- The 3M Open will be held at TPC Twin Cities, Blaine in Minnesota
- Recommended Bets:
- Sahith Theegala to win and each-way
- Erik van Rooyen to win and each-way
- Tom Hoge Top 10 Finish

The 3M Open will provide a very different test to that of Royal Troon, although not many of the final-day contenders from The Open will tee off at TPC Twin Cities on Thursday.  

Billy Horschel is among the leading names in the field but only two of the world’s top 20 players are scheduled to take part in the final event before the Olympic Games.  

Tony Finau, a winner here in 2022, and Akshay Bhatia, who recorded back-to-back top-five finishes before The Open, join world number 11 Sahith Theegala, in-form Sam Burns and Horschel at the head of the outright betting. 

Theegala can bounce back from Open disappointment

Theegala’s recent results and record at this course go against him, but as the highest-ranked player in the field this week and one of only two competitors inside the world's top 20 in action in Minnesota, he is certainly worth a second look.

The Californian missed the cut in wet and windy conditions at Royal Troon, but he finished inside the top-15 twice in his previous four events — including when it was very benign at the Scottish Open.

If he can shrug off the disappointment of last week’s display, the 26-year-old’s long-term form suggests a second PGA Tour victory might be just around the corner.

He currently ranks sixth in the PGA Tour’s Longest Drives stats and the strength of his game off the tee should translate well to this track.

TPC Twin Cities is inside the top-15 longest courses on the PGA Tour this season, measuring in at 7,431 yards.

Back Sahith Theegala to win the tournament and each-way at 22/1 with LiveScore Bet.

Van Rooyen can putt his name in contention

One potentially productive betting angle this week is to seek out a bubble player who needs a good showing in Minnesota to get inside the top 70 of the FedExCup rankings.

And the same will be true in a couple of weeks when the target is the top 50 to ensure entry to the BMW Championship.

Erik van Rooyen is 56th on the list at the moment and will be looking to use his local knowledge this week to bolster his end-of-season earning prospects. 

The South African is a Golden Gopher — meaning he attended the University of Minnesota — and his proven ability with the flat stick ought to be a major help if the event turns into a birdiefest again.

The average winning score at the 3M over the first five years is 19-under-par, which suggests a red-hot putter will be a prerequisite for the winner’s bag.

And in Van Rooyen’s last six starts where the average winning score has been 20-under or greater, he has a win and four top-eight finishes.

The win came at last November’s World Wide Technologies championship and he since finished tied-second at the Cognizant Classic in March, tied-fourth at the Myrtle Beach Classic in May and tied-sixth at lats month’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Van Rooyen’s weakness has been around the greens on harder tests where bogey avoidance becomes a factor, but the 3M Open should play to his birdie-making strengths.

Back Erik van Rooyen to win the tournament and each-way at 40/1 with LiveScore Bet.

Consistent Hoge can be in the mix

Hoge hails from Fargo, North Dakota — around three and a half hours drive from TPC Twin Cities — and he won two Minnesota State Amateur titles before turning pro.

So the 35-year-old should feel right at home at the tree-lined Arnold Palmer-designed course that features no fewer than 27 water hazards.

Hoge has posted one top-five and three top-10 finishes this year and currently sits 20th in the FedExCup standings.

Consistency has been his key to accumulating points as he has made 18 of 22 cuts and he should be there or thereabouts again on Sunday. 

Back Tom Hoge to finish in the top 10 at 7/2 with LiveScore Bet.