Jackson Koivun storms into 3M Open lead with PGA Tour record as Scottie Scheffler rallies late

Jackson Koivun produced a stunning closing stretch to seize control of the 3M Open, while Scottie Scheffler mounted a remarkable late charge to keep his hopes of a second PGA Tour victory of the season alive.

Koivun fired a spectacular 10-under 61 at TPC Twin Cities on Saturday to move to 20-under par after 54 holes, taking a three-shot lead into the final round.

The 21-year-old saved his best for last, closing with an eagle-three on the par-5 18th from around 15 feet to complete a sensational back nine in just 28 shots.

That is the lowest nine-hole score in 3M Open history at TPC Twin Cities, giving Koivun a remarkable PGA Tour record on a day when he well and truly announced himself on the PGA Tour scene.

The rising PGA Tour star is making his 3M Open debut this week, just as Scheffler is, and has wasted little time making an impression in Minnesota.

Koivun only turned professional last month following three record-setting seasons at Auburn University. 

A former World No. 1 amateur and one of the most decorated collegiate players in modern golf, he has already made no secret of his ambition to become the best player in the world.

On Saturday, he offered a glimpse of why those ambitions are so high.

Koivun, currently ranked 206th in the world, also becomes the youngest player to hold a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour this season.

Two PGA Tour records in one day is not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

“I definitely felt some nerves when I saw my name leading, but had a good mental check and just going to keep the pedal down as you need to make a lot of birdies here,” Koivun said.

A victory would be transformational for Koivun's FedEx Cup position, too. 

He began the week 194th in the standings but would jump a projected 123 places to 71st with a win, putting him right on the bubble for next month's 70-man FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Scheffler rallies late to stay alive

For much of the third round, it appeared Scheffler would have little say in the outcome.

The World No. 1, making his tournament debut and playing in Minnesota for the first time, struggled to make significant progress up the leaderboard before producing a sensational back-nine charge.

Scheffler came home in just 29 shots, highlighted by an eagle-two at the short par-4 16th, to card a 7-under 64 and reach 14-under par for the tournament.

That moved him inside the top 10 and, crucially, gave him at least an outside chance of mounting a final-round challenge.

Scheffler is still six shots behind Koivun, however, meaning he will almost certainly need another exceptionally low score on Sunday if he is to claim his second title of the season and 21st PGA Tour victory.

The 29-shot back nine demonstrated just how quickly Scheffler can turn a tournament around, but the World No. 1 will need another fast start and sustained momentum if he is to put genuine pressure on the leader.

Grillo and Kohles three back

Koivun's closest challengers are Emiliano Grillo and Ben Kohles, who both sit at 17-under par after rounds of 65.

Grillo matched Koivun's brilliant finish by making an eagle-three at the 18th, keeping the Argentine firmly in contention for a third PGA Tour title.

Kohles is chasing his first PGA Tour victory and will have plenty of motivation after coming agonisingly close at the John Deere Classic recently.

The 36-year-old American was in contention there before finding water on the 18th, ultimately falling out of the lead and finishing tied for third.

He now has another opportunity to finally get over the line.

Michael Brennan and Chandler Phillips round out the top five at 16-under par.

Brennan made the biggest move of the pair on Saturday, firing a 63, while Phillips carded a 66 to remain within four shots of Koivun.

Denny McCarthy, Billy Horschel and Michael Kim are tied for seventh at 15-under par.

McCarthy carded a 64 and Horschel a 65, while Kim slipped backwards with a 70 but remains within striking distance.

Scheffler is then tied for 10th at 14-under alongside Seamus Power, Davis Thompson and Brian Harman.

Power and Thompson both shot 63 to make significant moves on Saturday, while Harman carded a 66.

With just six shots separating Koivun from Scheffler, the final round promises to be an intriguing test of whether the young leader can handle the pressure of chasing his first PGA Tour title or whether one of the more experienced players behind him can produce a Sunday charge.

For Koivun, though, the opportunity is already enormous.

He has only been a professional for a matter of weeks, yet he enters the final round of his first 3M Open with a three-shot lead, two PGA Tour records to his name and the chance to secure one of the biggest victories of his young career.

3M Open Round 3 Leaderboard