3M Open First-Round Leader Tips: Put faith in Fowler

Weather forecast for Thursday: Temperatures rise into the 90s for the afternoon starters having opened up in the 70s. But the wind picks up too. At 9am it's predicted to be around 7mph but it's possible more than double that at 3pm. I'll take note of that by picking a trio of morning starters.

Fowler can flourish

Range rumours and actual scores suggest Rickie Fowler is starting to find something again.

He's made five of his last six cuts and, notably for this preview, has done his best work early.

Fowler was eighth after 36 holes of the Scottish Open two weeks ago before fading and he was eighth following 18 holes of May's Wells Fargo Championship.

Then there's his history in this event. Last year, Fowler opened with a 64 at TPC Twin Cities and that was good enough for a piece of the first-round lead.

A history of strong play on TPC courses - he's a winner at TPC Sawgrass and TPC Scottsdale - adds further fuel to the Fowler argument.

He has a morning tee-time of 07.34 so I'm hoping the American can produce a repeat performance of 2021.

Look to Laird

At the same price of 50/1, I'll also have a wager on Fowler's playing partner Martin Laird.

The Scot arrives in fine form after a third place in last week's Barracuda Championship. That came two starts on from his tied 13th at the Travelers.

In the latter at TPC River Highlands, Laird was third after day one thanks to a 63 while he also started fast in the Barracuda, ending the first round in seventh.

Laird has played in this event just once but he shot a 65 in that debut three years ago so can clearly score at TPC Twin in Cities.

"Overall I played really nicely this week. I putted really well, which has kind of been holding me back this year, so really looking forward to the next few weeks and then into the Playoffs," said Laird after his top three on Sunday.

Home in on Higgo

Garrick Higgo has had a dip since an incredible run last season when he won three times in five starts, the final victory in that run a PGA Tour win in the Palmetto Championship.

But he produced some impressive bursts of scoring at St Andrews last week.

The South African opened round two with four straight birdies and was 5-under for the day after 11 before a pair of late bogeys.

And in the final round he dropped a shot at the fourth and then played the rest of the Old Course in 7-under to sign for a 66.

Add in a tied 18th at Memorial and there are some good signs again.

Let's take a chance at 100/1 on the 07.45 starter.