2024 3M Open: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Twin Cities

Sam Burns is back at the 3M Open for the first time since 2020.

The former LSU standout’s PGA Tour career was catapulted in part by his performance at the inaugural 3M Open in 2019.

The rookie posted his best performance to date that week, getting into contention with a pair of opening 66s, and a Sunday 64, to post T-7th.

Burns came back the next year with three more rounds in the 60s to post T-32nd.

The American comes to Minnesota in good form. Burns has been known to be a poor majors player throughout his career, but he’s starting to get the hang of things. After missed cuts this year at the Masters and PGA Championship. Burns took T-9th at the U.S. Open and T-31st last week at The Open Championship.

The T-31st doesn’t tell the whole story from Royal Troon. Burns was in or near contention for most of the weekend until a poor finish on the back nine on Sunday plummeted his standing.

He probably would’ve taken that finish on Thursday. Burns was 7-over through 11 holes. He scratched and clawed to make the cut in demanding conditions and fired 6-under 65 on Saturday.

“I knew I wasn't out of it,” Burns was transcribed by ASAP Sports on Saturday. “I knew it was going to be difficult and I made it a lot tougher on myself. I was proud of how I hung in there and kept fighting.”

Through July 14, Burns ranks 28th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total (.791). He’s gaining in every SG category, including Off-the-Tee where he’s 29th (.362). Burns is 32nd in birdie average (4.14 per round) and has a propensity to heat up with the putter.