TPC Twin Cities Sets the Stage for Sunday Drama at the 3M Open
There are courses that host drama, and then there are courses that seem to summon it. TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, has always struck me as the latter—a parkland design that looks gentle from the clubhouse but reveals its teeth when the pressure mounts and the pins tuck toward Sunday positions.
A Back Nine for the Ages
On Saturday, the course became the canvas for something extraordinary. Jackson Koivun, the 21-year-old phenom who has been the most-discussed young talent in golf for three years running, fired a 10-under 61 that included a back-nine 28—a course record that may stand for decades.
If you've walked TPC Twin Cities, you know that stretch from the 10th through 18th isn't supposed to yield numbers like that. The greens firm up as afternoon shadows lengthen, the water on 11 and 16 lurks with particular menace, and the wind off the prairie can shift without warning. Koivun made it look like he was playing a different course entirely.
At 20 under for the tournament, he holds a three-shot advantage over Emiliano Grillo and Ben Kohles heading into Sunday. The final pairing of Koivun and Grillo tees off at 1:40 p.m. ET.
The Scheffler Factor
Before Koivun rewrote the narrative, Scottie Scheffler had already changed it. The world's top player posted his own scorching back nine—birdies at 10, 11, 12, and 15, then a chip-in eagle at the drivable par-4 16th. His 64 included a miss on the high side from 36 feet on 18 that would have given him a share of Koivun's back-nine record.
"I kept myself in the tournament with a good back nine today," Scheffler said afterward. "Overall definitely pleased with the back nine, but probably going to need another low number tomorrow if I want to keep the pace."
Six shots back sounds like a lot. But Scheffler hunting on a Sunday? That gap can close faster than Minnesota summer storms roll in.
The Course as Character
What I've always loved about TPC Twin Cities is how it rewards aggressive play without being naive about it. The Arnold Palmer design gives you room off the tee on most holes, inviting you to swing freely. But the second shots demand precision—these greens don't hold approaches that miss their target by more than a few feet.
The 16th hole deserves special mention. At just 305 yards, it tempts every player to take driver and chase an eagle. Koivun's 305-yard approach earlier in the round—yes, you read that correctly—resulted in an eagle that helped launch his historic run. It's the kind of risk-reward moment that makes this venue sing.
A Rising Star's Moment
Koivun's credentials coming into this week were already staggering. As a freshman at Auburn, he became the first college player to sweep all four major individual awards: the Phil Mickelson (top freshman), Haskins, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus awards. He won three of those four again this year, helped Auburn to its second NCAA team title in three years, and turned professional just weeks ago.
This is only his third start as a professional, but his 13th career appearance on the PGA Tour. In those previous twelve, he's finished in the top 25 six times and top-six on three occasions. The talent has never been in question—only the timing of when it would fully bloom.
"I'm feeling great," Koivun said Saturday evening, the Minnesota dusk settling over the clubhouse. "Excited, ready for tomorrow. It's going to be definitely a test. I'm sure some of the pins will be tucked and we've got a lot of great players behind me, but just going to stick to my game plan and try to smile."
The Takeaway
Sunday at TPC Twin Cities promises to be appointment viewing. A generational talent trying to close out what would be a statement victory. The world's best player stalking from six back with nothing to lose. A course that has a way of making even the most comfortable leads feel fragile.
If you've never visited TPC Twin Cities, this weekend is your reminder to add it to the list. And if you're watching from home, settle in early. This one has all the makings of a Sunday we'll remember.