Thorbjorn Olesen and Akshay Bhatia share the lead heading into the final round of the PGA Tour 3M Open after the third round on Saturday at TPC Twin Cities. Olesen made a hole-in-one on the par-three eighth hole and shot a four-under 67, while Bhatia posted an impressive 63 to reach 18 under par.
Olesen’s Hole-in-One and Recovery Through the Back Nine
The 35-year-old Danish golfer used a six-iron on the 209-yard eighth hole to ace it, capitalizing on the back pin location.
“It was a back pin. It just felt like I couldn’t get there with a seven, so we went for a soft six-iron,”
Olesen said.
“Obviously, took the slope perfectly, a big bonus to see it go in. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.”
Despite the hole-in-one, he bogeyed the ninth hole.
Olesen recovered with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, but three-putted for bogey on 15 before birdieing the short par-four 16th. He parred the final two holes to finish the day tied for the lead. The eight-time European Tour winner is pursuing his first PGA Tour victory.
Bhatia’s Strong Round Fueled by Long Birdies and Short Game Success
Akshay Bhatia, the 23-year-old Californian and two-time PGA Tour winner, put together a low round highlighted by two long birdie chips—one from 42 feet on the fifth hole and another from 55 feet on the 11th.
“I chipped in twice, made a lot of putts,”
Bhatia reflected.
“A lot of putts lipped in, which was really nice to see. All in all, just a pretty solid round. Felt like I did a pretty good job of playing out of the rough today. I didn’t hit it particularly great off the tee, but thankfully greens are soft enough to where you can kind of do that.”
He remains hopeful about the final round, saying,
“I’m just trying to play solid golf and hopefully the cards fall my way tomorrow.”
Kurt Kitayama Matches Tournament Record with Course Record Round
Kurt Kitayama carded a course-record 60 to climb to 17 under par, matching the tournament record set by Adam Svensson in the first round. Kitayama, who finished before Olesen and Jake Knapp teed off in the final group, hit 12 birdies and one bogey, playing the front nine in seven under 28.
“I was just kind of going out there,”
Kitayama said.
“I don’t think you really have a number going out into any round, just kind of take what you can get.”
Takumi Kanaya, representing Japan, also posted a 65 to move to 17 under, sharing that position with Knapp and Sam Stevens, both of whom scored 67 and 66 respectively.
Intensity Builds as Final Round Approaches with Significant Pressure on Leaders
Olesen acknowledged the pressure that comes with leading the tournament, saying,
“It’s obviously different and it’s a big opportunity. I’m not going to lie, there’s going to be a lot of pressure, but I felt like in my career I’ve dealt pretty well with pressure. Obviously, the wins on the DP World Tour, but Ryder Cups, also.”
With the tournament leaders all within reach, the final round promises intense competition under heightened expectations. Golf fans can watch the decisive round on Sunday from 7 pm on Sky Sports Golf and enjoy additional coverage through the Sky Sports+ app. Those without Sky can stream the majors and other events without contracts.
What’s Next in the Race for the 3M Open Title
As Thorbjorn Olesen, Akshay Bhatia, Kurt Kitayama, and other contenders head into the final round, the battle for the 3M Open title remains wide open. The PGA Tour 3M Open leaderboard update shows tightly packed scores, ensuring a thrilling conclusion at TPC Twin Cities.
The outcome will have notable implications for these players, especially for Olesen seeking his first PGA Tour victory and Bhatia aiming to add another win to his young career. This final round is expected to test the golfers’ resilience and skill amid mounting pressure, making it a pivotal moment in the 2024 PGA Tour season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is a PGA?
A. The PGA stands for the Professional Golfers’ Association of America.
Q. What does PGA mean?
A. The PGA of America was established in 1916 as an organization for professional golfers in the United States.
Q. What is PGA in medical terms?
A. Polyglandular autoimmune (PGA) syndromes, or polyglandular failure syndromes, involve the underperformance of several hormone-producing glands. These conditions are also called autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome (APS) in medical texts.
Q. What is the mean of PGA?
A. The Professional Golfers’ Association is a U.S. organization for men involved in professional golf, founded in 1916. Officially called the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, it organizes major golf events, including its annual PGA Championship.