Kohles Goes Low & Scheffler’s Putter Gets Hot at the 3M Open - July 24th, 2026

On July 24th, 2026, Round 1 of the 3M Open delivered fireworks as Ben Kohles surged to a two-shot lead and Scottie Scheffler dominated the greens to set the pace ahead of the FedEx Cup playoffs.3M OPEN / BEN KOHLES' CAREER DAYBen Kohles fired a career-low 62 to grab a two-shot lead, capping his round with a spectacular 241-yard 1-iron eagle on the 18th hole to help secure his crucial spot in the upcoming FedEx Cup playoffs.A timely equipment switch to a Scotty Cameron T9 putter proved to be the ultimate difference-maker for him on the greens.Kohles' clutch eagle on 18 wasn't just a scorecard booster; it was a massive momentum swing for a guy fighting for his postseason life.SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER'S PUTTING CLINICScottie Scheffler silenced his putting critics with a bogey-free 65, shockingly dominating the greens to lead the entire field in Strokes Gained: Putting. He is clearly motivated to stay sharp ahead of the postseason.Scheffler led the field with +3.422 Strokes Gained: Putting, noting that "fresh greens" are easier than links and he wants to avoid "three weeks off before the playoffs."It's rare to see Scheffler's putter be the hottest club in his bag, making him an even more terrifying threat to the rest of the tour.THE CHASING PACK & WILD MOMENTSA trio sits tied for second at 64, featuring 21-year-old rookie Jackson Koivun's elite course management, Gary Woodland's stunning 63-foot apex recovery from a fairway divot, and Emiliano Grillo's wildly errant approach shot.Grillo's wayward ball actually smashed the TV broadcast booth window, startling NBA legend Kevin McHale in the process.From Woodland's magical divot escape on 14 to Grillo's accidental vandalism, the chasing pack provided the most entertaining highlights of the day.FEDEX CUP BUBBLE & TOURNAMENT BUSINESSThe FedEx Cup bubble is boiling over with Mac Meissner clinging to the 70th spot while big names like Finau, Hoge, and Harman sweat outside the cutline. Meanwhile, the 3M Open's financial future remains a hot topic.Tournament Director Hollis Cavner boasted about selling out the pro-am thanks to Scheffler, defiantly stating about the 2028 $20M purse restructuring: "twenty twenty eight takes care of itself."Sungjae Im went viral on the course rocking a "Sungjae HIM" Malbon sweater, sparking fresh quotes from Stephen Malbon on the evolution of golf fashion.Quick HitsJake Knapp nearly aced a par-3, slamming his tee shot right into the flagstick • Michael Brennan shot a 65 fueled by his major championship reps and showed off his quirky putter head cover collection • Patton Kizzire withdrew mid-round with a back injury, joining Spieth, Day, and Fox on the WD list. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.