’t won since his Masters title a few years back. Meanwhile, Niemann enters after a pair of top-5s with a blazing hot putter and short game. He ranked second in GIR last week and he’s gained strokes putting in three of his last four starts. He’ll continue the heater and beat Reed head-to-head this week.
Jason Day -125 vs. Hideki Matsuyama -105
These two could be battling for the individual title on Sunday making the head-to-head matchup even more exciting. Matsuyama has been red hot not missing a cut in a year with 11 top-25s in his 14 starts this season. Day hasn’t won in over a year, but he’s been a threat with four top-5s. His approach game has improved over his last few starts and Day is primed to finally get that elusive victory. Or at least top Matsuyama in this matchup.
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