National golf tournament brings memories of 35W bridge collapse

35W bridge span
Construction on the Interstate 35W bridge.
MPR Photo/Brandt Williams

Many of the world's best golfers are in Minnesota for this week's 3M Championship. Many of them will not forget last year's event because it began two days after the 35W bridge collapsed.

The tournament will be held at the TPC Twin Cities golf course in Blaine.

Golfer Tom Jenkins says everyone who played in the tournament last year was affected by the tragedy.

"And I feel very fortunate because I was on the bridge about five minutes before it went down. And I've actually cut the clipping out of the front page from last year and I've got it in my desk. And so every time I open up my desk I take it look at that just to kind of, it gives you a little reminder you better enjoy every moment that you're here," Jenkens said.

Jenkins said it was a stroke of luck that the pretournament party was held in Blaine. That kept many of the golfers north of downtown Minneapolis the night the bridge went down.

The tournament will be held at the TPC Twin Cities golf course in Blaine.

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