Dustin Johnson can’t seem to figure out TPC Twin Cities in Blaine.
After shooting a 7-over 78 last year in the opening round of the 3M Open, then withdrawing due to back pain, Johnson returned this year hoping to put on a better show. Instead, he’s headed home early once again after carding a disappointing 1-over 72 on Friday to finish at even-par 142 for the tournament. He missed the 36-hole cut by two strokes.
It was a little surprising considering how well Johnson was playing early in his round Friday. He was 3 under through eight holes and actually looked as if he was pushing his way into contention. He unraveled with four bogeys late in the round.
“The wind definitely picked up this afternoon and made it play a little difficult,” Johnson said. “Just didn’t hit enough fairways on the back nine.”
After grinding his way through the round, Johnson stepped to the tee box on No. 18 needing a birdie to make the cut. He hit his drive into the water.
“I knew I had to make birdie,” Johnson said. “Just cut it a little too much.”
Though he managed to carry the water on his next shot, Johnson flew his approach over the green, essentially sealing his fate. He needed to hole out from the rough, and did not. Fittingly, he missed his par putt for good measure to close the tournament on a low note.
“I tried to hang in there,” he said. “The wind was blowing pretty hard. It played pretty tough.”
STUARD GOES LOW
There’s a good chance the casual golf fan has never heard of Brian Stuard. But if they were following him at the 3M Open, they definitely know who he is now.
He carded the low round of the day on Friday with an impressive 7-under 64.
It helped that Stuard played in the morning when it wasn’t so windy. He started his round with three straight birdies and it was off to the races.
“You just have to drive it in play, obviously, and then kind of attack from there,” he said. “The greens are pretty soft right now. You’ve also got to make some putts.”
Which is exactly what Stuard did.
MINNESOTA SLICE
There were a handful of Minnesotans in the 3M Open as per usual and some fared better than others.
Spring Lake Park native Troy Merritt (T9) is currently pacing the group at 7 under, with Gophers alum Erik van Rooyen (T26) at 5 under. Meanwhile, Tom Hoge, a former Minnesota state amateur champion, missed the cut at 5 over, as did Gophers alum Angus Flanagan at 11 over.
GOING UNDER
Through two rounds of the 3M Open, the field has hit 213 total balls in the water at TPC Twin Cities. According to PGA Tour Communications, that’s the most balls in the water through the opening two rounds of an PGA Tour event this season.
MINOR TIME CHANGES
According to PGA Tour Communications, due to forecasted inclement weather that is expected to linger into the morning, tee times for Saturday’s Round 3 will consist of threesomes off split tees from approximately 10 a.m. to noon.
