Thursday at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, marked the opening round of the 2025 3M Open, the penultimate event of the PGA Tour's regular season. With the FedEx Cup Playoffs looming, this tournament has become a critical battleground for players on the cusp of the top 70 cutoff, fighting tooth and nail to secure their place in the postseason.
Adam Svensson set the tone early, blazing through the course with an electrifying 11-under-par 60 to claim the clubhouse lead. His round was a masterclass in precision and birdie-making, leaving the field chasing his remarkable score. Just two shots behind, Sam Stevens and Thorbjorn Olesen share second place at 9 under. Stevens, who remains in search of his first PGA Tour victory, battled fiercely but faltered slightly with a bogey on the closing par-5, finishing just shy of a perfect round.
Olesen's performance was equally captivating. The Danish golfer carded an impressive 10 birdies offset by a single bogey on the par-4 ninth hole. His hot streak included five birdies in the first six holes on the inward nine, showcasing his ability to maintain momentum over 18 holes. This blistering pace places him firmly in contention as the tournament progresses.
Meanwhile, Tom Kim, currently sitting 89th in the FedEx Cup standings with just two events left to improve his position, showed resilience. Known for his putting struggles—dropping from 73rd to 141st in strokes gained putting over the past seasons—Kim tried a new putter for at least the fifth time this year at the 3M Open. Through 13 holes, he was 3 under, signaling a determined effort to claw his way into playoff contention.
Kevin Kisner, a four-time PGA Tour winner, has endured a challenging 2025 season, missing 12 of 14 cuts before the 3M Open. His best finish this year was a tie for 70th at the Valspar Championship, but a recent resurgence saw him tied for eighth at the ISCO Championship. Kisner opened his 3M Open campaign with a solid four-under 67, sitting just two shots off the lead through 11 holes.
Speaking about his recent improvement, Kisner credited a change in his putting technique inspired by Scottie Scheffler. "The putter? I started putting with a claw at some point this year and it sure has been a nice turnaround. I don’t know why that changed. I felt awful over the putter for the last year and a half and missing a lot of short ones. I just grabbed it with a claw one day and started making the short ones," Kisner explained. "So I kind of branched it out a little bit like Scottie did, like Scottie does and then I just went all way through the bag. So the ball’s rolling like I remember it rolling and that’s nice to see, so I don’t know what it does but it feels nice." His determination to compete remains undiminished despite his world ranking of 694th and FedEx Cup position at 195th. "I played so poorly for ’23 and ’24 I really just wanted to come back and show myself that I could still do it. The last few weeks have showed me that I can. I just want to get in the hunt one more time and see how I perform," he added.
The 2025 3M Open field includes 156 players, with notable names such as defending champion Jhonattan Vegas, along with past winners Lee Hodges (2023), Tony Finau (2022), and Cameron Champ (2021). However, Philip Knowles withdrew prior to the first round due to a neck injury and was replaced by Ryan Brehm, who has struggled this season after winning the Puerto Rico Open in 2022 but failing to make cuts recently.
Weather conditions impacted the tournament setup, with rains on Wednesday prompting the use of preferred lies during the first round. This adjustment has allowed players to capitalize on better turf conditions, contributing to the low scores witnessed early in the event.
The stakes at the 3M Open are high. With a total purse of $8.4 million, the winner will pocket $1.512 million, earn 300 FedEx Cup points, and secure a two-year PGA Tour exemption. These rewards underscore the importance of strong performances, especially for those hovering around the FedEx Cup cutoff.
Golf fans can follow the action live on PGA Tour Live via ESPN+ from 8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m., SiriusXM PGA Tour radio from 1 to 7 p.m., and on the Golf Channel and NBC Sports app from 4 to 7 p.m.
As the 3M Open unfolds, the leaderboard is shaping up to be a thrilling contest. Svensson’s blistering 60 sets a high bar, while Stevens and Olesen lurk close behind. Kisner’s return to form adds an intriguing subplot, with Tom Kim’s putting experiment adding further drama. With two rounds still to play before the cut, the battle for playoff survival is heating up, promising plenty of excitement for players and fans alike.
