Canada's Adam Hadwin is 3M Open's 36-hole co-leader two years after he nearly won in Blaine

The inaugural 3M Open featured an unforgettable finish two years ago that foreshadowed who scientific Bryson DeChambeau could become and introduced newcomers Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa in a big way.

Wolff's eagle on the par-5 18th trumped DeChambeau's eagle just in front of him. Wolff won by a stroke, DeChambeau and Morikawa tied for second.

Who finished fourth?

"I did," Canadian golfer Adam Hadwin said.

How many people would know that?

"Me," he answered.

And yet here Hadwin is, in contention at TPC Twin Cities again. This time he's the 3M Open co-second round leader with Ryan Armour at 10 under par after each shot a 7-under-65 on a steaming, windy, overcast Friday afternoon.

Sixteen players are within three shots of the co-leaders.

Armour is 45 years old and a 2017 PGA Tour winner who birdied four consecutive holes on his back nine and one more at No. 18. He shot a 31 on those final nine holes to pass morning leaders Bo Hoag, Chez Reavie, Jhonattan Vegas and Roger Sloan and tie Hadwin.

"I can't change much, I am who I am," Armour said. "I'm going to try and hit fairways and hit it on the green. I can't overpower anything out here the way some of the young kids do. I've just got to go about my way, not their way."

Hadwin is 33, Moose Jaw-born and British Columbia-raised who shot the elusive 59 in the PGA Tour's Palm Springs tournament in January 2017. Two months later, he won the Valspar Championship, his only PGA Tour victory that helped him make two Presidents Cup teams for the internationals.

He held the 36-hole lead when he won the Valspar, too.

"It has been a while, but I know the feeling," Hadwin said. "It's still there."

He called his own 65 a "stress-free" round in which he and his caddie picked their targets, committed to hit them — and then did.

Hadwin credits a game plan that focuses more on process and less on result in a season in which he has missed the cut in his past three events. He's also 120th on the FedExCup points list that invites 125 players to the playoffs.

"I'm trying to take the outcome out of it at all costs," Hadwin said. "Obviously, it's hard to do at times. You're looking at your name on the leaderboard, climbing up. I'm just trying to hit a golf shot. My goal is to do that for the next 36 holes, win or lose. It has been a struggle this year, so it's nice to have some good things to build on."

First round co-leaders Rickie Fowler and Troy Merritt as well as major champions Louis Oosthuizen, Gary Woodland, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Jimmy Walker, Charl Schwartzel, Jason Dufner and Keegan Bradley all are in pursuit.

So, too, is Tony Finau, while world No. 2-ranked Dustin Johnson missed the 36-hole cut at even par when he drove it into the water at No. 18. Matt Kuchar, Stewart Cink, Dylan Frittelli, Ryan Moore and Steve Stricker, among others, missed it, too.

Last summer, Johnson shot a Thursday 78 in Blaine and withdrew, citing a back injury. He finished second at the PGA Championship and won the Tour Championship as well as a Masters held in November.

"I knew I had to make birdie, just cut it a little too much," he said. "Just didn't hit enough fairways on the back nine. Tried to hang in there. The wind was blowing pretty hard. It played pretty tight."

3M Open leaderboard

Hadwin didn't play last year's 3M Open, but is back. He shot 64-66-69-67 two years ago and has returned because he needs FedExCup points. He appreciated the tournament's operations and the way he played in what he called a "fantastic" week.

He was all about process back then as well.

"I don't know how far back I was going into the final round," said Hadwin, who was one shot back. "But I was close enough to know if I put a good round together, I'd have a chance. My caddie and me committed to never looking at a leaderboard that day and I never did shockingly enough, which is really hard for me.

"I had a chance to win a golf tournament that week. I have good feelings about this golf course. I played well for 36 holes now. I just have to keep it going."