With just three events to go before cards are decided for next year’s PGA Tour the pressure is on for many lurking at the bottom end of the points list.

The run to the FedExCup finals begins in earnest this week at the 3M in Minnesota, a tournament that boasts an eclectic field of rank and file and star players.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Cameron Champ held off dehydration, exhaustion and three of the Tour’s best to claim his third career title at TPC Twin Cities. A final round 66 was good enough to win by two from Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Jhonattan Vegas.

COURSE: TPC Twin Cities opened in 2000 and was immediately put to use as a tournament venue with the Champions Tour’s 3M Championship moving there the very next year.

RIGHT: Cameron Champ claimed another PGA Tour win at this event in 2021. PHOTO: David Berding/Getty Images.

Built and designed by the Arnold Palmer design company with co-design honours to 1996 Open winner Tom Lehman, professional golf was always a consideration for this real estate development.

When title sponsor 3M decided to up their investment in golf and switch from the over 50’s to the flat belly Tour, the host course was considered up to the task and has proved a solid test the past three years.

While aesthetically an example of the modern real estate development, there is some architectural interest at the layout which boasts several diagonally offset greens and some interesting second shots, especially at the par-5s.

There is water in play on several holes and the deep greenside bunkers are to be avoided but as is always the case with a field of this calibre, none of it is a major impediment to scoring.

Champ’s 15-under-par total last year was the highest in the event’s three-year history, previous winners Matt Wolff and Michael Thompson posting 21-under and 18-under respectively.

There are no obvious barriers to that low scoring continuing this week on a course that will ensure some entertaining golf.

A long, challenging par-5 to finish will provide plenty of thrills with any player attempting to find the green in two taking a significant risk in firing across the water protecting and bordering the green.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PRIZEMONEY: US$7,500,000

PLAYERS TO WATCH: There are two distinct categories to watch for this week: some of the game’s biggest names as well as some of those whose jobs are in jeopardy.

When the gun goes off Thursday Stephan Jaeger is the man on the bubble, the 125th spot on the FedExCup standings not a comfortable place with the season end fast approaching.

The 18th hole at TPC Twin Cities features much of the same challenges as the rest of the course, with water and bunkers the main test. PHOTO: David Berding/Getty Images.

All those between 126 and 200 who have no guaranteed status for 2023 will feel the same way and the intriguing question is whether they can reverse the form that landed them here in time to save their rights for next season.

At the other end of the spectrum are players like 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and World No.17 Tony Finau.

Finau has played every edition of this event with a best of T3 two years ago, a result that will give him some confidence after a six-under Sunday at St. Andrews.

Finau has long been the poster child for remarkable talent without the victories to match and a second Tour title might well be on the cards this week.

Matsuyama makes his second visit to Minnesota this week and he, too, will fancy his chances.

Like Finau, he played some excellent golf at the Old Course Sunday before boarding a plane for the U.S. and his Sunday 67 will have him in good spirits come Thursday as he tries to better his T7 finish of 2019.

72-HOLE RECORD: 263 (-21, Matt Wolff, 2018)

18-HOLE RECORD: 62 (Scott Piercy, Bryson DeChambeau, Matthew Wolff, Lucas Glover) 

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No Australian has won this tournament

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Brett Drewitt, Aaron Baddeley, Cameron Percy, Greg Chalmers, Cam Davis, Mark Hensby and Jason Day.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 4am – 8am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 4am – 8am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 3am – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 3:30am – 8am)
*AEST, check local guides