3M Open Round 3: Michael Kim Leads After Historic 59

There's something electric in the Minnesota air this weekend at TPC Twin Cities. The kind of energy that only arrives when history decides to show up unannounced and rewrite the script we all thought we knew.

Michael Kim did exactly that on Friday, closing his second round with four consecutive birdies to card a 59—only the 16th round of 59 or lower in PGA Tour history. Twelve birdies. Zero bogeys. The kind of flawless golf that makes you wonder if you're watching a different sport entirely.

A Course Transformed by Brilliance

I've walked TPC Twin Cities on summer afternoons when the humidity hangs thick and the mosquitoes seem more interested in your scorecard than you are. It's a course that rewards precision, punishes complacency, and generally keeps its secrets close. But Kim unlocked something on Friday that felt almost supernatural.

His 59 launched him 42 spots up the leaderboard—from afterthought to protagonist in the span of 18 holes. At 14 under par, Kim now holds a three-shot cushion over a trio of pursuers: Ben Kohles, Emiliano Grillo, and Chandler Phillips, all sitting at 11 under.

For Kim, who's seeking his second career PGA Tour victory, this weekend represents something more than just another tournament. It's validation. It's proof that the talent was always there, waiting for the right moment to emerge.

Saturday's Featured Pairings

The final group tees off at 1:35 p.m. ET, with Kim alongside Kohles—a pairing that promises tension, strategy, and the kind of golf that reminds us why we fell in love with this game in the first place.

But don't sleep on what's happening earlier in the day. At noon, Scottie Scheffler walks to the first tee alongside Hideki Matsuyama. Scheffler trails Kim by seven shots, but if there's anyone capable of mounting a moving day charge that defies mathematics, it's the world's best player. Seven shots is an eternity on most Saturdays. Against Scheffler? It's a conversation starter.

Key Tee Times to Watch

12:00 p.m. ET – Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama
1:25 p.m. ET – Emiliano Grillo, Chandler Phillips
1:35 p.m. ET – Michael Kim, Ben Kohles (final group)

Earlier rounds feature intriguing storylines of their own. Lucas Glover and Kevin Roy tee off at noon, while Davis Thompson plays alongside Seamus Power at 11:30 a.m. The morning wave—starting at 8:00 a.m. ET—offers a chance to see how the course is playing before the leaders arrive.

How to Watch

Golf Channel picks up coverage from 1-3 p.m. ET on Saturday, with CBS taking over from 3-6 p.m. ET for the afternoon drama. If you're the type who likes to settle in early—and given what we witnessed Friday, who could blame you—PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ begins streaming at 8:00 a.m. ET with featured group and featured hole coverage.

The Atmosphere at TPC Twin Cities

Minnesota golf galleries possess a particular warmth that's hard to describe until you've experienced it. They're knowledgeable without being overbearing, enthusiastic without losing their Midwestern composure. On a Saturday following a 59, expect that energy amplified.

The course itself will be playing firm and fast, as it does this time of year. Those generous fairways can lull you into aggression, but the greens—particularly on the back nine—demand respect. Kim navigated them masterfully on Friday. The question now: can he do it when every shot carries the weight of history?

Takeaway

What to watch for: Kim's composure under the spotlight of his own making, Scheffler's inevitable charge, and whether anyone from the chasing pack can post a number that applies real pressure. Historic rounds create historic weekends—and this one feels like it's just getting started.