Golf Betting Tips: 3M Open first-round predictions, preview and best bets

Golf returns to the spotlight this Thursday as the 3M Open gets underway at TPC Twin Cities, Minnesota. While the dust still settles from Scottie Scheffler’s triumph at The Open, attention now shifts across the Atlantic to this challenging yet scorable par-71 track, where players will look to make an early statement. Read on for our expert preview and to find the best tips and analysis and don’t miss out on the best bookmaker offers as listed below.

Golf betting tips: 3M Open first-round Predictions

Is the Course Set for Another Low-Scoring Frenzy?

• Akshay Bhatia ranks 16th in strokes gained approach and 21st in putting on the PGA Tour this season.
• He averages 4.23 birdies per round—placing him 11th overall.
• Bhatia is 21st in proximity to the hole and top 30 in approaches from over 200 yards.

Our Tips

With several of the tour’s most recognisable names taking a well-earned rest ahead of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the door is open for others to capitalise. Conditions for Thursday’s opening round are expected to be benign—temperatures rising through the day with minimal wind and only a faint chance of thunderstorms—creating the ideal canvas for low scores. The morning starters in particular could benefit from softer greens and cooler temperatures, though the forecast doesn’t suggest a major bias in draw.

A number of players arrive here in decent touch. Chris Gotterup will hope to build on a strong European swing, while Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark also carry weight in the outright markets. Max Greyserman, Maverick McNealy and Haotong Li represent a group of talents hoping to shine on home soil. There’s also momentum behind sleepers like Chris Kirk, Max McGreevy and Jacob Bridgeman, who have shown glimpses of high-ceiling potential in recent weeks.

It’s worth noting that recent editions of the 3M Open have been kind to quick starters. With scores of 63 or better leading day one three times in the past five years, Thursday’s round promises fireworks.

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Best Bet for the Day

Akshay Bhatia to be First Round Leader

At BettingTips4You, we don’t overwhelm you with a shopping list of options. Instead, we keep things simple and accountable. Each day, we provide just one standout pick—a single, high-quality tip we believe offers the most value. Today, that tip is Akshay Bhatia to lead the field after 18 holes.

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Why Bhatia Can Fly Out the Blocks

There’s a lot to admire about Akshay Bhatia’s numbers heading into Thursday’s opening round. From a data standpoint, few in the field combine ball-striking prowess with red-hot putting quite like he does. Currently ranked 16th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach, Bhatia has displayed razor-sharp precision from distance—particularly from the key 150-200 yard range, where his proximity to the hole is consistently among the best.

Bhatia’s ability to convert chances is equally impressive. He sits 11th in birdie average, racking up an impressive 4.23 birdies per round this season. He’s also 9th in putting average and top 60 for putts per round, a crucial combination when targeting a low number on day one. His overall strokes gained total puts him 41st on the tour, and his round one scoring average of 70.11 places him firmly in contention for a strong Thursday showing, especially given the absence of many of the sport’s biggest names.

What elevates him further is his exceptional form with mid to long irons. Ranked 21st for proximity overall, and top 30 from over 200 yards, Bhatia thrives on courses where long approaches into receptive greens are the order of the day—something TPC Twin Cities offers in abundance. Add in his top 10 ranking in par 3 scoring, and it’s clear Bhatia has the complete skillset to tear this layout apart early.

While others will garner more attention in the outright markets, Bhatia’s profile perfectly fits the mould of a player who can start hot. With calm weather, a soft track and his putter in form, the 40/1 on offer represents significant value.

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