Storylines for the 3M Open: Ryder Cup battles abound

Major championship season has come and gone, but the PGA Tour season rolls on with a trip to Minnesota for the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. 

Although there are no superstars in the field this week, there's no shortage of intriguing storylines at the penultimate event in the 2025 regular season. 

Americans running out of time to make Ryder Cup statements

For many players in the field at the 3M Open, this is more of a Ryder Cup tryout than a PGA Tour event. Team USA captain Keegan Bradley will announce his captain's picks after the Tour Championship concludes on Aug. 24, so he'll be watching the 3M Open closely to see how the fringe contenders perform. 

Chris Gotterup, who won the Genesis Scottish Open and finished solo third at the Open Championship, is looking to continue his late push to Bethpage Black. Sam Burns, Ben Griffin, Maverick McNealy, Wyndham Clark and Jake Knapp are other Americans in position to play their way onto the team over the next month. A win from any of these players could result in a life-changing phone call from Bradley next month.

Players fighting for a playoff berth

With only two events remaining in the 2025 regular season, it's now or never for the players on the bubble. The top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings after next week's Wyndham Championship make the playoffs, and there are several big names on the outside looking in right now. 

Max Homa, who has only two top-20 finishes this season, currently ranks 102nd in the FedEx Cup standings. Sahith Theegala ranks 140th, Kurt Kitayama ranks 110th, Joel Dahmen ranks 99th, Tom Kim ranks 89th, Adam Scott ranks 85th and Gary Woodland ranks 78th. These players will need to creep their way into the top 70 to guarantee their PGA Tour cards for 2026. 

Will Haotong Li's magical run continue?

Outside of Scottie Scheffler's dominance, Li gave us the most entertaining storyline of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. The 29-year-old journeyman finished T4 to secure a 2026 Masters invite and put himself in a great position to earn his PGA Tour card through the Race to Dubai. Li will also be in Minnesota to make just his second PGA Tour start of 2025.