2026 3M Open: Who’s Making Noise and Who’s Going Home Early?

Alright, let’s cut to the chase. The 2026 3M Open is hitting TPC Twin Cities, and things are already getting interesting. Some guys are playing like they invented golf, and others? Well, let’s just say they’re probably already checking their flight details home. This isn’t just another tournament; it’s where careers get a boost or take a nasty nosedive. We’re talking about the guys who can actually string together some birdies and the ones who seem determined to find every bunker on the course.

The leaderboard is starting to shake out, and a few names are definitely grabbing headlines. You’ve got your usual suspects, of course, but then there are the guys who are suddenly on fire, playing golf that makes you wonder if they’ve been secretly practicing with a magic wand. It’s a damn good show, and if you’re not paying attention, you’re missing out on some serious golf drama.

Kim’s Historic Round: Did Someone Forget to Tell Him the Score?

Let’s talk about Michael Kim. This guy went nuclear on Friday. Seriously, nuclear. He dropped a 59. A SIXTY. In a PGA Tour event. This isn’t some casual Saturday scramble where your buddy chips in for eagle on the 18th to save his pride. This is the big leagues, and Kim just rewrote a little piece of history. Sixteen times it’s happened on the PGA Tour. Now it’s seventeen. And he did it with zero bogeys. Zero. That’s not just playing well; that’s playing like he’s got a personal vendetta against the scorecard.

He birdied his last four holes to get there. Four. Imagine the pressure. Most guys would be sweating bullets, trying to avoid disaster. Kim? He’s out there making it look easy, picking the course apart. This kind of performance doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of a hell of a lot of hard work, and maybe a little bit of pure, unadulterated luck. But when you shoot 59, you’ve earned whatever luck comes your way. He’s now sitting pretty at 14 under, with a nice little cushion.

The advantage he’s built is a sweet three shots. That’s a decent lead heading into Saturday, but in golf, three shots can disappear faster than a free drink ticket at a corporate outing. His closest competitors – Ben Kohles, Emiliano Grillo, and Chandler Phillips – are all sitting at 11 under. They’re the ones who need to put the heat on Kim. They’re the ones who need to play golf that makes people talk. And believe me, they will be trying.

Round 3: Who’s Paired Up and Ready to Rumble?

So, where does that leave us for Saturday’s third round? The tee times are out, and the pairings are set. This is where the real pressure cooker starts. You’ve got the guys who are in contention, nervously eyeing each other, and then you’ve got the guys who are just trying to make it to Sunday, hoping for a miracle. The atmosphere is going to be thick with tension. You can practically taste it.

Michael Kim is going off at 1:35 p.m. ET, and guess who he’s playing with? Ben Kohles. That’s right. The guy sitting in second place is going to be right there with Kim, probably trying to send him a message with every shot. This is the kind of pairing you want to see. It’s not just about Kim holding onto his lead; it’s about Kohles trying to snatch it away, stroke by stroke. It’s going to be a head-to-head battle, and it’s going to be damn compelling to watch.

The rest of the tee times are filled with a mix of familiar faces and some guys you might be seeing for the first time. You’ve got Scottie Scheffler and Hideki Matsuyama paired up, which is a pairing that would draw a crowd at any event. These are guys who know how to win, and they’ll be looking to make a move up the leaderboard. Then you have players like Corey Conners and Chris Kirk, both solid competitors who can get hot on any given day.

It’s a long day of golf. The first groups are heading out early, around 8:00 a.m. ET. These early tee times can sometimes catch guys off guard. The course might be a little softer, maybe a bit of dew on the ground. But they’re also playing when the pressure isn’t quite as high. As the day goes on, the crowds get bigger, the nerves get sharper, and the stakes get higher. The afternoon groups, especially those near the top of the leaderboard, are the ones you really need to keep an eye on.

How to Catch All the Action: Don’t Miss a Single Shot

If you’re not at TPC Twin Cities, you’re going to need to tune in. And thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do it. This is the modern era of golf coverage, and they’ve got you covered from every angle. You can’t say you weren’t warned.

For the main broadcast, you’ve got Golf Channel from 1-3 p.m. ET. That’s your early afternoon fix. Then, CBS takes over from 3-6 p.m. ET. This is when the real drama usually unfolds. The pressure mounts, the cameras are zoomed in, and every putt seems to carry the weight of the world. Make sure you’ve got your snacks ready, because you’re going to want to see how this plays out.

But if you’re like me, and you want to see everything, then you need to get familiar with PGA Tour Live on ESPN+. This is where the early birds get their worms. Streaming coverage kicks off at a ridiculously early 8 a.m. ET on Saturday. That’s right, before most people have even had their second cup of coffee, these guys are already out there grinding. Plus, ESPN+ has featured group and featured hole coverage. This means you can follow specific players or watch the most dramatic holes play out in real-time. It’s the ultimate way to get your golf fix without missing a single crucial moment.

The Cut Line: Who Survives to See Sunday?

Of course, not everyone gets to play on the weekend. The dreaded cut line looms large after 36 holes. Those who don’t make it are heading home, probably with a lot of regret and a few too many dropped shots on their scorecard. It’s a brutal part of professional golf, but it’s what separates the contenders from the pretenders.

While the article doesn’t explicitly state the cut line number yet, you can bet it’s going to be tight. We’re talking about players who were just inside the top 65 and ties, fighting tooth and nail for every stroke. You see guys who looked like they were comfortably inside the cut line suddenly start to unravel. A couple of bogeys in a row, a missed short putt, and suddenly they’re packing their bags.

Looking at the leaderboard, you can see a few players who are right on the bubble. Guys like Zach Bauchou and Trace Crowe are kicking off the day at 8:00 a.m. ET. They’re not just playing for a good score on Saturday; they’re playing to make sure they have a Sunday tee time. Every shot they hit early on could be the difference between playing another 18 holes or heading to the airport.

It’s a different kind of pressure when you’re just trying to survive. You’re not necessarily chasing birdies; you’re trying to avoid mistakes. You’re looking at the scoreboard, keeping one eye on the guys behind you. It’s a delicate balance, and one that many players struggle with. The ones who can manage that pressure, who can stay focused and execute their game plan, are the ones who will be teeing it up on Sunday.

Beyond the Leaderboard: What Else is Happening?

While the focus is always on who’s leading, there’s a lot more going on at a tournament like the 3M Open. You’ve got players trying to secure their tour cards for next season. You’ve got rookies trying to make a name for themselves. And you’ve got veterans trying to prove they’ve still got it. It’s a tapestry of ambition and struggle.

Think about players like Kristoffer Ventura and Mackenzie Hughes, teeing off at 9:35 a.m. ET. They’re not necessarily in the hunt for the win, but they’re playing for position, for momentum, and for their future on the tour. A good finish here can mean a lot more than just a paycheck; it can mean a better schedule next year, more exemptions, and a little more job security.

Then there are the stories you don’t always see on TV. The player who’s battling through an injury. The guy who’s been struggling all season and suddenly finds a spark. These are the narratives that make golf so compelling. It’s not just about the 59s and the eagles; it’s about the resilience, the determination, and the sheer grit it takes to compete at this level. You can learn a lot about the mental game of golf just by watching players navigate their way through a tough round, especially when they’re not in the spotlight.

The Final Push: Sunday is Coming

Saturday is a crucial day. It’s the day where you solidify your position, or where you fall by the wayside. The players who can handle the pressure, who can execute under scrutiny, are the ones who will be in the best shape heading into Sunday. Michael Kim has put himself in a fantastic spot, but the tournament is far from over. He’s got 36 holes to go, and in golf, anything can happen. Three shots is a good lead, but it’s not insurmountable. The guys chasing him will be looking to put him under pressure from the very first tee shot on Saturday.

This is what makes golf so addictive. The ebb and flow, the momentum shifts, the mental battles. You can have a comfortable lead, and then one bad swing, one bad hole, can change everything. It’s a sport that demands perfection but is rarely, if ever, perfect. And that’s why we watch. We’re all hoping for that flawless round, that incredible comeback, that moment of pure golfing brilliance. Let’s see who can deliver it this weekend at the 3M Open.

For anyone looking to get a deeper understanding of professional golf and the tournaments that shape the season, checking out resources like the official PGA Tour schedule can provide valuable context on upcoming events and past results.