2017 Marks 25th Anniversary of 3M Championship
July 27, 2017
The 3M Championship, one of the signature events on the PGA Tour Champions schedule, is set to take place August 4-6 at the TPC Twin Cities, in Blaine, MN. The tournament is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and will feature some the biggest names on the tour. Tournament week starts on Monday, July 31, with Pro-Ams and practice rounds Monday-Thursday. All of the events are free of charge to the public and tournament week will once again be one of the golf highlights in Minnesota.
Defending champion Joe Durant returns to defend his title against a field that includes two-time champion Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, Minnesota-native Tom Lehman, and PGA Tour Champions rookies David Toms and Steve Flesch. Durant won perhaps the most thrilling edition of the tournament last summer when his eagle bested Miguel Angel Jiminez’s birdie on the par-5 18th hole.
The PGA Tour Champions circuit make its debut in Minnesota in 1993, with World Golf Hall-of-Famer Chi-Chi Rodriguez winning what was then the Burnett Senior Classic at Bunker Hills golf course in Coon Rapids, MN. The event moved to the TPC Twin Cities in 2001, the same year 3M took over the title sponsor role.
The 3M Championship has had a splendid run over its 25 years, with 13 tournaments decided by just a single shot and two of them needing playoff holes to decide the winner. The list of winners over the years includes golf legends Rodriguez, Hale Irwin (three wins), Langer and Kenny Perry (two wins), Ray Floyd, Tom Kite and Jay Haas.
While the depth of field at the 3M Championship makes it impossible to tab a favorite, the crowd’s choice will surely be Lehman, the Alexandria, MN native and former Minnesota Gopher star. Lehman has 10 career PGA Tour Champions victories to his credit, including this year’s Tucson Conquistadores Classic. With four other top-10 finishes this year, Lehman is currently in great form and nothing would thrill Minnesota golf fans more than if he is in the hunt at the 3M Championship.
This great week of golf will kick off with a Pro-Am on Monday, July 31, followed by the fan-favorite Accenture Executive Women's Pro-Am on Tuesday, which will be hosted once again by LPGA legend Nancy Lopez. Tuesday evening at 6:30 will be the EMC Draw Party Presented by Treasure Island Resort & Casino at the KQRS Tent at the TPC Twin Cities. Wednesday and Thursday will be EMC Pro-Am days, where pros will team with local amateurs.
The Post-It® Products Greats of Golf Challenge also returns for a fourteenth year. The tournament within the tournament features professional golf's legends, including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino, in a team competition following play on Saturday, August 5. World Golf Hall of Fame members Nancy Lopez, Hale Irwin and Ben Crenshaw also return for this fan-favorite event. Autograph sessions are planned for the morning prior to play.
Check back with EMC for updates on the event throughout the week. EMC looks forward to watching the golfing greats play from the 18th green skybox and hopes to see you in Blaine for another fantastic week of golf at the 3M Championship!
