Jackson Koivun Shares Lead Position at 3M Open in Minnesota

Jackson Koivun sits tied for second place at the 3M Open in Minnesota after a strong opening round. Scottie Scheffler rebounded from his putting struggles at Royal Birkdale with a six-under 65, placing him three shots off the early lead held by Ben Kohles.

The tournament at TPC Twin Cities saw Koivun, along with Emiliano Grillo and Gary Woodland, each post seven-under par scores following Thursday's action. Ben Kohles established an early advantage with a sensational 62, capped by an eagle on his final hole. World No. 1 Scheffler's 65 marked a significant improvement in his putting performance after a difficult week on the challenging links course at Royal Birkdale.

Scheffler began his round on the back nine and demonstrated steady progress throughout. He recorded birdies on holes 12, 18, 1, 4, 6, and 7, though he missed eagle and birdie opportunities on holes 6 and 14 respectively. Despite these missed chances, he ranked second in the field for strokes gained putting—a dramatic turnaround from his previous week. The world No. 1 attributed his improved performance to adapting to different green conditions, noting that traditional parkland greens roll more predictably than links greens, where inconsistent ball movement affected his results at Royal Birkdale.

Jordan Smith, England's representative who finished tied-18th at Royal Birkdale, encountered a rougher start at the 3M Open. He carded an even-par round after recovering from an early double bogey on hole 7. Smith's round included a three-putt bogey on hole 5 before he rebounded with birdies on holes 6, 13, and 17.