Canadian Open Golf: PGA Odds And Predictions

The Canadian Open has perhaps the most difficult spot of any event on the PGA Tour calendar as it comes the week after the British Open. That means many big-name golfers aren’t ready to fly back across the pond to play following the major championship. But world golf No. 1 Dustin Johnson leads a field also chock full of Canadians this week. Here’s a look at the Sports Interaction Canadian Open favourites and odds on the Canadians.

Canadian Open Favourites

The Canadian Open is played at Glen Abbey Golf Club, a par 72 measuring 7,253 yards in Oakville, Ontario, for the third year in a row and fourth in the past five. The scoring record at Glen Abbey is 62 by four players and the tournament record at Glen Abbey of 266 was set by Tiger Woods 17 years ago.

The defending champion is Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas. He began Sunday five behind leader Brandt Snedeker but shot a final-round 8-under 64 to win at 12-under 276. Vegas had five straight birdies on Nos. 2-6 and closed the round with three straight as well. It was Vegas’ second career win, and he hasn’t won since. Six of the Canadian Open’s past seven winners have come from behind after three rounds to do it. Vegas enters this year’s event off missing five straight cuts. Thus he’s a +12500 golf betting long shot.

Johnson was a co-favourite entering the British Open along with Jordan Spieth, who was the winner – I recommended Spieth for a Top-10 finish. DJ was a disappointing 54th last week. Johnson finished second one shot behind Vegas last year at the Canadian Open and also runner-up in 2013. He’s +700 this week.

Matt Kuchar (+1100) battled Spieth for the Claret Jug in the final round at Royal Birkdale but came up short. It was Kuchar’s third Top 4 finish in his past four PGA Tour events this year. He was a runner-up in this event four years ago, seventh in 2015 and ninth last year.

Snedeker (+2200) enjoys this tournament as he won in 2013 at 16 under by three shots and was fifth last year and in 2009. Snedeker withdrew before teeing off from the British Open due to a rib injury. He has a rare bone condition in which his ribs are far weaker than the rest of the bones in his body.

Canadian Golfers

There are 13 Canadians set to tee it up, a high for the year. Two of those are winners this season, world No. 55 Adam Hadwin (+7000) and No. 112 Mackenzie Hughes (+10000). Hadwin won the Valspar Championship in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area back in March. He has largely struggled since with just one Top 25 and missed the cut last week at the British Open at Royal Birkdale after rounds of 71-82. Hadwin’s best finish in the Canadian Open was seventh in 2015.

Hughes won the RSM Classic in November but didn’t qualify for the British Open. He was last 20th at the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia. Hughes missed the cut in 2013 in his only appearance in the Canadian Open.
David Hearn (+5500) took a two-shot lead into the final round in 2015 but shot a 72 on Sunday and finished third at 15 under, two back of winner Jason Day. Hearn missed the cut last year. Graham DeLaet (+5000) has missed the cut in his past three trips to the Canadian Open.

No Canadian has won his Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954. Mike Weir was a runner-up in 2004 by a shot to Vijay Singh. Last year as an amateur, Jared du Toit was in the final pairing Sunday with Snedeker but shot 71st and finished tied for ninth at 9 under. Du Toit turned pro last month and is on the Mackenzie Tour. He has an exemption to play this tournament again and is +25000.

Other Canadians in the field are Hugo Bernard (+50000), Brad Fritsch (+40000), Matt Hill (+50000), Austin James (+75000), Bryn Parry (+75000), Garrett Rank (+75000), Nick Taylor (+10000) and Weir (+100000).

Canadian Open Predictions

I am not confident of any player who just came back over from Royal Birkdale with the grind there and the time change, etc. So I don’t think Johnson wins even though he’s clearly the best player in the field. I’d be high on Snedeker if I was sure he’s 100 percent healthy. Let’s go with two-time Canadian Open champion Jim Furyk at +3300. He won in 2006-07 and was fifth as recently as two years ago. Hearn will be top Canadian.