Alex Noren. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Golf best bets: 3M longshot targets from the guy who gave you Brian Harman to win The Open

We're back for another edition of PGA Tour longshots, and if you're here because you read last week's column highlighting Brian Harman, congratulations! That's right, we nailed Harman at 125/1 to win The Open Championship, and we hope you jumped on board.

Let's try to go back-to-back with a few longshots I'll be targeting with outright and finishing position wagers for the 3M Open.


Alex Noren (+9000 FanDuel)

I normally like to target longshots at 100/1 or higher, but I'm not in love with the bottom of the board this week. Let's start, instead, with Alex Noren at 90/1.

Noren has been a boom-or-bust player lately, and it's all depended on his putting. He's gone T23, CUT, T9, CUT, and T12 in his last five starts. The Swede lost strokes putting in both of his missed cuts, but he gained more than 15 combined strokes on the greens in his other three starts. The good news? Noren gained nearly 6.5 strokes putting en route to a T3 finish the last time he played the 3M Open in 2020. If the flatstick shows up this week, Noren could contend for a victory.

Top 20: +320
Top 40: +120


Tom Hoge (+10000 FD)

It hasn't been a banner year for Mr. Tom Hoge. The American has notched just one top-40 finish in his last nine starts, and he's lost strokes putting six times over that span. This discouraging run of form has created a massive number on one of the most consistent iron players on Tour, so it's time to pounce.

Hoge finished T4 at the 3M Open last year because he gained nearly 10 strokes on approach. If he has a similar week with the irons, the 34-year-old only needs to be mediocre with the putter to contend. 

Top 20: +350
Top 40: +160


Brice Garnett (+40000 BetMGM)

Let's throw in a bomb, shall we?

Brice Garnett has recorded just two top-30 finishes in 21 starts this season, but he rates out extremely well in Data Golf's Course History Tool. That's because Garnett has never finished worse than T31 at the 3M Open in four starts, and he's gained strokes putting three times in four tries. Some golf courses simply bring out the best in specific players, and TPC Twin Cities seems to be that course for Garnett. Will he win? Probably not, but Garnett is a decent look for some juicy finishing position bets. 

Top 20: +750
Top 40: +320

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