Jacob Bridgeman leads golf’s 3M Open after first-round 63
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Rookie Jacob Bridgeman finished with nine birdies to hold his first lead on the PGA Tour.
PHOTO: AFP
WASHINGTON – Rookie Jacob Bridgeman was glad to have got out of a “rough place”, as he shot a career-low eight-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the 3M Open on July 25 in Blaine, Minnesota.
The 24-year-old finished with nine birdies, including three in a row on Nos. 12-14 at TPC Twin Cities to hold his first lead on the PGA Tour. He had one bogey but birdied his last two holes to finish one stroke ahead of Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes.
“I struggled with my mental game the last three weeks. I was in kind of a rough place,” Bridgeman said.
“Never had struggles with my confidence until these last few weeks and I told people I felt like I’ve been kicked in the face. But it’s all new to me, I’m a rookie out here.
“I’m still pretty young. I have to remind myself that. These are all new courses that I’m facing every week. I have to learn them.
“I had to change my mindset, take a couple days of rest and I thought I did well today.”
Hughes collected seven birdies to finish one shot ahead of Patrick Rodgers, Andrew Novak and France’s Martin Trainer.
“It was a great day,” said Hughes, whose 64 was his best opening-round score since a 63 at the 2021 RSM Classic.
“I felt like I was maybe a tad bit off early with my swing and kind of found a bit of a rhythm seven, eight holes in and started to swing it a little better, and the putter was cooperating nicely today. It was a fun day on the greens.”
Sahith Theegala, the event’s highest-ranked player in the FedExCup standings at No. 7 and world rankings at No. 11, and seven others shot a 66 and were three shots off the pace.
“It’s kind of like a revenge week for me. I just wanted to come back and see what I can do on the golf course that’s beat me up pretty bad the last three years,” said Theegala, who played a bogey-free round after missing the cut in three previous 3M Open starts (2020, 2022 and 2023).
Tony Finau (67), who won the 3M Open in 2022, is among a large contingent four shots back.
Nick Dunlap, who won the Barracuda Championship last week to become the first player to win a PGA Tour event as an amateur and a professional in the same season, carded an even-par 71. REUTERS, AFP
