TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minnesota

The major championships ended with a runaway win by Brian Harman at Royal Liverpool, where he claimed the Open Championship. It was Brian’s first major championship and his third win on the PGA Tour. Harman waggled his way away from the competition by going into the weekend at 10 under and coasting through the final two rounds at a combined 3 under to win at 13 under by six strokes. It was a great weekend for Brian Harman, but not so much for the DDSN winning streak, which came to an end at 12 weeks in a row. The good news is that we can start another winning streak this weekend and take it to the end of the season at the FedEx Cup Finals.

The next tour stop heads to the land of 10,000 lakes and temporary home state of DDSN’s NASCAR correspondent Big Joe: Minnesota. TPC Twin Cities will host the 3M Open this week. Defending champion Tony Finau will headline the field of 156 golfers this weekend, and 2021 winner Cameron Champ will also play to regain the title. The purse is set as a normal event at $7.8 million, with $1.4 million going to the winner. The 3M Open is one of the newer events on tour, with this year being only the fifth edition.

The Field:

This week is not an elevated event, and most of the golfers who spent the last couple of weeks across the pond are trying to reset their clocks. Therefore, the field is scarce of top talent. Only three of the top 30 FedEx points leaders will be in the field. This is a great opportunity for those trying to qualify for a top 70 spot to make up some distance in the point standings this weekend. Justin Thomas is one of those golfers this year. Currently in the 75th spot, he would like to make a run at the 500 points for winning the 3M Open. Also, golfers like Garrick Higgo and Justin Suh, who have been playing well in the last few tournaments but are currently outside the 70th spot, have an opportunity to position themselves to qualify. With all that said, don’t be surprised if the cream rises to the top like a fresh batch of Land O’ Lakes butter, and Tony Finau, Sungjae Im, Cameron Champ or even Justin Thomas are hoisting the trophy on Sunday.

The Course:

TPC Twin Cities was established in 2000 and designed by Arnold Palmer and Minnesota’s own Tom Lehman. The private TPC property sits north of Minneapolis in the suburb of Blaine. Arnold and Tom sprawled out the course and made sure that water and sand would be an issue for the golfers. The course will be set up as a par 71 at 7,431 yards. The par-5 18th hole was ranked as the hardest par 5 on tour last year and will be the next challenge hole for the AON risk challenge. The weather on Thursday will be a steamy 96-degree high, then showers are expected Friday and will lead to a cool down to the low 80s for the weekend.

TexHoss Projected Top 5 (via BetOnline):

1. Sungjae Im +1400

2. Justin Thomas +2500

3. Garrick Higo +7000

4. Ludvig Aberg +2500

5. Stephan Jaeger +4000

Tournament Wagers:

• Matchup: Cameron Davis OVER Aaron Rai (+100) [via Draft Kings]

• Matchup: Ludvig Aberg OVER Justin Thomas (-110) [via Draft Kings]

• Top 20: Keith Mitchell (+210) [via Draft Kings]

• Top 20: Austin Eckroat: (+220) [via Draft Kings]

• Top 20: Doug Ghim: (+260) [via Draft Kings]

• Top 20: Cameron Champ (+300) [via Draft Kings]

• Top 20: Greyson Sigg (+300) [via Draft Kings]

• Top 20: Steward Cink (+450) [via Draft Kings]

• Top 20: Adam Long (+550) [via Draft Kings]

1st Round Wagers:

• 3 Ball: Sungjae Im OVER Norman & Hughes (+105) [via Draft Kings]

• 3 Ball: CT Pan OVER Lashley & Endycott (+150) [via Draft Kings]

• 3 Ball: Adam Long OVER Palmer & Taylor (+160) [via Draft Kings}