Taylor Pendrith leads the 3M Open by two strokes after shooting a bogey-free 7-under 64 in challenging conditions, bringing his total to 12-under through 36 holes. Pendrith's strong performance follows his recent success, including a win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May and a T5 finish at the Barracuda Championship. This consistent play has positioned him 29th in the FedExCup standings, with aspirations to break into the top 30 and qualify for the Tour Championship. Despite windy conditions, Pendrith managed to keep his scorecard clean by hitting a high percentage of greens and putting effectively. The tournament is critical for players near the FedEx Cup playoff cutoff, with several notable names missing the cut, including defending champion Lee Hodges.