Sekolapedia – 24 July 2026 | The excitement of professional golf returned to Blaine, Minnesota, on Thursday as players tackled the opening round of the prestigious 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. Among a competitive field eager to make an early statement, veteran golfer Ben Kohles stole the spotlight, carding a sensational bogey-free 9-under-par 62 to secure a commanding two-stroke lead.
Kohles, currently ranked No. 128 in the world and still searching for his maiden victory on the PGA Tour, put on a masterclass in precision and control. The 36-year-old capitalized on a comfortable wind that has frequently favored his playing style over the past few seasons. His day was highlighted by an impressive stretch of consistent scoring, which included birdies on Nos. 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 15. Kohles capped off his spectacular career-best performance in style by hitting a stellar second shot from 241 yards on the par-5 18th hole, leaving himself a mere 4-foot putt that he calmly converted for an eagle.
‘Yeah, it feels great obviously when you can get a low one out early, especially early in the tournament,’ Kohles remarked following his round. ‘I was just in control all day. Honestly, I’ve played really well here the last few years, I really like this golf course.’ Statistically, Kohles dominated the course on Thursday, ranking first in greens in regulation by hitting 17 of 18, and tying for third in driving accuracy.
While Kohles sits comfortably at the top of the 3M Open leaderboard, a talented chasing pack is close behind. Sharing a tie for second place at 7-under 64 are Jackson Koivun, Gary Woodland, and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo. Grillo, who managed a brilliant round despite a couple of late stumbles on the 16th and 17th holes, expressed his satisfaction with starting strong against top-tier competition. ‘Any day beating Scottie Scheffler is a good day, so I’ll take that,’ Grillo said.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler made his highly anticipated tournament debut at TPC Twin Cities following a strong showing at the British Open. Playing a bogey-free round of 65, Scheffler finds himself three shots back and tied for fifth. Starting his day on the back nine, Scheffler heated up significantly after making the turn, stringing together multiple birdies to finish at 6-under.
‘Golf’s funny. Some days you’re hitting your lines and the line seems to be tracking toward the hole and other days it feels like you’re doing the same thing and it kind of goes around the hole,’ Scheffler explained. ‘Today was a day in which I was able to hole some nice putts and that’s why I was able to make some birdies out there.’
Not all players experienced smooth sailing during the opening day of the 3M Open. Veteran golfer Patton Kizzire struggled through a difficult round, carding a 6-over-par 78 that featured a triple-bogey and multiple bogeys. Following the conclusion of his round, tour officials confirmed that Kizzire was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a back injury.
As the weekend approaches, the 3M Open promises plenty of drama, high-stakes competition, and shifting leaderboards. With players like Kohles holding momentum and global stars like Scheffler lurking just behind, the battle for the championship trophy at TPC Twin Cities remains wide open.
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