This year’s 3M Open tournament is between a rock and a hard place when it comes to attracting top PGA Tour players.
The rock is the world’s top players are just jetting back into the US after taking part in the Open Championship in England.
The hard place is next week’s Olympics which will feature a plethora of the world’s top-ranked players.
That means there’s little time to make a quick stop in Minnesota to tee it up this week at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, MN, before these guys head off to chase Olympic gold in Japan.
But what that has done is put the spotlight on the big names who won’t be competing in the Olympics but who have signed up to play this week.
Well, better make that big name…singular. As in Dustin Johnson. The world’s top-ranked player (after Jon Rahm took the spot for a minute or two) is going to tee it up this week.
While we are going to explore a couple of other names who can and should compete for the title, Johnson is going to be the top pick by a lot of bettors.
And there’s plenty of good reasons to back him beside the fact he’s No. 1. But, that’s a good enough reason right there. We’ll just move on.
Odds To Win The 3M Open From BetMGM
| 3M Open Odds | BetMGM |
|---|---|
| Dustin Johnson | +750 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | +1400 |
| Tony Finau | +1400 |
| Patrick Reed | +1800 |
| Bubba Watson | +3000 |
| Cameron Tringale | +3000 |
| Matthew Wolff | +3000 |
| Sergio Garcia | +3000 |
It’s Tough Not To Like DJ’s Chances
With just eight players ranked in the top 50 playing this week, it’s impossible to think Johnson won’t be there come Sunday. At +750 odds, we would normally look for better numbers.
But, then again, this isn’t a normal tournament with the star-power fairly low.
Johnson may not be at the top of his game right now but he’s still got enough to be there come Sunday. And if he’s got a lead heading into the final round, watch out…it could turn into a runaway.
This Is A Week An Unknown Could Step Up
OK, we realize there are 143 other players in the field. And if Johnson doesn’t win, that opens the gate for someone else to step up.
And step up is the key phrase. All of these guys have what it takes to compete. They have the golf game, they have the mental game and they have the desire.
Now would be a great time to pull all of those factors together and give it their best shot–especially with the FedEx Cup playoffs getting closer and closer.
Here’s A Couple Of Possibilities
While Johnson will have all of the pressure on him, a couple of other players have quietly stepped up their game and their confidence.
It could pay off big…like with a victory.
Take a look at Rickie Fowler at +5000. These odds are pretty solid for a player of his caliber. This week he’s got the chance to step up his game and get back in the winner’s circle (he has five wins but none since the Waste Management Open in 2019).
It’s time to see if he’s really got what it takes to compete for titles on a weekly basis.
We think Fowler fits that mold perfectly. He’s been in the shadows the last couple of years but he’s had success in spurts recently. A victory would certainly get him back on the right track.
And he needs it as he’s way down the FedEx Cup list at 124th (the top 125 make the first round of the playoffs). He’s got to have a great week sometime in the next few events or he’s likely going to miss out on the playoff run.
Time For A Howling Return To Success
And there’s also Matthew Wolff at +3000. He’s been hot and cold since coming back from a break in play to deal with mental issues. The one good thing is he didn’t make the trip to the Open Championship so he’s going to have a little edge over the top-ranked players who did make that jaunt.
With a limited field of big names, it could be just the event he needs to get back in top form.
Oh, and one more important point: Wolff won the 2019 3M event right here for his first PGA Tour title…beating Collin Morikawa, last week’s Open Championship winner and Bryson DeChambeau.
Sometimes the moon and stars align just right. This might just be one of those weeks.
Way, Way Down The Odds List
Then there’s a guy who is way under the radar but this event could be a turning point.
Take a look at Luke List at +5000. He’s ranked 89th in the FedEx Cup standings but he’s still looking for that first victory. He’s getting closer. He had a solid T-9 in last week’s alternate-field event so he’s on the rise.
A win moves him further up the points standings in the FedEx Cup race and keeps his season going, for at least another week…and maybe more.
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