The Canadian Open returns to the Tour for the first time since 2019. It was postponed the past two seasons due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament returns to St. George’s Golf and Country Club for the first time since 2010.
Tournament Information:
- Dates: June 9th, 2022 – June 12th, 2022
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Course: St. George’s Golf and Country Club
- Course Type: Parkland
- Par: 70 (5x 3’s / 10x 4’s / 3x 5’s)
- Length: 7,014 yards
- Format: 72 hole stroke play
- Field/ Cut: 156 Players | Top 65 and Ties after 36 Holes
- Greens: Creeping Bentgrass .115″
- Fairways: Bentgrass/ Poa annua .300″
- Rough: Kentucky bluegrass 3.5″
- Stimpmeter: 12.0
- Purse: $8,700,000 / Winner $1,566,000
- FedEx Cup Points: 500
- Bunkers: 104
- Water Hazards: 1 (In-Play on 3 Holes)
- Average Green Size: 4,000 sq. ft.
Course Architect/ Comparable Courses:
- Course Architect: Stanley Thompson (1929)
- Renovation: Tom Doak/ Ian Andrew (2014, 2019)
TV Information:
- Round 1: Thursday, June 9th, 2022
- Golf Channel – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET
- Round 2: Friday, June 10th, 2022
- Golf Channel – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET
- Round 3: Saturday, June 11th, 2022
- Golf Channel – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
- CBS – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET
- Round 4: Sunday, June 12th, 2022
- Golf Channel – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
- CBS – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET
Weather:
- Thursday: Showers 60 F, 10 mp/h NNW, 72% Humidity, 80% Chance of Rain
- Friday: Mostly Sunny 63 F, 11 mp/h W, 57% Humidity, 20% Chance of Rain
- Saturday: Showers 62 F, 6 mp/h N, 52% Humidity, 50% Chance of Rain
- Sunday: Showers 61 F, 8 mp/h W, 75% Humidity, 50% Chance of Rain
Course/ Tournament History:
The RBC Canadian Open was on hold during the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the pandemic. However, with a new course rota system in play, St. George’s Golf and Country Club will host this years tournament. The Canadian Open was first played 118 years ago, in 1904. It is the third oldest continuously running tournament on the PGA Tour.
St. George’s Golf and Country Club has hosted the Canadian Open six times. The last time they hosted the RBC Canadian Open, in 2010, Carl Pettersson won. He also shot a tournament-record 60 in the third round. Since then, the course has underwent two renovations.
In 2014, all 18 greens were reconstructed to replicate their original profiles. The surfaces were changed from Bentgrass Poa Annua mix to Creeping Bentgrass. In addition to the green renovations, the fairways were also widened. Five years later, all bunkers were rebuilt with Pro Angle sand.
This tournament also features some cool side attractions. Hole 16 is referred to as “The Rink” which is a Par 3 that’s surrounded by hockey boards and features luxury boxes referred to as “Penalty Boxes.” TheScore Bet, will also make their presence known with a first-of-its-kind on course viewing experience. They’ll bring fans up in a ride of some sort over 100 feet in the air that overlooks the 1st and 18th holes at St. Georges.
Most tournament wins: Leo Diegel (4); 1924, 1925, 1928, 1929
72-Hole Record: 258, Rory McIlroy (2019)
18-Hole Record: 60, Carl Pettersson (3rd round, 2010 at St. George’s G&CC)
Course Guide/ Scorecard:
St. George’s Golf and Country Club is a short Par 70 measuring just over 7,000 yards. It features five par 3’s, ten par 4’s, and three par 5’s. Despite the fairways being widened during their two renovations, they are still relatively tight. Most of the fairways are also tree lined placing an emphasis on accuracy off the tee. Looking at it from a layout prospective, most of the holes are relatively straight meaning players will try to take advantage of the short par 4’s off the tee. The main defense for the course comes into play around the green. With over 100 bunkers in play this weekend and small greens, approach play will be a key to victory.
Key Statistics:
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Tee to Green
- Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass)
- Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
- Par 3 Scoring: 200-225 Yards
- Par 4 Scoring: 450-500 Yards
The Field/ Odds:
We have a great field for this weeks event despite the US Open taking place next weekend. Five of the top-10 players in the OWGR are set to take on St. George’s.
Justin Thomas (+700), is one of the co-favorites this week. Two weeks ago he won the PGA Championship but struggled in his next start missing the cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge. In his last 10 starts, he has finished T-10 or better in six of those events.
Scottie Scheffler (+700), is another co-favorite this week. He has won four times on Tour this season headlined by his victory at Augusta. Following back to back wins at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play and the Masters, he has finished inside the top 20 in three of his last four starts. In his last start at the Charles Schwab Challenge he finished 2nd.
Rory McIlroy (+900) won the Canadian Open in 2019 the last time it was held. He’s been playing some solid golf as of late finishing inside the top 20 in each of his last four starts. Three of those finishes were inside the top 10. Despite those great finishes, he has yet to win an event this season.
Cameron Smith (+1000), won THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP earlier this season and has been on a tear since. Following his victory at TPC Sawgrass he would go on to finish T3 at the Masters Tournament. Since then he has made the cut in three of four starts and finished T21 or better in those events.
Notable Withdraws: Patrick Reed, Luke List, Adam Schnek, Pat Perez, Chez Reavie, Taylor Pendrith, Jared Wolfe, Kevin Chappell
To see the most up to date odds, you can click the following link.
To find out how everyone in the field has qualified, you can click the following link.
Previous Winners Scores & Prices:
- 2019: Rory McIlroy (-22)*
- Price: 10-1
- 2018: Dustin Johnson (-23)*
- Price: 7-1
- 2017: Jhonattan Vegas (-21)*
- Price: 125-1
- 2016: Jhonattan Vegas (-12)*
- Price: 125-1
- 2015: Jason Day (-17)*
- Price: 9-1
- 2010: Carl Pettersson (-14)
- Price: 80-1
* Different courses
Picks (Outright):
- Matthew Fitzpatrick (+1800) – BetMGM (FINISHED: T10)
- Risk 0.45 to win 8.10 Units
Fitzpatrick is either hit or miss and last week at Colonial, he struggled missing the cut posting a 74-73 in the first two rounds. Despite the missed cut, he still gained strokes on approach. He’s one of the best iron players on Tour and I think we see him compete here at St. Georges come Sunday.
- Tyrrell Hatton (+2800) – BetMGM (FINISHED: MC)
- Risk 0.29 to win 8.12 Units
Hatton has made the cut in each of his last ten tournaments. During that span, his best finish was T2 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He hasn’t played since the PGA Championship but gained strokes in every major category in that tournament. Hatton is a solid approach and short game putter. Last time we saw this course Rory putted extremely well to win and he currently ranks 2nd in SG: Putting.
- Chris Kirk (+5000) – BetMGM (FINISHED: T7)
- Risk 0.16 to win 8.00 Units
Kirk had an off week last week at the Memorial Tournament. He’s usually a great iron player but lost strokes on approach for the first time in two weeks. Prior to Colonial, he finished T15 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and T5 at the PGA Championship. I think he rebounds here at a course where great iron play is required to win.
Total Risk on Outrights: 0.90 Units
Picks (Top 20):
Going with two Canadian’s this week given their approach play. They also rank highly in both par 3 and par 4 categories mentioned above.
- Corey Conners (+100) – Caesars (FINISHED: 6)
- Risk 1.00 to win 1.00 Units
Since missing the cut at the Genesis Invitational, Connors has made the cut in eight of his past nine starts. He most recently missed the cut at the PGA Championship but rebounded well at the Memorial Tournament finishing T13. He’s ranks 8th in SG: Off the Tee, 37th in SG: Approach, and 21st in SG: Tee to Green. With the layout this week, he ranks 18th in Par 4 Scoring and 61st in Par 3 Scoring.
- Adam Hadwin (+185) – FanDuel (FINISHED: T35)
- Risk 1.00 to win 1.85 Units
Hadwin has been trending in the right direction after missing the cut at the AT&T Byron Nelson. In his past two tournaments he finished T71 then T18. He currently ranks 18th in SG: Around the Green, 30th in SG: Approach, and 37th in SG: Tee to Green. Given all of the par 3’s this week, he ranks well in terms of Par 3 scoring (13th).
Total Risk on Top 20: 2.00 Units
Picks (Top 40):
- CT Pan (+105) – FanDuel (WITHDREW)
- Risk 1.00 to win 1.05 Units
CT Pan is a great Par 3 player ranking 22nd in Scoring Average. He’s not long off the tee but with the layout that won’t be as big of a factor this week. Pan ranks 41st in SG: Approach, 58th in SG: Around the Green, and 52nd in SG: Tee to Green. He has also made the cut in his last seven tournaments.
Total Risk on Top 40: 1.00 Units
Total Risk on the RBC Canadian Open: 3.90 Units
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.
