Rico Hoey Aims for Breakthrough at 3M Open with Strong Start

Rico Hoey has positioned himself for a potentially significant week on the PGA Tour after a strong opening round at the 3M Open. The Filipino-American golfer shot a four-under-par 67 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, placing him in a tie for 14th as the tournament commenced on Thursday (Friday Manila time).

Hoey's performance was marked by a solid front-nine charge that helped him recover from a shaky start on the back nine. He currently trails leader Ben Kohles by five strokes, but his strong finish provides optimism as he seeks his first PGA Tour title in the $8.8 million event.

After a disappointing tie for 67th at the Corales Puntacana Championship, Hoey was eager to improve. He began his round on the back nine, where he encountered some challenges, mixing two birdies with a bogey. However, he found his rhythm as he progressed through the course.

Hoey opened with pars on the 10th and 11th holes before reaching the par-5 12th in two shots, converting a two-putt birdie. A setback came on the 14th hole, where he three-putted from 19 feet, but he quickly bounced back with another birdie on the par-5 18th, finishing the back nine at one-under 35.

The front nine saw Hoey ignite his charge, starting with a birdie on the second hole after hitting his approach from 146 yards to within seven feet. Although he missed birdie opportunities on the next two holes, he remained patient and capitalized on consecutive birdies on the fifth and sixth holes, sinking putts of 13 and 10 feet, respectively.

A costly three-putt on the seventh hole briefly halted his momentum, but he regained his focus, hitting his tee shot on the par-3 eighth to within 10 feet and making the putt. He completed his round with a par on the ninth, finishing the front nine with an impressive 32 and an overall score of 67.

Despite his strong performance, Hoey faces stiff competition from a stacked leaderboard. Kohles stole the show with a flawless 62, including an eagle on the final hole, giving him a two-shot lead over Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivun, and Gary Woodland, who all shot 64s. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also made a strong showing with a 65, joining a large group of players in contention.

With three rounds remaining, Hoey has set himself up for a realistic chance to challenge the leaders. If he can improve his putting, having missed several makeable birdie opportunities, the 30-year-old has the potential to remain competitive and possibly secure the breakthrough PGA Tour victory he has been pursuing.