2024 RBC Canadian Open Preview & Picks

Last week, Davis Riley secured his first individual victory on the PGA TOUR by winning the Charles Schwab Challenge. The 27-year-old previously tasted success on the TOUR when he and Nick Hardy triumphed in the Zurich Classic team event in New Orleans last year.

Keegan Bradley finished as the runner-up at the Charles Schwab Challenge, marking his sixth second-place finish of the season. Although we didn’t hit an outright winner last week, we still profited from our placements: Sepp Straka T20 (+175), Lee Hodges T40 (+120), and Peter Malnati T40 (+250).

Before we’ve even teed off, the storylines have already started…

We begin this week with the heartbreaking news of Grayson Murray’s passing on Saturday. Murray had previously struggled with mental health issues. He started the 2024 season with a dramatic playoff victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii, making a clutch up-and-down for birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff, and then sinking a 40-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to defeat Byeong Hun An and Keegan Bradley. This victory propelled him to a career-high 46th in the Official World Golf Ranking. On Sunday, players honored Murray by wearing red and black ribbons, the colors he wore to represent his hometown Carolina Hurricanes.

Rory McIlroy is aiming for his third RBC Canadian Open victory. He previously won this event in 2019 at Hamilton Golf & Country Club and in 2022 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club. Last season, he finished T9 at Oakdale Golf & Country Club. McIlroy enters this week’s tournament after winning two of his last three starts on the PGA Tour, most recently finishing T12 at the PGA Championship.

Last season, Nick Taylor made history by becoming the first Canadian since 1954 to win the RBC Canadian Open. He secured victory with a spectacular 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole against Tommy Fleetwood. Taylor’s ecstatic celebration included tossing his putter into the air and jumping into his caddie’s arms, while fellow Canadian golfers Mike Weir, Corey Conners, and Adam Hadwin rushed to congratulate him on the green. To commemorate this historic achievement, Golf Canada and RBC have reimagined the tournament logo for the 2024 edition, featuring a silhouette of Taylor’s iconic putter toss. Taylor has already claimed one victory this season at the WM Phoenix Open, also in a playoff, where he defeated Charley Hoffman.

Tournament Information:

• Dates: May 30th, 2024 – June 2nd, 2024
• Location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
• Course: Hamilton Golf and Country Club
• Course Type: Parkland
• Par: 70 (4x 3’s / 12x 4’s / 2x 5’s)
• Length: 7,084 yards (Average)
• Format: 72-hole stroke play
• Greens: V8 creeping bentgrass
• Fairways: Native bentgrass / poa / seeded with L93-XD bentgrass
• Rough: Poa annua / Kentucky bluegrass / Turf Type tall fescue
• Bunkers: 72
• Water Hazard(s): Serpentine Creek
• Average Green Size: 6,000 sq. ft. (Average)
• Stimpmeter: 11-12 ft. (Average)
• Purse/ Winner: $9,400,000 / $1,692,000
• FedEx Cup Points: 500
• Field: 156 Players
• Cut: Top 70 and Ties – 36 Holes
• Playoff Format: Sudden Death (18, 18, 9, then 18 played repeatedly)
• Historic Cut Line:
  • 2019: -2
• Scoring Average:
  • 2019: 69.66 (-0.34), Difficulty Rank 21 of 49
  • 2012: 69.59 (-0.41), Difficulty Rank 32 of 49

Course Architect:

• Course Architect: Harry S. Colt (1916)
• Recent Renovations: Martin Ebert (2019)

To learn more about the recent renovation completed, you can click the following link.

Comparable Courses & Greens:

• Comparable Courses:
  • Oakdale Golf & Country Club – 2023 RBC Canadian Open – RESULTS
  • St. George’s Golf & Country Club – 2022 RBC Canadian Open – RESULTS
  • TPC River Highlands – Travelers Championship – RESULTS
  • Colonial Country Club – Charles Schwab Challenge – RESULTS
  • Detroit Golf Club – Rocket Mortgage Classic – RESULTS
  • Sedgefield Country Club – Wyndham Championship – RESULTS

• Designer Link (Harry S. Colt (1916)):
  • Sea Island Resort (Seaside Course) – Harry Colt and Charles Alison (1929) – The RSM Classic
  • Royal Liverpool Golf Club/ Hoylake – Harry Colt – The Open Championship
  • Royal Portrush Golf Club – Harry Colt – The Open Championship
  • Wentworth Club – Harry Colt – BMW PGA Championship (DPWT), World Match Play Championship (1964-2007)
  • Toronto Golf Club – Harry Colt – Canadian Open (1905, 1909, 1914, 1921 and 1927)

• Comparable Location (Ancaster, Ontario):
  • Oakdale Golf & Country Club – Toronto, Ontario – RBC Canadian Open
  • St. George’s Golf and Country Club – Toronto, Ontario – RBC Canadian Open
  • Glen Abbey Golf Club – Oakville, Ontario – RBC Canadian Open

• Comparable Yardage (7,084 Yards):
  • Waialae Country Club – 7,044 Yards – Sony Open in Hawaii
  • Sea Island Golf Club (Plantation Course) – 7,060 Yards – RSM Classic
  • PGA WEST (La Quinta Country Club) – 7,060 Yards – The American Express
  • Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course) – 7,123 Yards – Fortinet Championship

• Comparable Greens (V8 creeping bentgrass):
  • Torrey Pines Golf Course (North Course) – Bentgrass .100” – Farmers Insurance Open
  • Augusta National Golf Club – Bentgrass .125” – Masters Tournament
  • TPC Craig Ranch – Bentgrass .100” – THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson
  • Colonial Country Club – A-4 bentgrass .100” – Charles Schwab Challenge
  • Muirfield Village Golf Club – Bentgrass .090” – the Memorial Tournament
  • TPC Deere Run – L-93 bentgrass .100” – John Deere Classic
  • Keene Trace Golf Club (Champions Course) – Bentgrass – Kentucky Championship
  • TPC Twin Cities – Bentgrass .110” – 3M Open
  • TPC Summerlin – Dominator bentgrass .125″ – Shriners Children’s Open
  • Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club – Bentgrass – ZOZO Championship
  • Colonial Country Club – 007XL bentgrass .100” – Charles Schwab Challenge

• Comparable Average Green Size (6,000 sq. ft.):
  • Torrey Pines Golf Course (North Course) – 6,000 sq. ft. – Farmers Insurance Open
  • Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Golf Course) – 6,000 sq. ft. – Corales Puntacana Championship
  • Keene Trace Golf Club (Champions Course) – 6,000 sq. ft. – Kentucky Championship
  • Sedgefield Country Club – 6,000 sq. ft. – Wyndham Championship

TV Information (all times ET):

• Round 1: Thursday, May 30th, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 2: Friday, May 31st, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 3: Saturday, June 1st, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 9:15 AM – 2:30 PM
  • Golf Channel – 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
  • CBS – 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
• Round 4: Sunday, June 2nd, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 8:15 AM – 1:30 PM
  • Golf Channel – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
  • CBS – 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Weather:

• Thursday: Mostly Sunny 67 F, 9 mp/h N, 45% Humidity, 2% Chance of Rain
• Friday: Sunny 74 F, 8 mp/h NNW, 45% Humidity, 1% Chance of Rain
• Saturday: Partly Cloudy 76 F, 8 mp/h SSW, 51% Humidity, 3% Chance of Rain
• Sunday: Partly Cloudy 77 F, 9 mp/h SSW, 66% Humidity, 24% Chance of Rain

Course/ Tournament History:

The Canadian Open, now known as the RBC Canadian Open, was founded in 1904 and is co-organized by Golf Canada (formerly the Royal Canadian Golf Association) and the PGA Tour. It has been held annually since its inception, except during World War I, World War II, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the third oldest continuously running tournament on the tour, following The Open Championship and the U.S. Open. From 1994 to 2005, it was known as the Bell Canadian Open. RBC became the title sponsor in 2008 and has retained the sponsorship since.

Until 2023, no Canadian citizen had won the Canadian Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954, and no player born in Canada had won since 1914. In 2023, Nick Taylor ended the 69-year drought for Canadian players, securing victory in a dramatic finish at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.

Hamilton Golf & Country Club has hosted the RBC Canadian Open six times (1919, 1930, 2003, 2006, 2012, and 2019). The club features three nine-hole courses: the East Nine, the South Nine, and the West Nine. For this week’s event, the West Course will serve as Holes 1-9, and the South Course will serve as Holes 10-18.

Founded on October 24, 1894, Hamilton Golf Club is one of the ten founding clubs of the Royal Canadian Golf Association. The initial course was a 12-hole links-style layout. In 1896, the club relocated to Paradise Farm on Aberdeen Avenue, now the site of Chedoke Civic Golf Course, and hired its first greenskeeper in 1901. Twenty years later, the club purchased 200 acres of farmland called “The Grange” in Ancaster for $40,000 and commissioned British designer Harry Colt to create a new course. This course opened in 1916 and hosted its first Canadian Open in 1919. In 1979, Canadian architect Robbie Robinson designed nine new holes, creating the East Nine.

Starting in the fall of 2019, Martin Ebert of the UK-based design firm Mackenzie & Ebert, International Golf Course Architects, led a historic renovation of the club’s 27 holes. The $11.5 million restoration aimed to revive many of the classic features initially designed by Colt and ensure continuity with the East course crafted by Robinson. Completed in 2021, the renovation included a complete rebuild of all 27 greens and extensive bunker adjustments, earning the “Best New Restoration” award from Golf Digest in 2022. The West and South courses reopened in 2021, with the final nine holes on the East course opening in the summer of 2022.

• Most Tournament Wins:
  • 4, Leo Diegel (1924, 1925, 1928, 1929)

• 72-Hole Record (Event – RBC Canadian Open):
  • 258, Rory McIlroy (Hamilton Golf & Country Club, 2019)
• 72-Hole Record (Course – Hamilton Golf & Country Club):
  • 258, Rory McIlroy (2019)

• 18-Hole Record (Event – RBC Canadian Open):
  • 60, Carl Pettersson (3rd round, 2010 at St. George’s G&CC), Justin Rose (4th round, 2022 at St. George’s G&CC), Brandt Snedeker (2nd round, 2019 at Hamilton Golf & Country Club)
• 18-Hole Record (Course – Hamilton Golf & Country Club):
  • 60, Brandt Snedeker (2nd Round, 2019)

Course Guide/ Scorecard:

Originally crafted by Harry S. Colt in 1916, Hamilton Golf & Country Club features a Par 70 layout, comprising four Par 3s, twelve Par 4s, and two Par 5s.

In terms of length, Hamilton Golf & Country Club is one of the shorter courses on the Tour measuring 7,084 yards. It ranks 17th out of 44 courses in length. The fairways are on the narrower side, ranking 10th of 44, with the average fairway width being 30.0 yards. The average green size is roughly 6,000 square feet which is on the smaller side when compared to the other courses on the PGA Tour. Bunkers aren’t a factor here as there are only 72 which ranks as the 21st fewest of 44 courses.

Hamilton Golf & Country Club demands accuracy but also rewards distance when paired with hitting fairways. It’s a ball-striker’s course, characterized by numerous doglegs and holes that limit opportunities for long hitters to use their drivers. Expect to see many players opting for layups and using irons off the tee.

The four Par 3’s range between 180 yards and 249 yards. In terms of stats, two of the four Par 3’s range between 200-225 yards. In the last edition of this event (2019), all of the Par 3’s had a scoring average over par except for No. 16.

No. 6, 249 Yards, Par 3: This is the first of four very strong par-3s and not much of a breather. It was the second most difficult hole at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open with a four-day scoring average of 3.189. A total of 25 yards have been added making it the longest of the par-3s. Surrounded by woods, the hole plays entirely across a picturesque valley to a slightly raised putting surface. Right of the green slopes severely down into the woods and lost-ball territory. Although larger than it used to be, the green is protected by a couple of serious bunkers.

No. 8, 207 Yards, Par 3: The secluded tee shot can make club selection perplexing as it’s difficult to predict the impact of the wind. The ball crosses a valley to a wide-open green that has been lowered by ten feet to make it more receptive to shots. The green has more undulation than most and slopes slightly from back to front with bunkers to the right and left.

No. 13, 209 Yards, Par 3: Known as the ‘Rink Hole’, No. 13 will be surrounded by towering observation areas and suites and rowdy fans. From an elevated tee, players hit over a wide valley to an undulating and angled green. A false front makes this hole play to its true yardage. There’s one deceptive bunker well short of the green on the right and another near the front left corner of the green. Coming up short on your tee ball could leave a blind 50-yard uphill second shot.

No. 16, 180 Yards, Par 3: The shortest of the par-3s runs uphill to yet another green well-protected by severely deep bunkers on the left and one in the approach to the right which should not come into play for the Canadian Open competitor. Pin positions will be tough to get close to when they are tight to the left. Choosing the right club is the key here.

There are twelve Par 4’s at Hamilton Golf & Country Club with the majority (five) of those holes ranging between 400 and 450 yards. No. 5 is the shortest Par 4 listed at 346 yards with the longest being No. 11, playing 502 yards. In terms of scoring average, the toughest Par 4 on the course in 2019 was No. 18 (+0.256).

No. 5, 346 Yards, Par 4: A true risk-reward hole, No. 5 gives the gambler an opportunity to hit the driver or perhaps a 3-wood and go for the green. It’s an uphill, slight dogleg right with the green on a small plateau. Playing aggressively brings the deep bunkers and steeply sloping green surrounds into play while laying up leaves a ball above or below your stance on this narrow, mounded fairway. The perched green offers many subtle breaks, and the roll-off collars run aggressively away from the green around the majority of the green. The green site offers one of the best views at Hamilton.

No. 11, 502 Yards, Par 4: This tough dogleg left par-4 is 21 yards longer than it was in 2019 and features an elevated tee to the fairway 45 feet below. Large trees at the corner of the dogleg may prevent all but the longest hitters from taking the shortcut. Two new bunkers at the corner of the dogleg on the right side make for a good target from the tee with the first one being 320 yards from the tee. The fairway then slopes significantly uphill to an elevated green that falls from back to front with a monster bunker to the right. Another hole you don’t want to be short on, or the ball will roll back down the slope.

No. 18, 457 Yards, Par 4: The toughest hole during the 2019 RBC Canadian Open with a four-day scoring average of 4.258. This classic finale demands precise positioning off this elevated tee. With an additional 11 yards added, Ancaster Creek snakes across the fairway 295 yards out, so a three-wood or hybrid is the prudent play for most as the fairway slopes to the creek. The approach shot climbs 175-200 yards uphill—often from an uneven lie—to a green set in a giant amphitheater below the beautiful clubhouse with bunkers on each side that act as sentinels. A tough final putt any day, but with thousands of cheering fans watching on, anything could happen when the tournament is on the line. One of golf’s greatest finishing holes!

There are only two Par 5’s at Hamilton Golf & Country Club, No. 4 & No. 17. They both played under par in 2019, despite being some of the longer par 5’s on Tour. The easiest hole on the course in 2019 was No. 17 with a scoring average of 4.436.

No. 4, 542 Yards, Par 5: The straightforward par-5 can be reached in two, but players will have to avoid the trees that flank both sides, a new series of fairway bunkers down the right side of the fairway and a deep swale which has been cut in towards the fairway on the left. If errant off the tee, players will have to negotiate the cross-bunker 90 yards from this well-bunkered, sloping green, which falls off to the right. It played as the second easiest hole at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open with a four-day scoring average of 4.650 strokes.

No. 17, 580 Yards, Par 5: Even though it is now 30 yards longer, this par-5 will provide plenty of birdie opportunities and even eagles to players who have an extra gear off the tee. In 2019 it played as the easiest hole on the course with a four-day scoring average of 4.449. It’s a straightforward hole from an elevated tee with trees guarding both sides of the fairway. There are now a series of three bunkers in a staggered pattern to the left and right of the first landing area. From the second landing area to the green, six bunkers, including one in the middle of the approach area, need to be navigated. There is an entirely new green site that has been pushed back and to the left which will provide real challenge as it slopes to the rear so it will be easy to overshoot, especially to the rear pin positions.

Featured/ Signature Hole(s): 13, 18

For a hole-by-hole overview of the course, you can click the following link.

Key Statistics:

• Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
  • Success this week will hinge on players’ ability to position themselves effectively off the tee.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Kevin Dougherty
    • Cameron Champ
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Keith Mitchell
    • Kevin Yu
    • Rico Hoey
    • Jhonattan Vegas
    • Maverick McNealy
    • Sahith Theegala
    • Shane Lowry

• Strokes Gained: Approach
  • Having a strong iron game will be important this week if players want to succeed at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Corey Conners
    • Kelly Kraft
    • Akshay Bhatia
    • Adam Svensson
    • Aaron Rai
    • Ryan Moore
    • Shane Lowry
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Ben Martin
    • Keith Mitchell

• Driving Accuracy
  • The fairways at Hamilton Golf & Country Club are on the narrower side, with the average fairway width being 30.0 yards.
  • Leaders in this category this season:
    • Shane Lowry
    • Tommy Fleetwood
    • Aaron Rai
    • Tom Kim
    • Daniel Berger
    • Ryan Moore
    • Zach Johnson
    • Corey Conners
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Doug Ghim

• Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass)
  • The green complexes at Hamilton Golf & Country Club are V8 creeping bentgrass.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Maverick McNealy
    • Dylan Wu
    • Beau Hossler
    • Sahith Theegala
    • Sam Burns
    • Harry Hall
    • Aaron Baddeley
    • Thorbjorn Olesen
    • Martin Laird
    • Victor Perez
    • David Skinns

• Par 3 Scoring: 200-225 Yards (x2)
  • Two of the four Par 3’s at Hamilton Golf & Country Club range between 200-225 Yards.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Keith Mitchell
    • Shane Lowry
    • Stewart Cink
    • Victor Perez
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Tom Kim
    • Troy Merritt
    • K.H. Lee
    • Zac Blair
    • Justin Lower

• Par 4 Scoring: 400-450 Yards (x5)
  • Five of the twelve Par 4’s at Hamilton Golf & Country Club range between 400-450 Yards.
  • Leaders in Par 4 Scoring 400-450 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Beau Hossler
    • Rory McIlroy
    • S.H. Kim
    • Doug Ghim
    • Justin Lower
    • Adam Hadwin
    • Garrick Higgo
    • Sam Ryder
    • Kevin Yu
    • Sam Burns

• Birdies or Better Gained
  • The last time the RBC Canadian Open was hosted at Hamilton Golf & Country Club, the winning score was -22. While the recent renovation has added rough 100 yards to the course, I expect we’ll see the winning score around -20. To have a chance at winning this event, players are going to need to take advantage of every scoring opportunity.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Eric Cole
    • Tom Kim
    • Tommy Fleetwood
    • Shane Lowry
    • Adam Scott
    • Beau Hossler
    • Sahith Theegala
    • Luke List
    • Garrick Higgo

• Proximity Gained: 125-150 & 200+ Yards
  • Below is the approach shot distribution chart from 2019 (via DataGolf). Most approach shots come from the 125-150 & 200+ yard range at a volume much higher than the PGA Tour average.

• Leaders in Proximity Gained: 125-150 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
  • Chesson Hadley
  • C.T. Pan
  • Rafael Campos
  • Adam Svensson
  • Charley Hoffman
  • Gary Woodland
  • Corey Conners
  • Ryan Moore
  • Bud Cauley
  • Robby Shelton

• Leaders in Proximity Gained: 200+ Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
  • Eric Cole
  • Rory McIlroy
  • Sahith Theegala
  • Charley Hoffman
  • Harrison Endycott
  • Michael Kim
  • Matti Schmid
  • Luke List
  • Matt NeSmith
  • Cameron Champ

• Comparable Courses and Event History
  • Prior experience in the RBC Canadian Open has proven to be advantageous. We’ve seen several players win this event in consecutive years including Rory McIlroy (2022 & 2019), Jhonattan Vegas (2017 & 2016), and Jim Furyk (2007 & 2006). While the RBC Candian Open rotates courses, the host venues are fairly similar in their design.

The Field:

This year’s RBC Canadian Open will feature a total of 156 competitors.

• Previous Winners in the Field (Event):
  • Nick Taylor (’23), Rory McIlroy (’22, ’19), Jhonattan Vegas (’17, ’16), Brandt Snedeker (’13), Chez Reavie (’08)

• Debutants in the Field (Event):
  • Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Alejandro Tosti, Alistair Docherty, Ashton McCulloch, Beau Hossler, Benjamin Griffin, Cam Kellett, Carl Yuan, Chan Kim, Chandler Phillips, Davis Riley, Davis Thompson, Erik Barnes, Hayden Springer, Jacob Bridgeman, Jake Lane, Joe Highsmith, Jorge Campillo, Justin Matthews, Justin Suh, Kevin Dougherty, Kevin Yu, KyoungHoon Lee, Mac Meissner, Marc-Olivier Plasse, Matthew NeSmith, Max Greyserman, Nicolas Echavarria, Parker Coody, Patrick Fishburn, Pierceson Coody, Rafael Campos, Raul Pereda, Rico Hoey, Robert MacIntyre, Ryan Fox, Ryan McCormick, Ryo Hisatsune, Sam Choi, Sami Valimaki, Samuel Stevens, Thorbjorn Olesen, Tom Kim, Tom Whitney, Trace Crowe, Victor Perez, Wil Bateman, Wilson Furr

• Players with Canadian ties in the Field:
  • Birthplace:
    • Matthew Anderson – Mississauga, Ontario
    • Wil Bateman – Edmonton, Alberta
    • Adam Cockerill – Teulon, Manitoba
    • Corey Conners – Listowel, Ontario
    • Myles Creighton – Digby, Nova Scotia
    • Jared du Toit – Calgary, Alberta
    • Michael Gligic – Burlington, Ontario
    • Adam Hadwin – Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
    • David Hearn – Brampton, Ontario
    • Mackenzie Hughes – Dundas, Ontario
    • Cam Kellett – London, Ontario
    • Jake Lane – Fort St. John, British Columbia
    • Richard T. Lee – Toronto, Ontario
    • Stuart Macdonald – Vancouver, British Columbia
    • Justin Matthews – Little Britain, Ontario
    • Ashton McCulloch – Kingston, Ontario
    • Etienne Papineau – Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
    • Taylor Pendrith – Richmond Hill, Ontario
    • Marc-Olivier Plasse – Léry, Quebec
    • Ben Silverman – Thornhill, Ontario
    • Roger Sloan – Calgary, Alberta
    • Kevin Stinson – Mission, British Columbia
    • Adam Svensson – Surrey, British Columbia
      • Nick Taylor – Winnipeg, Manitoba
      • Mike Weir – Sarnia, Ontario

• Notable Withdraws/ Changes:
  • WD: Chris Gotterup -> IN: Kevin Tway (Alternate)
  • WD: Jimmy Stanger -> IN: Henrik Norlander (Alternate)
  • WD: Anders Albertson -> IN: Kevin Chappell (Alternate)
  • IN: Kelly Kraft (Sponsor)
  • IN: Ryan Palmer (Sponsor)
  • WD: Alejandro Tosti -> IN: Austin Cook (Alternate)
  • WD: Davis Riley -> IN: Sean O’Hair (Alternate)
  • IN: Adam Long (Open Qualifier)
  • IN: Michael Blair (Open Qualifier)
  • IN: Jakob Chicoyne (Open Qualifier)
  • IN: Max Sear (Open Qualifier)

To see the full field for this event and how they qualified, you can click the following link.

The Odds:

Here are the current favorites for this week’s event, along with a summary of their recent form and course history:

Rory McIlroy (+360): Rory finished T12 at the PGA Championship a few weeks ago. Prior to that, he won back-to-back events, including the Wells Fargo Championship and Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This will be his fourth appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. He won this event in 2019 and 2022, and last year he finished T9 when the tournament was held at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.

Tommy Fleetwood (+1600): Fleetwood has an impressive history at this event, finishing T6 in 2018 and losing in a playoff last year. He enters this week in good form, with three top-20 finishes in his last five events. In his most recent start, he finished T26 at the PGA Championship.

Sahith Theegala (+1800): Theegala will be making his third appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. He finished T53 in his tournament debut in 2022 and T38 in 2023. He’s been close to victory a few times this season, finishing runner-up at both The Sentry and RBC Heritage. In his most recent start, he finished T12 at the PGA Championship.

Corey Conners (+2000): Conners has finished inside the top 20 in two of his last three starts. In his most recent outing, he finished T26 at the PGA Championship. This will be his ninth appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. He’s performed well recently at this event, finishing 6th in 2022 and T20 in 2023.

Shane Lowry (+2200): Lowry won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last month, paired with Rory McIlroy. Following that victory, he finished T47 at the Wells Fargo Championship and T6 at the PGA Championship. This will be Lowry’s sixth appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. He finished T2 the last time the event was held at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

To see the most up-to-date odds, you can click the following link.

Projected Final Score:

• 72 Hole Winning Score: 261.5 / -18.5 (Over -110 / Under -110)

In 2019, the last time Hamilton Golf & Country Club hosted the RBC Canadian Open, the winning score was -22.

To place a bet at Superbook on the Projected Final Score of the Winner, you can click the following link.

Playoff Props:

• Will There Be A Playoff? (Yes +330 / No -450)

Since 2008, the RBC Canadian Open has ended in a playoff four times (2023, 2017, 2011, and 2009).

Hamilton Golf & Country Club has hosted the RBC Canadian Open six times before with the tournament ending in a playoff twice (2003 & 1930). In 2003, Bob Tway defeated Brad Faxon and in 1930, Tommy Armour defeated Leo Diegel.

To place a bet at DraftKings on the Playoff Prop, you can click the following link.

Hole-in-One:

• Will There Be A Hole-in-One? (Yes +105 / No -150)

In 2019, the last time Hamilton Golf & Country Club hosted the RBC Canadian Open there were no holes-in-ones.

To place a bet at DraftKings on the Hole-in-One Prop, you can click the following link.

Facts and Figures:

Recent Horses for Courses (Event – RBC Canadian Open):

Horses for Courses (Course – 2019 & 2012 RBC Canadian Open – Hamilton Golf & Country Club):

Recent Donkeys for Courses (Event – RBC Canadian Open):

Donkeys for Courses (Course – 2019 & 2012 RBC Canadian Open – Hamilton Golf & Country Club):

Previous Winners Scores, Prices, and Strokes Gained (Rank at Tournament):

• 2023: Nick Taylor (-17) – Oakdale Golf & Country Club
  • Price: 66-1

• 2022: Rory McIlroy (-19) – St. George’s Golf & Country Club
  • Price: 10-1

• 2019: Rory McIlroy (-22) –  Hamilton Golf & Country Club
  • Price: 10-1

Previous Winners Incoming Form (Last 5 Starts):

• 2023: Nick Taylor
  • MC – Charles Schwab Challenge (PGA)
  • MC – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • 2 – Zurich Classic of New Orleans (PGA)
  • T41 – RBC Heritage (PGA)
  • T15 – Valero Texas Open (PGA)

• 2022: Rory McIlroy
  • T18 – the memorial Tournament (PGA)
  • 8 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • 5 – Wells Fargo Championship (PGA)
  • 2 – The Masters (MAJ)
  • MC – Valero Texas Open (PGA)

• 2019: Rory McIlroy
  • MC – the memorial Tournament (PGA)
  • T8 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • T8 – Wells Fargo Championship (PGA)
  • T21 – The Masters (MAJ)
  • T9 – WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play (PGA)

Previous Winners Finishes at Event:

2023: Nick Taylor

2022: Rory McIlroy

2019: Rory McIlroy

• Tournament Debut

Picks (Outrights):

• Corey Conners (+2200) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.37 to win 8.14 Units

• Alex Noren (+2500) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.32 to win 8.00 Units

• Aaron Rai (+4000) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.20 to win 8.00 Units

• Davis Thompson (+5500) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.15 to win 8.25 Units

• Mac Meissner (+9000) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.09 to win 8.10 Units

• Hayden Buckley (+25000) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.04 to win 10.00 Units

Total Risk on Outrights: 1.17 Units

Picks (Top 20):

• Maverick McNealy (+150) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 1.50 Units

• Keith Mitchell (+160) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 1.60 Units

Total Risk on Top 20s: 2.00 Units

Picks (Top 40):

• Daniel Berger (+110) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 1.10 Units

• Patton Kizzire (+160) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 1.60 Units

Total Risk on Top 40s: 2.00 Units

As always, all of my placement bets are through BetMGM as they’re one of the only books without dead-heat rules. If you’d like to bet these placements at BetMGM, you can get up to $1500 in Bonus Bets if you don’t win if you’re a first-time user. Must Be 21+. Gambling Problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER.

Here’s my link to sign up at BetMGM!

Total Risk on the RBC Canadian Open: 5.17 Units 

Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting. Any feedback whether