2026 3M Open leaderboard: Scottie Scheffler gets putter in Round 1, sits three back
The man who held the world number 1 position for almost 200 weeks has not been in the winner’s circle for almost 200 days. That last shot could be in jeopardy this weekend as Scottie Scheffler fires up at TPC Twin Cities on Thursday at the 2026 3M Open en route to a 6-under 65.
Scheffler’s 6-under total puts him three strokes back of first-round leader Ben Kohles, who continued a memorable summer with a 9-under 62. He is two strokes behind Jackson Koivun, Gary Woodland and Emiliano Grillo. Lucas Glover, Michael Brennan, Jesper Svensson and Kevin Roy are among those tied with Scheffler at 6 under.
“I didn’t hit a lot of fairways early, but I was able to control my approach and get out of the rough spots without making bogeys,” Scheffler said. “That was important, to keep my momentum going. Once I started hitting the fairways and I looked, [I] was able to start making birdies.”
After a week at The Open in which he made six putts outside of 10 feet, Scheffler nearly matched that number Thursday with five. The 20-time PGA Tour winner missed a birdie bid from 7 feet on his opening hole, but that was the last chance he let slip as he gained three strokes north of the field with mallet in hand.
Scheffler’s birdie conversion from 15 meters to No. 12 (his third hole of the morning), 17 feet on No. 18, 15 feet to No. 1, 30 feet to No. 4, 3 feet from No. In between all the birdies, he kept the scorecard clean thanks to a timely 18-foot save on No. 15 as well.
“Fresh greens are a little easier than green links,” Scheffler says. “Part of playing links golf is the ball’s not always going to be true. I felt like I was at the end of that last week. I came out here and made sure I lined up where I thought it was and I made sure I hit it on that line, and that was about it.”
Scheffler will now try to keep his foot on the gas over the next 54 holes amid a field full of players looking to push not just up the leaderboard but up the FedEx Cup standings, where the world No. 1 also takes the No. 1 spot.
“Golf is funny,” Scheffler said. “Some days, you hit your lines, and the line seems to track down the hole, and other days, it feels like you’re doing the same thing, and it’s like going around the hole. But today was a day where I was able to cover good putts, and that’s why I was able to make birdies out there.”
The leader
1. Ben Kohles (-9): Kohles posted the lowest round of his PGA Tour career and put himself in a position to advance to the FedEx Cup stage as he did this past month. Splitting time between the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour, Kohles decided after his heartbreaking loss at the John Deere Classic to keep pushing on the circuit as he stands at No. 8 in the Korn Ferry Tour standings due to a win in June. At No. 100 on the PGA Tour season, he needs a big effort over the next three weeks to keep his playoff hopes alive. Thursday at TPC Twin Cities was the start he needed as he gained more than five strokes on the field en route to a day of work.
“After John Deere, I think I talked to my team and I feel like I’m putting myself in a position to play here as much as possible,” Kohles said. “If I don’t make the FedExCup Playoffs in the next three weeks, there’s still a chance for me to play in the Korn Ferry final six. [events]. Based on what I’ve found and how I’m sitting there, I’m confident I can still do it, even skipping a few weeks here and there. Well, my main focus is that I’m not worried about that at all and I’m trying to get into the 70s. “
Competitors
T2. Jackson Koivun, Gary Woodland, Emiliano Grillo (-7)
T5. Scottie Scheffler, Lucas Glover, Michael Brennan, Kevin Roy, Jesper Svensson (-6)
Missed cuts in his professional debut may be Koivun’s past history. After a short week at the John Deere Classic with a 10th finish at the ISCO Championship, the 21-year-old enters the week with Thursday’s 64 doing a lot to help the campaign. Koivun took the lid off the hole quickly with a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-4 1st. He added that he made 41 feet, 15 feet and 12 feet during the turn, which ends up wrapping the back half and maintaining an aggressive approach when time is needed.
“The golf course is accessible as the scores show,” said Koivun. “Just playing smart, playing for points. Just doing it at the right time and being aggressive when you can. I felt like I did a good job of taking advantage of that today.”
2026 3M Open opportunities updated, selection
Odds with DraftKings Sportsbook
- Scottie Scheffler: +160
- Ben Kohls: 6-1
- Jackson Koivun: 9-1
- Gary Woodland: 14-1
- Emiliano Grillo: 17-1
- Michael Brennan: 23-1
- Lucas Glover: 30-1
The tournament goes to Scheffler, and while it would be wise to add him now, let’s instead return to our first lesson. Kim, at 3 under, didn’t have his best Thursday, but at 50-1 his price remains attractive, especially with his quick turnaround in the second round.
