BLAINE, Minn. — Jacob Bridgeman birdied 5 of his final seven holes for an 8-under 63 and a one-stroke lead over Mackenzie Hughes on Thursday after the primary spherical of the 3M Open.
Patrick Rodgers, Martin Coach and Andrew Novak have been two pictures again on the TPC Twin Cities.
Billy Horschel, coming off a second-place tie Sunday in The Open after holding the 54-hole lead, withdrew about an hour earlier than his tee time resulting from sickness.
Bridgeman had his lowest rating in 23 profession occasions on the PGA Tour. He holed out from a bunker for birdie on the par-3 seventeenth and two-putted the par-5 18th for an additional birdie. The 24-year-old former Clemson participant missed the reduce in his final three occasions.
“By no means had struggles with my confidence till these previous few weeks,” Bridgeman mentioned. “I advised a pair individuals I felt like I have been kicked within the face.”
Bridgeman went fishing Sunday, took Monday off, hit just a few balls late Tuesday and performed in a Wednesday pro-am. He additionally spoke along with his girlfriend, mother and father and faculty coach, the latter of whom reminded him that one in every of his greatest strengths was his psychological recreation.
“He was type of speaking me via a number of the stuff we did in faculty, how we construct one another up,” Bridgeman mentioned. “He would at all times stroll with me, and he would assist me.”
Hughes had a bogey-free spherical. The Canadian received the second of his two PGA Tour titles final yr within the Sanderson Farms Championship.
“I knew within the first type of three or 4 holes that I had one thing good going with the putter,” Hughes mentioned. “At that time it was only a matter of constructing certain I gave myself as many seems to be as potential and acquired the ball on the inexperienced and let the putter do the work. You aren’t getting these days tremendous usually when the opening begins trying fairly large.”
Novak — at No. 84 exterior the 70-player reduce line for the playoffs within the FedExCup standings — was 6 underneath on the again 9.
“Backside line, I’ve two occasions left till the playoffs,” Novak mentioned. “So regardless of me taking part in nicely, that does not actually matter. I must go play higher.”
Sahith Theegala was at 66 with Gary Woodland, Kevin Streelman, Taylor Pendrith, Stewart Cink, Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama and Hayden Springer. Tony Finau, the 2022 champion, shot 67.
Nick Dunlap shot 71, every week after successful the Barracuda Championship to turn into the primary participant to win a tour occasion as an beginner and knowledgeable in the identical season.
Defending champion Lee Hodges, trying to safe a spot within the playoffs, had a 73. He entered the event 71st and hasn’t had a top-10 end since successful final yr.
Thriston Lawrence, fourth at The Open, shot 75.
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