3M Open: Defending champ Lee Hodges and more notable names to miss the cut

**Defending Champion Lee Hodges Misses Cut at 3M Open Amid Low Scores and High Winds**

The 3M Open saw a mix of impressive performances and notable disappointments. Defending champion Lee Hodges was among the prominent names who didn’t make the cut, struggling on both days of the tournament.

On Friday, 18 players shot 67 or better, contributing to a total of 581 birdies. However, the challenging conditions at TPC Twin Cities, particularly the rising winds, led to 32 scores of 74 or worse.

Taylor Pendrith leads the tournament by two shots at 12-under after completing 36 holes without a single bogey.

**Notable Players Who Missed the Cut**

Several well-known PGA Tour players failed to make the cut, including:

– **Tom Hoge**: (70-71; -1) — Ranked 20th in the FedEx Cup standings, Hoge struggled with his putting.
– **Austin Eckroat**: (70-72; E) — Inside the Top 70 but likely to drop in the standings.
– **Peter Malnati**: (71-71; E) — Also inside the Top 70, facing a probable drop.
– **Luke List**: (67-76; +1) — Right on the bubble at No. 71, had a strong first round but faltered with a 5-over 76 on Friday.
– **Adam Hadwin**: (75-68; +1) — Ranked No. 37 in the playoffs, Hadwin improved on Day 2 but not enough to continue.
– **Michael Thorbjornsen**: (66-77; +1) — Started strong but couldn’t maintain momentum.
– **Luke Clanton (a)**: (71-72; +1) — The amateur sensation also struggled.
– **J.T. Poston**: (73-71; +2)
– **Joel Dahmen**: (73-72; +3)
– **Nick Dunlap**: (71-75; +4)
– **Erik van Rooyen**: (75-74; +7)
– **Lee Hodges**: (73-76; +7)
– **Patton Kizzire**: (76-73; +7)

The 3M Open is all about minimizing mistakes and maximizing birdies, and this group of players couldn’t quite find the right balance in Minnesota.