LANGER WINS 2012 3M CHAMPIONSHIP

Bernhard Langer claimed his second 3M Championship title in four years at the TPC in Blaine when he shot a 10-under par 62 on Sunday, August 5 to overtake second-round leader David Peoples. Langer won the 2009 3M Championship with a dramatic eagle on the par-5 18th hole to finish at 16-under and win by one stoke.

Langer’s 62 is one stroke off David Frost’s tournament record 61 in the final round of the 2010 tournament en route to his victory that year. Langer started the final round at 8-under and six strokes back of Peoples, who began the day at 14-under. Langer’s win from six behind shattered the previous tournament record come from behind win of three strokes. Langer’s 3M Championship title this year is his 15th career win on the PGA Champions Tour.

Langer also becomes only the second multiple winner in the 20-year history of the 3M Championship. Hale Irwin won the event in 1997, 1999 and 2002. Irwin, who played in his 17th consecutive 3M Championship this year, also proved he still has game. He shot a 7-under par 65 on Sunday, bettering his age (67) for the first time in his career. He also had an eagle two on the difficult par-4 9th hole, the first eagle on that hole in the 12 years the event has been played at the TPC Twin Cities.

Langer earned 263 Charles Schwab Cup points to move to second place behind Minnesota native Tom Lehman in the Charles Schwab Cup standings after this event. Lehman, who played in his second 3M Championship, finished at 7-under and tied for 23rd place. Three other Minnesotans, Don Berry (4-under), Dave Tentis (2-under), and John Harris (2-over), also competed in this year’s 3M Championship, which celebrated its 20th year as a PGA Champions Tour event.

Large galleries greeted the players all weekend, and 14 professional golfing legends entertained the throngs of people on Saturday and Sunday in the ninth annual Greats of Golf Challenge, presented by Post-It® brand products.

The 3M Championship also crossed the $20 million mark in charitable contributions with the 2012 tournament, which is another first. No other Champions Tour events have achieved this level of charitable contributions during the same 20-year timeframe. Charitable contributions benefit programs at Allina’s Twin Cities hospitals, including Abbott Northwestern, United, Unity and Mercy Hospitals.

Final Leaderboard

$20 Million to Charity in 20 Years! It's Epic!

The 3M Championship is set to achieve an unprecedented goal for a Champions Tour event. Charitable contributions will reach $20 million in 2012 which also marks the tournament's 20th anniversary. There are no other Champions Tour events that have attained this level of charitable contributions in this time frame.

Not only is the tournament an important golf event for Minnesota, but it also exemplifies the 3M Championship's positive impact on the community. Proceeds have impacted lives, benefited communities and raised the level of health care for Minnesotans.

The tournament tees off July 30 -August 5 at the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, MN. For the fourth consecutive year, the 3M Championship will offer FREE ADMISSION to all spectators. The tournament field is expected to be another great one including defending champion Jay Haas, Nick Price, Fuzzy Zoeller, Bernhard Langer, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Lehman, Mark Calcavecchia and Fred Funk

For the ninth consecutive year, icons of the golf world, including Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez, will participate in the Greats of Golf Challenge, a best-ball tournament-within-the-tournament sponsored by Post-it (R) brand products. Three teams will compete on August 4th and 5th and take part in autograph sessions in the Pioneer Press Expo Tent.