The majors season is over but there is still a whole lot to play for over these next two weeks on the PGA Tour, starting with this week’s 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities.
In the tournament’s short history, one thing has become clear – you’re going to need to make a boatload of birdies to contend. Length off the tee certainly helps but it means nothing if you can’t fill it up with the putter. Our expert panel is searching for that perfect combo with their outright selections this week.
The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of a tour coach reporting anonymously from the grounds of TPC Twin Cities, Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Brandon Gdula of numberFire/FanDuel, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line. Stewart, our newest member of the panel, is our new betting content partner as well.
Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2025 3M Open:
3M Open picks 2025: Our Experts’ Outright Predictions
Anonymous Swing Coach of the Week: Maverick McNealy (20-1, FanDuel) — Mav’s been ultra consistent this year—top 40 in all four majors this year. And he’s knocked on the door for a victory, too. With a weak field, I can see him solidifying this stellar bounceback season and firmly asserting himself on the tip of Keegan Bradley’s tongue for a Ryder Cup spot.
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Max Greyserman (33-1, BetRivers) — LETS DO IT AGAIN!!!! Eventually this has to work, right? Greyserman had a tough time overseas but now returns to his happy place: Events without all the good players. Since storming the leaderboard exactly 12 months ago at this event, he has four runner-up finishes. Eventually he has to close one of these.
Brandon Gdula, FanDuel/numberFire managing editor: Sam Burns (18-1, FanDuel) — Burns is the best player in the field over the last 12 months, six months, and even three months despite Chris Gotterup shooting up the recent form list. Burns’ irons are on a big-time upswing, and he’s the best putter in the field, too.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Akshay Bhatia (40-1, BetMGM) — Akshay Bhatia’s ball-striking has been impressive. In his last two starts, he’s gained an average of six strokes on the field tee-to-green. The talented lefty has the perfect combination of off-the-tee and iron savvy to give himself 25-plus birdie chances. The question is, can he convert them? Bhatia’s putter has been just okay and quite average lately. At Royal Portrush, Akshay gained strokes on the greens in the first three rounds. If Bhatia brings that touch to Minnesota, I believe he’ll be able to score easily on a course he can dominate with his other clubs.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Max Greyserman (33-1, BetRivers) — This event is like tailormade for Greyserman’s first win: You need elite driving and a hot putter. We saw Greyserman’s elite driving at Detroit Golf Club, going toe to toe with Aldrich Potgeiter’s off-the-tee game. Greyserman was also runner-up here last year. He’ll finally beat down the door this week … perhaps motivated by his fellow New Jerseyan Chris Gotterup’s success the past two weeks.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Jake Knapp (35-1, BetMGM) — Knapp’s in solid standing FedEx Cup-wise coming off four straight finishes of T-27 or better, including a T-4 in Detroit. A timely victory this week, however, could turn a solid year into a career-defining one. The 31-year-old’s game fits the profile of past winners here—long off the tee, solid enough with the short irons and can fill it up with the putter. With four rounds of 64 or lower this season, it’s clear he has no fear of going very, very low, something you’ll need to do this week in at least one of the rounds to keep pace.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Kevin Yu (50-1, FanDuel) — Kevin Yu is sneakily playing some great golf, and I’m not remotely deterred by a missed cut at the Open Championship from the wrong side of the weather draw. Prior to The Open, Yu had finished top 25 in three out of his last four starts, largely bolstered by some elite driving. Yu boasts a phenomenal record on similar courses such as PGA National and TPC Deere Run, and I’m expecting a big week out of him in Minnesota.
Past results: We have another winner! Our Anonymous Tour Coach yet again correctly predicted Scottie Scheffler to win, this time at the Open Championship. That’s his fifth (!) winner this season. As a group, we now have 11 individual victories in 2025.
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3M Open picks 2025: Sleepers/Dark Horses Who Could Win
Tour coach: Vincent Whaley (75-1, Bet365) — Whaley’s main attribute is accuracy off the tee. That will serve him very well at the 3M Open. He had another strong week last week at the Barracuda, so with these odds, I think it’s a smart bet.
Mayo: Jacob Bridgeman (75-1, FanDuel) — We’re looking for spike putting with spike approach and a driver that won’t get ya wet. That’s Bridgeman. He’s averaging +4.5 SG/putting over his last three starts while cracking two SG/approach in four of his last six. He rarely gains off the tee, but that’s mainly distance related. The accuracy has been quite good.
Gdula: Matt McCarty (90-1, FanDuel) — McCarty is a plus in all four strokes-gained categories over his last 50 rounds despite being a longshot, and his recent strokes gained ceiling is higher than the 90-1 odds suggest.
Stewart: Cameron Champ (55-1, BetRivers) — Over his last five PGA Tour starts, Cam Champ has gained an average of 6.5 strokes on the field total. Champ can dominate with his driver, and he’s on one of those runs with the big stick. Four top-20 finishes and a 27th-place finish in his last five outings show his form. Cam is ranked 132nd on the FedEx Cup points list. He needs two strong performances to have a good chance of finishing inside the top 100 this year. With a win (2021) and two more top-16 finishes at TPC Twin Cities, I wouldn’t be surprised if he contends here again, knowing he needs to.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Emiliano Grillo (50-1, FanDuel) — Just like Greyserman, Grillo was agonizingly close two weeks ago at the John Deere. Grillo’s had a lot of success at the 3M Open, too, with three top 10s in the past five years, including a runner-up and a T-3. For some reason, the King of Team No Putt seems to thrive at the 3M Open.
Powers, Golf Digest: Rico Hoey (60-1, FanDuel) — Hoey ranks third on the PGA Tour in strokes-gained/off-the-tee and sixth in tee-to-green. Yet, as of now, he’s in danger of not finishing the year inside the top 100 of the FedEx Cup standings. Why? Putting. Putting. Putting. The guy is downright horrible with the flat stick. Yet he may have found a little something last week at the Barracuda, pouring in 24 birdies, the second-most of any player in the field. A little more of the same this week would certainly have him hanging around on Sunday.
Lack: Doug Ghim (80-1, FanDuel) — One of these weeks, Doug Ghim is going to make enough putts to cross the finish line. We almost saw it at the John Deere Classic, where Ghim held the 36-hole lead and gained nearly seven strokes on approach before fading over the weekend. This price is juicy enough in this field for me to take my chances that Ghim can find his way into contention on a golf course that should suit his skill-set wonderfully.
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3M Open picks 2025: Players We’re Fading
Tour coach: Chris Gotterup (18-1, FanDuel) — The emotions of the past two weeks would wear on anybody, let alone an up-and-comer like Gotterup. As much momentum as he has, it’s ripe for a letdown.
Mayo: Chris Gotterup (18-1, FanDuel)— Perfect game for this course, but so much of his success in the UK was on the greens. Not something he’s been particularly adept at in the USA.
Gdula: Wyndham Clark (25-1, FanDuel) — Clark has had some high-end finishes of late but hasn’t really done so while flashing consistent high-end upside with his ball-striking. Clark’s game is good enough to contend here, but his odds are shortening too quickly because of the recent finishes.
Stewart: Wyndham Clark (25-1, FanDuel) — In his last two starts, Wyndham Clark finished 11th in Scotland and fourth at the Open Championship. Most are probably looking at that trend and asking why wait on Wyndham. Prior to the Open, Clark lost strokes on approach in seven of his last eight starts. If you want to keep pace this week, you’ll need your iron game to be on point. Toss in an emotional roller coaster of a season and two missed cuts at the 3M over four starts, and I’ll hold off on Clark until his superhero side becomes more reliable.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Chris Gotterup (18-1, FanDuel) — We are firmly a member of Team ‘Rup, but not at these odds after the past two weeks.
Powers, Golf Digest: Chris Gotterup (18-1, FanDuel) — Hate to do my fellow Jersey boy like this, but there simply must be a natural letdown coming, no? For his sake, I hope not, because this would be an incredible heater to ride all the way to East Lake and then… dare we say … Bethpage. I’ll be pulling for it. The more New Jersey gets mentioned on the broadcast, the better.
Lack: Max Greyserman (28-1, DraftKings) — While Max Greyserman certainly played well at this event in the past, he is coming off back-to-back missed cuts where his driver has looked awfully shaky. TPC Twin Cities is full of water at every turn, and I’m not convinced he will be as fortunate off the tee as he was last year.
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3M Open picks 2025: Matchups
Tour coach: Sungjae Im (-125) over Max Homa (Bet365) — Sungjae has certainly struggled over the past couple months, as has Homa, but Sungjae got hot for a stretch there on the weekend at Royal Portrush. Homa wasn’t even there. He was struggling at the Barracuda. This is an easy one for me.
Mayo: Michael Thorbjornsen (-110) over Si Woo Kim (Coolbet) — Thorbjornsen can actually putt sometimes. That’s helpful, I hear.
Gdula: Emiliano Grillo (-105) over Davis Thompson (FanDuel) — Grillo is a good bit more accurate than Thompson, which should matter this week, and while both are similar ball-strikers, Grillo is the better putter by 0.60 shots per round over each golfer’s last 50 rounds, per datagolf.
Stewart: Emiliano Grillo (-105) over Davis Thompson (FanDuel) — Davis Thompson can’t seem to get everything in order. After struggling with the putter for three months, he just missed the cut at the Open by losing seven strokes tee-to-green. Emiliano Grillo loves TPC Twin Cities, having finished in the top 10 three times in five Twin City starts. I’ll take Grillo over Thompson. Emiliano has been far more consistent not only at the 3M but on tour over the last few months as well.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Emiliano Grillo (-105) over Davis Thompson (FanDuel) — I’m going to borrow this one from Keith Stewart and Brandon Gdula: One of my favorite picks to win against someone who has been inconsistent this summer.
Powers, Golf Digest: Jake Knapp (-120) over Adam Scott (DraftKings) — A jet-lagged Adam Scott coming off two weeks in the UK and a MC at Portrush needing to make a million putts vs. A well-rested Jake Knapp who should feast on TPC Twin Cities? No-brainer for me here.
Lack: Cameron Champ (+110) over Sungjae Im (DraftKings) — I will continue to look to fade Sungjae Im in every opportunity I receive I can, and this week is no different. Not only is Cameron Champ a former winner of the 3M Open, but he is also playing some great golf at the moment. Prior to his missed cut at the Barracuda Championship, Champ finished 14th at the ISCO, gaining 3.6 strokes off the tee and 1.9 strokes on approach. I’m expecting another tremendous ball-striking performance from Champ at a venue he is very comfortable at.
Matchup Results from the Open: Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Rose (-111) over Koepka); Tour coach: 0 for 1; Lack: 0 for 1; Powers: 0 for 1; Mayo: 0 for 1; Stewart: 0 for 1; Gdula: 0 for 1
Matchup Results from this season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Tour coach: 14-10-2 (up 2.21 units); Lack: 14-13-1 (up 0.06 units); Powers: 14-14-1 (down 0.28 units); Hennessey: 14-14-1 (down 1.34 units); Mayo: 11-15-2 (down 3.38 units); Stewart: 12-16-1 (down 4.5 units); Gdula: 10-17-2 (down 8.26 units)
3M Open picks 2025: Top 10s
Tour coach: Tony Finau (+470, Bet365) — I saw enough from Tony last week. The driver has been uncharacteristically at fault for him, but he’s working hard at it. And there’s room off a lot of tees at TPC Twin Cities to miss, which will suit his game well.
Mayo: Jake Knapp (+400, BetRivers) — Long, straight, and now the putter is starting to heat up. Any course that requires driver off the tee from almost every hole is a Jake Knapp course.
Gdula: Akshay Bhatia (+400, FanDuel) — Bhatia has some of the best irons in the field (second over the last 50 rounds, per datagolf), and among this field, he’s sixth on tour this season in birdie or better rate. That’s a must this week where scores will be low.
Stewart: Chris Gotterup (+320, BetRivers) — The PGA Tour schedule does not allow middle-tier players inside a career run any time off. Chris Gotterup just gave himself a chance to play in the Tour Championship by winning the Genesis Scottish Open and finishing third at Royal Portrush. Now 23rd in the FedEx Cup standings and 22nd on the Ryder Cup points list, his motivation is right there in front of him. An incredible driver of the golf ball, Gotterup will separate from the majority of this field and continue to keep himself in the conversation for both. I’ll take the Jersey Shore’s finest and the 10 places.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Jake Knapp (+400, BetRivers) — If just a small part of Knapp’s putting magic from the Scottish Open comes with him across the pond, we will be cooking. Knapp gained over 10 strokes putting at the Renaissance Club, and his putter has been solid for the past four starts, where he’s been top 30 in all of them. You gotta like his chances at this driver-heavy course.
Powers, Golf Digest: Michael Thorbjornsen (+350, Caesars Sportsbook) — Thor remains as popular of a pick as ever to win this week and for good reason. He now has three straight finishes of T-21 or better and could very well be the longest player in this field.
Lack: Kurt Kitayama (+400, FanDuel) — Kurt Kitayama is always a player I have interest in for a placement bet given elite ball-striking upside, even if I possess legitimate concerns about his flat-stick. Prior to a 14th-place finish at the Barracuda Championship, Kitayama finished fifth at the John Deere Classic, gaining over 4.5 strokes in both ball-striking categories. The former Arnold Palmer Invitational Winner now returns to a venue that he also finished sixth at in his lone appearance.
Top-10 results from the Open: Gdula: 1 for 1 (Russell Henley +500); Stewart: 1 for 1 (Xander Schauffele +260); Mayo: 1 for 1 (Russell Henley +500); Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Russell Henley +500); Tour coach: 0 for 1; Lack: 0 for 1; Powers: 0 for 1
Top-10 results from this season: Gdula: 10 for 29 (up 17.3 units); Tour coach: 7 for 26 (up 15.3 units); Lack: 8 for 29 (up 9.3 units); Stewart: 9 for 29 (up 4.4 units); Mayo: 4 for 29 (up 1.67 units); Hennessey: 5 for 28 (even units); Powers: 0 for 29 (down 29 units)
About our experts
Pat Mayo is an award-winning video host and producer of long and short-form content, and the host of The Pat Mayo Experience daily talk show. Mayo helped create the golf stats and research website Fantasy National along with the Race for the Mayo Cup One and Done contest. Mayo won the 2022 Fantasy Sports Writing Association Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year and is a finalist for three FSWA Awards in 2023 (Best Podcast, Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year, Golf Writer of the Year). His 27 FSWA nominations lead all writers this decade and are second-most all-time. Follow him on Twitter: @ThePME.
Brandon Gdula, managing editor and analyst for numberFire, a FanDuel daily-fantasy analysis company, recently won the 2018 FSWA Golf Writer of the Year. Gdula also co-hosts the DFS Heat Check podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @gdula13.
Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor for Golf Digest and founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the LPGA and PGA TOUR. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter here and raise your golf betting acumen. Keith’s winning content can also be found on Sports Grid, Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.
Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
