Overview
- Ben Kohles shot a bogey‑free 9‑under 62 to take the first‑round lead, while World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a 6‑under 65 and stood three shots behind the leader on Thursday.
- Scheffler said he played the 3M Open to stay sharp before the FedEx Cup playoffs and has indicated he will skip the next two regular‑season events to preserve his schedule, according to reports.
- Tournament director Hollis Cavner said Scheffler’s presence drove strong demand, with every pro‑am tent and skybox sold out and noticeably higher attendance at TPC Twin Cities.
- Scheffler’s round featured markedly better putting after struggles at The Open, but he still has not won since January despite a season of frequent top finishes.
- The 3M Open carries an $8.8 million purse this year, leaving the event exposed to the PGA Tour’s planned 2028 Championship Series rules that would require roughly $20 million purses for top‑tier regular events and could force reclassification or much larger sponsor commitments.