3M Championship first-round recap: No joke - ‘Mr. Bean’ joins Price at top of leaderboard

July 10, 9:06 PMMinneapolis Golf ExaminerKyle Anway

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Andy Bean shared the first-round lead with a 7-under 65 at the 3M Championship in Blaine. (Photo: AP/Andy King)

Nick Price rode a bogey-free round to a share
of the first-round lead at the 3M Championship
(Photo: AP/Andy King)

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3M Championship:
first-round leaders

• Andy Bean -7
  
• Nick Price -7
  
• Gene Jones -6
  
• Ronnie Black -5
  
• Bernhard Langer -5
  
• Dan Forsman -5
  
• Scott Hoch -5
  
• Four players tied at -4
  

For the full leaderboard, visit PGATour.com

Considering the major champions breathing down his neck, Andy Bean is perhaps an unlikely name at the top of the leaderboard after first-round play at the 3M Championship.

On a day when many of the top competitors were finding birdies plentiful at the TPC-Twin Cities, Bean’s opening round was more about limiting mistakes and avoiding the big number. A lone bogey on the par-3 thirteenth his only blemish on the day, Bean birdied five of his first seven holes, and finished his round with birdies on 15, 16 and 18, good for a 7-under 65 and a share of the lead with Nick Price.

The group behind him, consisting of Price, Bernhard Langer and Ben Crenshaw, with seven major championships between them, looked as if they were going to own the top of the leaderboard for most of the day. That is, until they reached the 18th hole. Tied for the lead heading into the final hole, Crenshaw duffed his lay-up attempt into the water at the 582-yard par 5, and found the drink again attempting to reach the green. Crenshaw finished the hole with a triple bogey, and ended the round with a 4-under 68. Langer skied the green with his second shot, his ball coming to rest next to the grandstands. After a free drop into thick rough, his chip barely reached the putting surface, and he settled for par and a 5-under 67. Only Price was able to make birdie to share the first-round lead, finishing the day bogey-free.

Bean was able to stay consistent thanks to his play off the tee, ranking fourth in driving accuracy and third in driving distance, and he attributed much of his success to a new driver.

“I put a new driver in my bag yesterday and made nine birdies, and made eight today,” Beam told the media after the first round. “Your attitude is so different when you’re hitting it well.”

The 3M leaders had nothing but positive comments about the tournament after completing the first round. Bean praised the course organizers and the fans at the Blaine course, commenting that the course was “immaculate” and that the crowd was “fantastic” and “very supportive.” Co-leader Price agreed about the course conditions, saying that while the wind was definitely a factor, the TPC-Twin Cities was “in absolutely wonderful condition” and “a really fun course to play.”

Gene Jones, who finished fourth in last year’s 3M, stands alone in third at 6-under-par, while Fred Funk, a Minnesota gallery favorite, finished the day with a 2-under 70 after an up-and-down day.

In addition to second-round play, Saturday’s schedule also features the first round of the “Greats of Golf Challenge,” a better-ball exhibition featuring some of golf’s biggest names including Arnold Palmer, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Lee Trevino. And before they take to the first tee, fans can meet and greet the players and get an autograph in the Pioneer Press Expo Tent beginning at 9:30 a.m. (see below for Greats of Golf autograph and tee time schedules).

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE
Planning on attending the 3M Championship this weekend? Check out a Fan's Guide to the 3M Championship.

SECOND ROUND TEE TIMES
First tee
8:40 a.m.—Allen Doyle, Jay Sigel
8:50 a.m.—Bruce Summerhays, Jim Thorpe
9:00 a.m.—Tom Purtzer, Mark Wiebe, Dave Eichelberger
9:10 a.m.—Scott Simpson, Peter Jacobsen, Larry Nelson
9:20 a.m.—Tom Herzan, Jim Colbert, Dave Stockton
9:30 a.m.—James Mason, Blaine McCallister, Mitch Adams
9:40 a.m.—Bruce Lietzke, Bobby Wadkins, Tom Jenkins
9:50 a.m.—Ron Streck, Gary McCord, Tim Simpson
10:00 a.m.—Mark W. Johnson, Mike Reid, Jim Dent
10:10 a.m.—Jeff Sluman, Steve Thomas, Leonard Thompson
10:20 a.m.—Phil Blackmar, Bob Gilder, Hale Irwin
10:30 a.m.—Tom McKnight, Hal Sutton, David Eger
10:40 a.m.—John Harris, Dana Quigley, Mark James
10:50 a.m.—Morris Hatalsky, Lonnie Nielsen, Denis Watson
11:00 a.m.—Gil Morgan, John Cook, Jay Haas
11:10 a.m.—Chip Beck, Lanny Wadkins, Bruce Vaughan
11:20 a.m.—Larry Mize, Mike McCullough, Mark O'Meara
11:30 a.m.—Graham Marsh, Don Pooley, Olin Browne
11:40 a.m.—Mark McNulty, Brad Bryant, R.W. Eaks
11:50 a.m.—Keith Fergus, David Edwards, Fred Funk
12:00 p.m.—Mike Hulbert, Jerry Pate, John Jacobs
12:10 p.m.—Wayne Levi, John Morse, Fuzzy Zoeller
12:20 p.m. —Greats of Golf Team Ryder Cup (Billy Casper, Tony Jacklin, Gene Littler)
12:30 p.m.—Bruce Fleisher, Joey Sindelar, Tom Kite
12:40 p.m. —Greats of Golf Team International (Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Trevino, Charles Coody)
12:50 p.m.—Mike Goodes, Ben Crenshaw, Robert L. Thompson
1:00 p.m. —Greats of Golf Team Army (Arnold Palmer, Al Geiberger, Don January)
1:10 p.m.—Scott Hoch, Fulton Allem, Gary Hallberg
1:20 p.m.—Ronnie Black, Bernhard Langer, Dan Forsman
1:30 p.m.—Andy Bean, Nick Price, Gene Jones

GREATS OF GOLF AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS

9:30 a.m.—Billy Casper, Tony Jacklin, and Gene Littler
10:00 a.m.—Arnold Palmer
10:30 a.m.—Lee Trevino
11:00 a.m.—Chi Chi Rodriguez
11:30 a.m.—Al Geiberger, Don January, and Charles Coody

For more info: Visit the Champions Tour page at PGATour.com or the tournament site at 3MChampionship.com.

For more on Minneapolis and Minnesota golf, contact Kyle via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.