3M Open presents opportunity for players like Tony Finau, Jhonattan Vegas and Adam Scott

Golfers preparing for the 3M Open got in some valuable morning preparation Wednesday ... and then the rains came. The afternoon session of the pro-am was washed out in advance of Thursday’s first round.

For players like Adam Scott, Jhonattan Vegas and Tony Finau, returning to Minnesota and/or the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine means more than just another stop on the PGA Tour — it’s a reminder of both the past and new opportunity.

Scott, the 2013 Masters champ, has a mixed history with golf in Minnesota. The Australian finished tied for 23rd at the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National and missed the cut by 11 strokes when the event returned to Chaska in 2009. Scott is competing at the 3M Open this week for the first time and made an early statement on Wednesday.

He was the first player off the tee, and finished by knocking his approach shot over the water on No. 18 to within 10 feet, his pitch mark less than a foot from the cup.

Could you have gotten it any closer, Adam?

“Not today,” he said with a smile as he signed autographs.

Vegas returns as the defending champion, hoping to become the 3M Open’s first repeat winner. A year ago, the Venezuelan pro was coming off shoulder surgery. He was unsure where his game stood.

“A year later, I feel like I come in a way better position physically,” Vegas said Wednesday. “Mentally, everything is there just to make a really good run here at the end of the season. Obviously, a lot more focus on playing good golf than just trying to get my body ready to play.”

Vegas said his game has been solid this season, even if he hasn’t “had that great consistent year” he would have loved to have.

“Especially as the playoffs are coming, it’s good to come back to a place like this where you played good golf before,” Vegas said, “and hopefully we can come out of here and make a good run to the Playoffs.”

Finau, the 2022 3M champion, is back in Blaine after a strong start last week at the Open Championship — and a brief detour in Hollywood.

He’s eagerly awaiting Friday’s release of “Happy Gilmore 2,” in which he and his son make cameos in the Adam Sandler vehicle. On Monday, Finau attended the red carpet premiere for the Netflix film with his wife, Alayna.

As for his own play, Finau admits 2025 hasn’t felt like a success — yet — but is hoping to make a late run, standing at 59th in the FedEx Cup standings.

“I think where I stand today,” he said, “it would be a pretty incredible achievement to make it to [the Tour championship at] East Lake.”

Staff writer Brian Stensaas contributed to this notebook.