At the 3M Open held at TPC Twin Cities, Thorbjørn Olesen emerged as the leader after the second round, holding a 14-under-par score on Friday. Jake Knapp is making a strong push in Jake Knapp PGA Tour contention, sitting just one shot behind Olesen and positioning himself among the frontrunners heading into the weekend. This intense competition is underway as players aim to secure FedEx Cup Playoff spots and PGA Tour status improvements.
Thorbjørn Olesen Builds Momentum with Solid Second Round
Olesen backed up his impressive opening round of 62 with a composed 66 in the second round, extending his lead to 14-under par and opening a one-shot gap over the rest of the field. Starting the week ranked 129th in the FedEx Cup standings, Olesen’s strong play is crucial as he targets a first PGA Tour victory and a spot in the playoffs. A win this week would place him comfortably inside the top 60, while even a top-five finish would significantly improve his ranking to maintain his full-time Tour status in 2026.
Jake Knapp Pushes to Capture Second Career Victory
Jake Knapp trails Olesen by a single stroke, positioned at 13 under following his second-round performance. Known for his powerful driving, Knapp has gained over 3.8 strokes off the tee this week, using distance to his advantage on the challenging layout at TPC Twin Cities. His recent form shows steady contention, though the primary challenge remains maintaining consistency across all four rounds, especially given past struggles in final rounds during the Canadian and Scottish Opens. Knapp’s focus this weekend is to assemble a complete tournament and claim his second career PGA Tour win.
Other Leading Competitors Tighten the Race
A large group of 23 players lies within five strokes of the lead, intensifying the battle for the title. Among those clustered at 10 under par are Wyndham Clark, Chris Gotterup, Akshay Bhatia, and Joel Dahmen, each showcasing strong recent performances. Clark carded a 6-under 65 on Friday, boosting his chances for a first win of the season, while Gotterup, despite shooting a 69, remains on the leaderboard’s front page. Bhatia matched his second round 66, demonstrating consistency, and Dahmen shot a 65 to climb the standings as he tries to secure a better position within the top 100.
Alex Noren turned in the round of the day, firing an impressive 62 to move from outside the cut line into a tie for 10th place. This round represents a major leap for Noren and adds another strong competitor to the crowded leaderboard.
Notable Players and Their Weekend Prospects
Although Max Homa and Rickie Fowler appeared strong threats after Thursday, their Friday scores brought them outside the top 20. Homa stands tied for 24th at 8 under after a 68, while Fowler dropped to a tie for 32nd at 7 under following a 70. Both veterans will require exceptional Saturday rounds to remain in contention for the final day of the tournament.
Other contenders include Pierceson Coody and Sam Stevens, who are tied at 12 under through two rounds. Stevens has produced consistent play around the greens, making him a formidable candidate for his first career victory if he can maintain his putting efficiency. Coody, a former Texas collegiate star, is also thriving, aiming for a strong finish that would mark a career milestone. Additional players like Matti Schmid, Chris Kirk, and Emiliano Grillo, all currently near or within the top 70, are working to firmly secure their playoff spots.
The group at 10-under par, consisting of Clark, Gotterup, and Bhatia, is of particular interest to odds-makers, as each player carries significant potential for a weekend charge. Luke Clanton continues to solidify his presence on Tour, while experienced players such as Sam Burns, Gary Woodland, and others hope to spark a late surge to join the round four battle.
Cut-Missing Players and FedEx Cup Implications
The cut was set at 5 under par, which left several notable players off the weekend leaderboard. High-profile names like Maverick McNealy, Sungjae Im, Tom Hoge, and Jacob Bridgeman were among those who fell short. Veteran Keith Mitchell and Byeong Hun An have dropped out of the crucial top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings, forcing them to qualify for next week’s Wyndham Championship to regain footing.
Cam Davis’s standing fell from 65th to 69th after missing the cut, and Erik van Rooyen slipped to 66th, both now facing pressure to improve their positions as the playoff chase tightens.
Updated Betting Odds for the Weekend’s Outcome
According to DraftKings, Thorbjørn Olesen and Jake Knapp share the top odds at 9/2 each, reflecting their strong positioning and recent play. Sam Stevens and Pierceson Coody follow at 10/1, with Chris Gotterup priced at 12/1. Meanwhile, Wyndham Clark holds 14/1 odds, and Akshay Bhatia and Matti Schmid share 18/1 odds, indicating a crowded field of capable challengers.
Some experts express optimism about Knapp’s chances, noting his driving advantage, though his recurring final-round struggles temper expectations somewhat. Bhatia attracts attention for his ability to post very low scores when putting well, offering a better baseline than some others in the hunt. Chris Kirk, appearing frequently near the top of leaderboards this season, is predicted to remain a strong contender throughout the weekend.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What nationality is Jake Knapp?
A. Jacob Richard Knapp, born on May 31, 1994, is a professional golfer from the United States.
Q. How much is Jake Knapp worth?
A. Jake Knapp is now a PGA Tour winner with $1.4 million. He celebrated on the 18th green after his victory at the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta, Mexico.
Q. Is Jake Knapp in Masters?
A. Jake Knapp, who won the Mexico Open last year, qualified for the Masters for the first time in 2024 and tied for 55th place. This year, he won’t be competing and will be watching from home.