RBC Canadian Open Picks & Betting Preview

A week out from the 3rd major of the year you would think the Canadian Open may struggle to attract the field it would want but with the high profile sponsors plenty of the worlds best make the trip. Who will treat it as a warm up or an event they'd really like to win for momentum is anyone's guess but it has always produced an entertaining weeks golf. The usual venue Glen Abbey has been put aside for now and we return to Hamilton G&CC which has held three renewals of the event since the turn of the century with the last taking place in 2012. What we can gather from 2012 is that long hitting wasn't all too important. That being said the game has changed since but at a short yardage I still don't see the bombers having a huge advantage here. The fairways are narrow around only 30 yards wide and tall rough surround the small greens which aren't easy to find with approaches. There are a fair amount of dog legs and those who can move the ball both ways and have a degree of imagination may just score well this week.

Bubba Watson has performed extremely well on Poa surfaces down the years notching 6 wins and there is every chance he goes well at pretty odds this week. Bubba has been steady and consistent this year without pulling up any trees before his missed cut last time out at the PGA. Hamilton might just be right up his avenue with an ounce of flair and imagination to navigate the various dog legs and shortish par 4s here. As a pup in 2006 he finished 14th having bolted from the stalls shooting a first round 65. From golfs second string he is one of the most prolific winning 8 times in the last 5 years. He has won tournaments multiple times and seems to certainly go best on Poa greens. As ever the difference between a top 20 and a win with Bubba will be the flatstick and hopefully he can perform well enough from 12 feet and in this week. He looks the most lively contender outside the worlds elite at the top of the market.

1.75u - Bubba Watson To Win @+3300

1.75u - Bubba Watson To Finish Top 10 @+275

Another old timer worth siding with is Henrik Stenson. His strokes gained approaching the green stats are off the chart lately and if he can marry that with other parts of his game he may prove to be a force here. He should benefit from the tighter track and less yardage and should his game off the tee fire this week we may see different results. Like Spieth I think they only need 1 good week in some failing departments and a win will be achievable. With two prestigious majors on the horizon at tremendous venues he will be one looking to have winning form heading into the real meaty part of the year. I understand it is a risky punt seeing all parts of his game are not there, but it only takes one week and this sleeping giant will be back on everyone's radar for the next two majors.

1.5u - Henrik Stenson To Win @+3400

1.5u - Henrik Stenson To Finish Top 10 @+275

Austin Cook is always one to keep a close eye on when you get to a track that rewards an accurate tee to green game and with some impressive rounds under his belt in the last few weeks looks worthy of a punt around 80/1. He ranks inside the top 25 in Driving Accuracy this year and has solid enough scrambling stats to cope with the inevitable missed greens around here. 19th at Coloniol and 27th last week at Muirfield is solid form for Cook who has suffered one or two bad rounds in those events to prevent a much better finish. If he can manage to avoid the mid 70s score this week he has all the tools to contest this when many in the field will have one eye on Pebble.

1.25**u - Austin Cook To Win @+10000**

1.25**u - Austin Cook To Finish Top 10 @+750**

Jim Furyk eased another place up the world rankings to 49th last week courtesy of a 33rd placed finish at the Memorial on a week where he never really got going. The wet course just did not play into his hands. Wet weather has been dominating proceedings in Canada as well but when the tournament begins it looks set to be perfect. I think the recent rain will produce thick tough rough and puts even more of a premium on accuracy from the tee. There's nobody better than that task than Furyk and with the shorter yardage this week this may be one of his best chances no notch a victory on the tour this season. Scrambling stats are up to standard also and given his form and credentials on similar courses to this I think he remains a likely contender.

1.25**u - Jim Furyk To Win @+5000**

1.25**u - Jim Furyk To Finish Top 10 @+350**

I'll finish with two bets on two triple figure golfers. Kramer Hickok picked up two wins on the Canadian Tour in 2017 and backed that up with a victory on the web.com in 2018. He was the Canadian Tour player of the year in 2017 and a trip back to these parts may just be what he needs to challenge on the big stage. There have been flashes with a 10th in Punta Cana and a top 20 at the Byron Nelson a few weeks back. He ranks 14th in Driving Accuracy and 36th in scrambling from the rough which are two stats I'm looking to this week. This may be where he is most comfortable and a Canadian venue may represent one of his best chances this season to get off the mark.

1u - Kramer Hickok To Win @+16000

1u - Kramer Hickok To Finish Top 10 @+1000

Ryan Armour is one suited to the narrower tests and is worth a small bet at triple figures this week. 12th at the Honda and 6th the Valspar are just the signs we need this season that Armour may be worth a play at the right odds at the right track. A very satisfactory top 25 at the Memorial last week is an ideal lead in to this week at Hamilton. Already a winner on the tour the week before a major championship represents an opportunity and Armour certainly looks worth of support at a top price of 175/1.

0.75u - Ryan Armour To Win @+16000

0.75u - Ryan Armour To Finish Top 10 @+1000