Leaderboard: Crowded at the top at 3M

Charley Hoffman (+15000) … It doesn’t make any sense when you attempt to digest that he’s just 3-for-11 with no better than a T40 (at Oak Hill in 2013) in the PGA Championship. Obviously, the tournament doesn’t have a permanent home, so it’s not a sightlines issue. Whatever the case, he still deserves respect on tough tracks and especially for his form upon arrival. Since a T7 at Pebble Beach three months ago, he’s cashed in nine consecutive starts with three top 10s and another four top 20s. The 44-year-old also is inside the top 25 on the PGA TOUR in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green, SG: Tee-to-Green, proximity to the hole, scrambling, par-3 scoring and par-4 scoring. Emiliano Grillo (+15000) … Untimely rounds here and there over the last three months led to a trio of missed cuts but the native of Argentina has covered with six top 25s since the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The surge was highlighted by a T6 at Corales and a T2 at Harbour Town. It’s been possible because of vastly improved putting. He already was among the best in the world from tee to green. Currently 11th on TOUR in total driving, third in greens hit and first in proximity. He’s also T14 in par-3 scoring and T1 in par-4 scoring. What’s more, the 28-year-old is more than familiar with the rigors of the major championships with four top 25s among 11 cuts made in 17 career appearances. Alex Noren (+15000) … The 38-year-old Swede has quietly gone about his business to the tune of 13 cuts made in 17 starts this season. He’s 98th in the FedExCup with eight top 25s, but he hasn’t connected for a top 10 since the 2020 Playoffs. No matter because that steady, reliable form plays up in the majors. In fact, he’s recorded top 25s in his last three appearances in the set dating back to The Open Championship in 2019. He’s governed by inconsistency off the tee and on approach, but he has a surplus of confidence with his putting to compensate. Currently leading the TOUR in three-putt avoidance and ranks 18th in one-putt percentage. Takumi Kanaya (+50000) … You remember him. He’s the Japanese star who prevailed in a JGTO event as an amateur in November of 2019 and rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. A month after turning pro last October, he won the Dunlop Phoenix. Since mid-April, he’s added another win and three top 20s to sit 77th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Currently second on his home circuit in earnings and first in scoring average. Also fourth in greens hit and second in putting. Assuming he makes the cut in his debut at the PGA Championship, he’ll be playing the final round on his 23rd birthday on Sunday. Garrick Higgo (+10000) … At first glance, his name looks like a fat-fingered attempt to type Harry Higgs – also in the field – but Higgo is a different human. He’s rapidly distinguishing himself from the others inside the ropes, too. American John Catlin captured the attention in this space last week as a three-time winner on the European Tour since play resumed last summer, but Higgo has done the same, including twice in the last four weeks and just before he turned 22 on May 12. Higgo is fifth in the Race to Dubai, as well as fifth in putting and fourth scoring average on the European Tour. The South African also is a two-time winner on his native Sunshine Tour where he was the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year. With momentum to validate the pedigree, the lefty is 51st in the Official World Golf Ranking as he makes his debut in PGA TOUR-sanctioned competition. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, May 18 at 5 a.m. ET. For live odds visit betmgm. NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following usually is determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Winners of the tournament on the current host course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; recent participants of team competitions.

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No more majors, no more invitationals and no more additional events. From now until the conclusion of the regular season, it’s nothing but fastballs right down the middle. See ‘em, hit ‘em and score. RELATED: Play Pick ‘Em Live | The First Look | Inside the Field The 3M Open is the first of three consecutive, 156-man opens that serve as the home stretch to determine the 125 qualifiers for the FedExCup Playoffs, and TPC Twin Cities is ready. Scroll past the projected contenders for what it likely will require to contend, an analysis of the host course and more. POWER RANKINGS: 3M OPEN Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day and defending champion Cameron Champ will be among those reviewed in Draws and Fades. TPC Twin Cities is in its fourth year as host of the 3M Open. It’s a par 71 with three par 5s. After surrendering scoring averages below 70 in its first two spins, last year’s field checked in at 70.44 with all four rounds within 0.13 strokes in either direction of that average. Calling that statistically even wouldn’t be inaccurate, and it’s what anyone involved in any competition would want. Drilling too deep into why scoring was higher overall isn’t encouraged given that variables including hole locations and makeups of fields vary. However, there was a odd correlation to how last year’s field hit fewer greens (but still at a clip of 70.38 percent) and converted with less frequency on those chances and inside 10 feet (again, anomalies, if barely). Yet, because the champion will conclude four rounds at double digits under par, what yields that scoring is fortified as the game plan – to pile up scoring opportunities and sink putts. At 7,431 yards, TPC Twin Cities tests the same as it has since 2020, although the longest rough is up to four inches this week. That reflects a rise of half an inch. Bentgrass greens averaging 6,500 square feet again are poised to reach 12½ feet on the Stimpmeter. The tournament will open to potentially breezy air, but it will be dry and warm. Daytime temperatures will climb into the mid- and upper-80s throughout, while the impactful threat for inclement weather is forecast to hold off until Saturday. It will extend into Sunday’s scheduled conclusion. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.com’s Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous perspectives. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Draws & Fades WEDNESDAY: Pick ’Em Preview SUNDAY: Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Rookie Ranking * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.

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There’s a lot going on this week. Jon Rahm has No. 1 in his sights. Tiger Woods has one more round to get through. And Muirfield Village grew some teeth in a hurry.

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