The 3M Open in Minnesota's Twin Cities area is set to feature a surprisingly strong contender this week: Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, is making his debut at the tournament. Typically, this event has one of the weakest fields of the season, as many top players rest after the British Open, but Scheffler's participation has created a buzz.

Scheffler is listed as a +260 favorite at DraftKings, significantly ahead of the second favorite, defending champion Kirt Kitayama, who stands at +2250. The odds highlight the rarity of top players entering lower-tier tournaments, with no other competitor priced below +415 for a top five finish.

After finishing tied for fourth at the British Open, Scheffler aims to build on his impressive season, which includes ten top-four finishes. Despite having only one victory this year, he leads the Tour in Strokes Gained: Total. Notably, he will become just the fifth world No. 1 to compete in Minnesota since the inception of the world golf rankings in April 1986.

In a twist, Ryan Fox, the surprise winner of the British Open, withdrew from the event to celebrate his first major title. Historically, major winners often skip the following week’s tournament, a trend Fox follows.

Kitayama, last year's champion with a record score of 23-under 261, is also a notable figure, listed at +1800 in the “Without Scheffler” market. He is among four former tournament champions in the field, including Lee Hodges, Tony Finau, and Cameron Champ.

The tournament at TPC Twin Cities, a par 71 course measuring 7,431 yards, typically requires a score of at least 15 under to win. With no playoffs yet in the tournament's history, the odds of one occurring this week are +400.