Less than 3 weeks after a painful finish cost him a chance at his 1st PGA Tour title, Ben Kohles returned with the finest round of his career.
Kohles fired a bogey free 62 on Thursday at TPC Twin Cities, making 7 birdies before closing with an eagle at the par 5 18th. His approach from 241 yards stopped 4 feet from the cup, and he converted the putt to secure a 2 shot lead at the 3M Open.
Jackson Koivun, Gary Woodland and Emiliano Grillo each opened with 64. Scottie Scheffler finished another shot back after producing a bogey free 65 in his tournament debut. The world No. 1 did not control the ball as cleanly as Kohles, particularly from the tee, but his putting and scrambling kept him close and left the leader little room to relax heading into Friday.
Kohles Responds to His John Deere Collapse
Kohles reached the 72nd hole of the John Deere Classic earlier this month with a chance to win or force a playoff. His approach found the water, and a closing double bogey dropped him into a tie for 3rd. Thursday provided an immediate answer as Kohles played with control from the opening holes rather than carrying that mistake into Minnesota.
PGA Tour tracking data showed that he hit 17 of 18 greens and 12 of 14 fairways. That accuracy allowed him to build his score steadily instead of depending on a single hot stretch.
His finest swing came at the final hole. Standing 241 yards from the par 5 green, Kohles struck his approach to 4 feet and calmly converted the eagle putt. The shot broke the tie at the top and turned an excellent round into a career best 62.
Kohles told reporters that he was “just in control all day,” and it is difficult to argue with a clean card and a 62. He rarely played from trouble, created chances throughout the round and finished with the most important swing of his day.
The performance also carried weight because of his position on Tour. At 36, Kohles is still searching for his 1st PGA Tour victory after spending much of his professional career fighting for starts and rebuilding his status through the Korn Ferry Tour. That background makes the John Deere loss harder to dismiss because opportunities at this level are never guaranteed, particularly for a player who has waited this long for a breakthrough.
Scheffler Scrambles His Way Into Contention
While Kohles produced a ball striking clinic, Scheffler leaned on his putter and short game to remain within reach.
The world No. 1 started on the back 9 and made birdies at Nos. 12 and 18. He accelerated after the turn, adding birdies at Nos. 1, 4, 6 and 7.
Scheffler also converted several significant putts. His birdie chances included makes from roughly 15 feet, 17 feet, 15 feet and 30 feet. An 18 foot par save at No. 15 prevented an early mistake from reaching the scorecard.
PGA Tour data credited Scheffler with 134 feet, 6 inches of made putts. He finished 3 for 3 in scrambling and saved par from his only bunker. Those recoveries mattered because his driving was not as reliable as usual, but Scheffler repeatedly escaped without losing a stroke. Once he found better control from the tee, his scoring chances increased.
The 65 gives Scheffler more than useful preparation before the FedEx Cup Playoffs. It places him directly inside the early title race.
Kohles Cannot Afford to Protect the Lead
Kohles holds a clear advantage, but the leaderboard offers little security. Koivun, Woodland and Grillo are only 2 shots back, while Scheffler shares 5th place with Lucas Glover, Michael Brennan, Kevin Roy and Jesper Svensson at 6 under.
That leaves 8 players within 3 shots of the lead. Several are proven PGA Tour winners, while Scheffler has been the strongest and most consistent player in golf.
TPC Twin Cities also rewards aggressive scoring. Kohles cannot expect a cautious round to preserve his position if the course remains receptive and the chasing group continues creating birdie chances.
His opening 62 proved that the John Deere disappointment did not break his momentum. The next test comes Friday, when Kohles must repeat that control while the world No. 1 and a crowded group of contenders push from behind.
READ ALSO: Bryson DeChambeau Channels Open Regret Into a Blistering 64 at LIV Golf UK
FAQs
What did Ben Kohles shoot in Round 1 of the 3M Open?
Kohles shot a bogey free 62, 9 under par, and finished Round 1 with a 2 shot lead.
How far behind Ben Kohles was Scottie Scheffler?
Scheffler opened with a bogey free 65 and ended Thursday 3 shots behind Kohles.
How did Ben Kohles finish his opening round?
Kohles hit his 241 yard approach to 4 feet at No. 18 and made the eagle putt.
Has Ben Kohles won on the PGA Tour?
No. Kohles is still seeking his 1st PGA Tour victory.
