3M Open: Steve Palmer's halfway analysis and third-round advice

Sky Sports Golf, Saturday 6pm

Pre-tournament 14-1 chance Bryson DeChambeau leads the 3M Open by two shots at the halfway stage and has become 10-11 favourite with 36 holes to play.

DeChambeau raced home in just 29 shots to put the finishing touches to a flawless second-round 62 comprising nine birdies and nine pars. His 14-under-par total has put him in prime position for a sixth US Tour title.

DeChambeau is not the only player who has been destroying TPC Twin Cities in the inaugural 3M Open. Scott Piercy opened with a 62, while Joaquin Niemann recovered from a first-round 73 with a sizzling Friday 63.

Adam Hadwin missed a putt from three feet at the fourth hole and from two feet at the eighth, making a stumbling start to the second round, but the Canadian recovered superbly with a five-under-par back nine to move alone into second place.

Phil Mickelson was among those to miss the cut, while Brooks Koepka and Jason Day sneaked through by a shot, leaving themselves an 11-shot weekend deficit to overcome. Hideki Matsuyama, for the second consecutive week, has performed best of the market leaders, the Japanese sharing 11th spot, six behind.

DeChambeau, for all his second-round brilliance and killer instinct in contention, seems a short price with such a long way to go. Hadwin, a US Tour champion with a Presidents Cup cap, will relish leading the weekend charge and looks better value at 6-1, while Piercy (16-1) and Harman (22-1) are two other proven winners in this grade.

Third-round threeball punters are pointed towards Matt Wolff in the 3.35am (UK and Ireland) contest. Wolff is one of the most promising youngsters on the planet, but has made a stuttering start to his pro career, missing the cut in the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week. The powerhouse will be relieved to have qualified for the weekend in Minnesota and should perform with freedom in round three, leaving Sebastian Munoz and Tom Lehman behind in the process.

Recommendation
M Wolff
1pt 11-8 bet365

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport