Rookie Jacob Bridgeman shot a career-low 8-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the 3M Open on Thursday in Blaine, Minn.
The 24-year-old Bridgeman finished with nine birdies, including three in a row on Nos. 12-14 at TPC Twin Cities to hold his first lead on the PGA Tour.
The Clemson product had one bogey (on the par-4 ninth hole) but birdied his last two holes to finish one stroke ahead of Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes (64).
“I made a couple putts that I probably shouldn’t have, but I also hit it pretty nice,” Bridgeman said. “Hit my driver well, and all around it was a good round. I had really one bad swing that I made a bogey on 9, but other than that I’m pretty confident that I can play another good round tomorrow.”
Hughes collected seven birdies to finish one shot ahead of Patrick Rodgers, Andrew Novak and France’s Martin Trainer.
“It was a great day,” said Hughes, who recorded his best opening-round score since a 63 at the 2021 RSM Classic. “I felt like I was maybe a tad bit off early with my swing and kind of — made a nice up-and-down to keep my round going early. Kind of found a bit of a rhythm with my swing kind of seven, eight holes in and started to swing it a little better, and the putter was cooperating nicely today. It was a fun day on the greens.”
Sahith Theegala, the event’s highest ranked player in the FedEx Cup standings at No. 7 and world rankings at No. 11, and seven others shot a first-round 66 and are three shots off the pace.
“It’s kind of like a revenge week for me. I just wanted to come back and see what I can do on the golf course that’s beat me up pretty bad the last three years,” said Theegala, who played a bogey-free round after missing the cut in three previous 3M Open starts (2020, 2022 and 2023).
Tony Finau (67), who won the 3M Open in 2022, is among a large contingent four shots back.
Nick Dunlap, who won last week at the Barracuda Championship to become the first player to win a PGA Tour event as an amateur and a professional in the same season, finished at an even-par 71.
–Field Level Media
