Before the weekend even began, Michael Kim turned the 3M Open into a chase.
Kim stood over a 24 foot birdie putt on the 18th green at TPC Twin Cities with PGA Tour history waiting at the bottom of the cup. His stroke was firm. The ball held its line, dropped into the center, and completed a remarkable 12 under 59 on the par 71 course.
That final putt capped 4 straight birdies and one of the finest putting performances the tour has seen. Kim needed only 21 putts across 18 holes, made 12 birdies, and climbed to 14 under through 2 rounds. His reward was a 3 shot lead over Ben Kohles, Chandler Phillips, and Emiliano Grillo.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler moved in the opposite direction. A costly double bogey at 14 and another dropped shot at 17 left him at 7 under, tied for 13th and 7 strokes behind Kim.
A Putting Display Built for the Record Book
Low scores usually begin with sharp approach play. Kim took another route Friday, turning almost every realistic look into a birdie and converting several chances that most players would have been pleased to leave beside the hole.
The first surge arrived early. Kim made 5 consecutive birdies from holes 3 through 7, quickly separating himself from the players around him. Another birdie at 9 sent him to the back 9 with a historic number already within reach, and nothing slowed him after the turn.
Kim continued finding greens and pouring in putts from outside comfortable range. Of his 12 birdies, 8 came from more than 10 feet. That statistic explains how an excellent ball striking day became something far more unusual.
His final 4 holes turned a great performance into a historic one. Kim made birdie putts from roughly 12 feet, 14 feet, 17 feet, and 24 feet during that closing run. Each attempt carried more pressure than the last. By the time he reached 18, everyone around the green understood what was possible.
The last putt was uphill and relatively straight. Kim gave it enough pace, watched it track toward the cup, and raised his arm as the ball disappeared. It was the 15th score of 59 in PGA Tour history. Jim Furyk’s 58 makes it the 16th sub 60 round recorded on the tour.
Kim Now Faces the Hardest Follow Up in Golf
Shooting 59 carries a strange kind of hangover. A player can wake up the next morning, make a routine par, and feel as though something has gone wrong. Kim must avoid that trap.
Saturday will almost certainly feel slower. Putts from 15 and 20 feet will not continue falling at the same rate. Even another strong performance could look ordinary beside the brilliance of Friday.
Kim understands that the tournament is only halfway complete. He captured the balance between satisfaction and unfinished business after the round, saying, “Today was an awesome day, but still, I’m only halfway there.”
That perspective will matter when he returns to a course where danger waits around several closing holes. TPC Twin Cities rewards aggression, but poor decisions near the water can erase several birdies in minutes.
Kim cannot protect a 3 shot lead by retreating. If he becomes cautious, he risks making the exact mistakes his confident approach prevented Friday. His best path is to keep choosing clear targets and accept that the putter may cool.
Kim’s sudden explosion also came after a difficult stretch. He finished tied for 2nd at the Valero Texas Open in April, but his form faded during the following months. Across his next 12 starts, his best result was 17th. He also missed 4 cuts, including 3 in a row before arriving in Minnesota.
Fatigue had become a concern after Kim played 5 consecutive weeks and considered skipping the 3M Open. Instead, he produced the lowest score of his PGA Tour career.
Scheffler’s Mistakes Opened the Gap
While Kim rediscovered his best golf, Scheffler gave away the strokes that pushed him toward the edge of contention.
The world No. 1 appeared ready to remain close to the lead before 2 late mistakes changed his position. Scheffler reached 9 under during the second round and stayed within striking distance of the leaders. Then his approach at 14 found the water, leading to a double bogey that stopped his momentum.
Another shot disappeared at the par 3 17th. Scheffler missed the green, failed to recover cleanly, and walked away with a bogey. He bled most of his strokes on those 2 damaging holes, and his 1 under 70 left him 7 shots behind Kim with 36 holes remaining.
Scheffler still made enough birdies to cling to the edge of contention. Few players in the field possess his ability to produce a sudden run of low scoring, but the problem extends beyond the number of strokes. He must also pass 12 players.
A fast start Saturday would place immediate pressure on Kim and the 3 players tied for 2nd. Another uneven performance could remove Scheffler from the tournament before Sunday begins.
A Historic Score Still Needs a Finish
Kim’s only PGA Tour victory came at the 2018 John Deere Classic. Since then, he has endured long stretches of poor form, missed cuts, and uncertainty about his place among the tour’s regular contenders. Friday offered a forceful reminder of his ceiling.
For several hours, Kim controlled every part of his game that mattered. He found enough fairways, gave himself enough chances, and delivered one putt after another with complete conviction.
We will be talking about Friday’s 59 no matter who lifts the trophy. Kim still has 36 holes to survive, though, if he wants to turn a historic afternoon into a career defining victory.
The chase begins Saturday. For the first time this week, everyone is chasing Michael Kim.
READ ALSO: Ben Kohles Erases John Deere Heartbreak With Opening 62 at 3M Open
FAQs
What did Michael Kim shoot at the 3M Open?
Michael Kim shot a 12 under 59 during the second round at TPC Twin Cities.
How many birdies did Michael Kim make during his 59?
Kim made 12 birdies and did not record a bogey. He finished with 4 straight birdies.
How many putts did Michael Kim need?
Kim used only 21 putts across 18 holes. Eight of his birdies came from more than 10 feet.
How far was Michael Kim’s final putt for 59?
Kim completed the round by making a 24 foot birdie putt on the 18th green.
How far behind was Scottie Scheffler?
Scheffler entered the weekend at 7 under. He trailed Kim by 7 shots after 36 holes.
