Full Breakdown
Ben Kohles Leads 2026 3M Open After Career-Best 62; World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler Trails
7/24/2026, 1:28:05 PM
First-Round Overview
On Thursday at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn., Ben Kohles posted a 9-under-par 62, the lowest round of his PGA Tour career, to capture a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the 2026 3M Open. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, making his debut at the event, carded a 6-under-par 65 and was tied for fifth, three shots behind Kohles. Jackson Koivun, Gary Woodland and Emiliano Grillo each recorded 7-under-par 64s to share second place.
Season Context for Kohles
Kohles, 36, is dividing his schedule between the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour. He entered the tournament ranked No. 128 in the world and No. 8 on the Korn Ferry Tour after a June win at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. Earlier in July, he finished tied for third at the John Deere Classic. His strong start at the 3M Open positions him to climb the FedEx Cup standings, where he sits near 100th, and to keep his playoff hopes alive.
Key Statistics
- Score: 62 (-9) – career best on the PGA Tour.
- Greens in Regulation: 17 of 18 (first on Thursday).
- Driving Accuracy: 12 of 14 (?85.7%), tied for third.
- Putting: 82 ft 7 in total, 39th on the field.
- Birdies/Eagle: Seven birdies and an eagle on the par-5 18th.
- Field Leaders: Scheffler 65 (-6), Koivun/Woodland/Grillo 64 (-7).
Player Comments (Summarized)
Kohles said his performance felt “in control all day,” noting that the wind was manageable and that his recent work with putting coach Tim Yelverton had helped his short-game. He emphasized that the early low round gives him confidence to continue pressing for a win and a higher FedEx Cup ranking. Scheffler highlighted the importance of managing his way around trouble without making bogeys and described the day as one where his putts “were nice,” allowing him to make several birdies. Koivun described the course as “definitely gettable” and praised his aggressive play.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I didn't hit a bunch of fairways early, but I was able to kind of manage my way around and get out of some trouble areas without making any bogeys,” — Scottie Scheffler — Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour player
- “Golf's funny. Some days you're hitting your lines and the line seems to be tracking toward the hole and other days it feels like you're doing the same thing and it kind of goes around the hole,” — Scottie Scheffler — Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour player
- “After John Deere, I think I talked to my team and feel like I put myself in position to play out here as much as I can," Kohles said.” — Ben Kohles — Ben Kohles, PGA Tour player
- “Yeah, it feels great obviously when you can get a low one out early, especially early in the tournament,” — Ben Kohles — Ben Kohles, PGA Tour player
- “The golf course is definitely gettable as the scores show,” — Jackson Koivun — Jackson Koivun, PGA Tour player
What’s Next
1 spot in the FedEx Cup standings. Both players face a field eager to capitalize on the low-scoring conditions at the links-style course.
