When the 3M Open descends upon TPC Twin Cities in Blaine from July 24-27, tournament director Mike Welch said he is expecting the deepest field to date.
There are a number of high profile golfers already committed, including Tony Finau, who won the 3M Open in 2022, Sam Burns, who recently finished in the top 10 at the U.S. Open, and Max Homa, who is trying to get his career back on track.
The expectation from Welch is that additional commitments from other high profile golfers should be rolling in over the next couple of weeks.
The biggest challenge for the 3M Open when it comes to locking down some big names is the fact that it immediately follows the Open Championship. The travel from different parts of the United Kingdom to the Twin Cities isn’t exactly the most palatable.
Though it’s placement in the PGA Tour schedule has prevented the 3M Open from trotting out a bunch of superstars in the past, Welch remains bullish on the current field, which also includes defending champion Jhonattan Vegas.
Here’s a look at some of the highest ranked golfers already committed to play at the 3M Open:
Maverick McNealy
World Golf Ranking: No. 16
Analysis: Though he might not be recognizable to the casual fan, McNealy has steadily improved since turning pro nearly a decade ago. He has put together a solid campaign this year, highlighted by finishing in second place at the Genesis Invitational, third place at the RBC Heritage and fifth place at the Memorial Tournament.
Sam Burns
World Golf Ranking: No. 21
Analysis: There was a brief moment a few weeks ago when it looked like Burns was going to win the U.S. Open. He was the solo leader heading into the final round at Oakmont Country Club and was firmly in contention down the stretch before soggy conditions got the best of him. He’s currently the best putter on the PGA Tour this season when it comes to strokes gained on the green.
Wyndham Clark
World Golf Ranking: No. 30
Analysis: After winning the the U.S. Open in 2023, it looked like Clark was on a rocket ship to becoming a household name. Instead, he has struggled with consistency in all facets of his game, a concerning trend that has continued this year. He’s currently on the outside looking in for the FedExCup playoffs. The top 70 players in the FedExCup standings qualify, and Clark is ranked No. 77.
Akshay Bhatia
World Golf Ranking: No. 35
Analysis: The highlight for Bhatia so far this year came when he finished in third place at the Players Championship. There has been a noticeable drop off in the aftermath. He hasn’t finished in the top 10 since. He also notably missed the cut at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open.
Taylor Pendrith
World Golf Ranking: No. 39
Analysis: There have been some impressive performances from Pendrith this year. Whether it’s finishing in ninth place at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am, fifth place at the Houston Open, or most notably, fifth place at the PGA Championship, he has turned himself into somebody that’s capable of contending on a weekly basis.
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