3M Open underway in Blaine but early withdrawal by British Open runner-up Billy Horschel brings disappointment

A major disappointment at the first day of the PGA Tour's stop at the 3M Open in Blaine.

British Open runner-up and one of the bigger names participating in the 3M, Billy Horschel, has withdrawn from the tournament.

Paul Hodowanic is a writer with PGATour.com and says physically, Horschel wasn't able to give it a go.

"Said he had a fever when he woke up this morning, body aches, his back was locked up," Hodowanic told WCCO Radio. "He tried to work out, he tried to go hit some balls but just couldn't get his body where he needed to play. So that's disappointing for the tournament, after he came such a great run at last week's major."

Horschel and Justin Rose tied for second place in last week's British Open that Xander Schauffle ended up winning. Horschel had the lead after 54 holes but couldn't keep pace with the red-hot Schauffle on Sunday at Royal Troon.

The 3M Open in Blaine got underway Thursday morning in ideal weather conditions. Early leaders are Jacob Bridgeman at -8, and Mackenzie Hughes at -7. 2022 champ Tony Finau is T-11 at -4 and defending champ Lee Hodges struggled to a +2.

The tournament takes place in a tough spot on the PGA Tour calendar this year. It comes on the heels of a major in the British Open which forces many players to skip the following week for travel purposes. And complicating it further this year are the Olympics. Many of the world's top players are staying in Europe where they'll prepare and compete in Paris at the Olympic Games over the next couple of weeks.

3M OPEN

Site: Blaine, Minnesota.

Course: TPC Twin Cities. Yardage: 7,431. Par: 71.

Prize money: $8.1 million. Winner’s share: $1,458,000.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 2:30-5:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 12-2 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2-5 p.m. (CBS).

Defending champion: Lee Hodges.

FedEx Cup leader: Scottie Scheffler.

Last week: Xander Schauffele won the British Open and Nick Dunlap won the Barracuda Championship.

Notes: Only two tournaments remain before the top 70 qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs. ... Nick Dunlap is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year but still is only No. 63 in the FedEx Cup. He did not receive points for his win in The American Express because he was still an amateur. ... The field originally had 21 players who were at Royal Troon for the British Open, including runner-up Justin Rose, who went from No. 71 to No. 51. ... Rafael Campos of Puerto Rico, Erik van Rooyen of South Africa and Alejandro Tosti of Argentina are in the field. They are all playing at the Paris Olympics next week. ... Florida State sophomore Luke Clanton received a sponsor exemption. He tied for 10th in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, was a runner-up in the John Deere Classic and tied for 37th is the ISCO Championship. ... Lucas Glover, who fell outside the top 70 to No. 71, withdrew from the tournament.

Next tournament: Wyndham Championship on Aug. 8-11.