Koepka to use 3M as Open preparation

Brooks Koepka will head into this week’s 3M Open (8/1 – Outright) at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota looking for a confidence-boosting PGA Tour win to take into the Open Championship from July 18.

The 29-year-old current world number one has won two US Open titles and two PGA Championship crowns, including this year’s at Bethpage in May, while he also finished tied for second in the Masters at Augusta National.

Koepka has now set his sights on a first Open Championship (8/1 – Outright), which is taking place in Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951 at Royal Portrush later this month.

The 3M this week will be the American’s final tournament before he tackles the Open and he is looking to take a good performance into the year’s third major.

Koepka has come under fire for producing some lacklustre performances in PGA Tour events compared to majors, while he complained of being exhausted by the expectation on his shoulders after the recent Travelers Championship.

However, he is adamant that while the 3M will help him acclimatise for the Open Championship, his sights are set firmly on the task in hand this week (17/10 – Top-5 Finish).

Koepka said: “This week it will be just trying to win a golf tournament, that’s the only thing I’m here to do. I want to get reps in this week and feel confident.”

Koepka also believes the course at TPC Twin Cities will offer him a good opportunity to pick up a good result.

He added: “[Tournament director Hollis Cavner] told me it was a big hitter’s golf course and that’s what I like.

“It’s a longer golf course, I can hit driver and take advantage of it and kind of cut some corners, and I think that will be a big advantage this week.”

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