First-time winner Lee Hodges faced minimal pressure Sunday in taking the 3M Open on the receptive acreage of TPC Twin Cities. Earlier rain had softened greens and wind was not a factor, making the Blaine golf course almost as defenseless as when it was set up to be a birdie-fest for the senior Champions Tour through 2018. As if optimum scoring conditions were not enough for the 73 players .
Lee Hodges got off to a good start in his bid to make the FedEx Cup playoffs, shooting an 8-under 63 on Thursday for a one-stroke lead in the first round of the 3M Open. Two-time major champion Justin Thomas, who's trying to make both the playoffs and the U.S. Ryder Cup team, opened with a 69 in windier afternoon conditions at the TPC Twin Cities. “I played really well,” Thomas said.
Byeong Hun An played well enough in the Scottish Open on Thursday that he had reason to hope he can stick around for more links golf next week. An ran off four straight birdies early in his round at The Renaissance Club and closed with a 25-foot birdie putt on the tough par-3 ninth hole for a 9-under 61, giving him a two-shot lead over Davis Riley. An had his best score on the PGA Tour — the Scottish Open is co-sanctioned with the European tour — and it came at just the right time.