Once the year’s third major, the British Open, is done and dusted, the world’s top golfers will flock back across the Atlantic to compete in this year’s RBC Canadian Open. Held at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, a cool $5.7 million is up for grabs for the 156-man field as they kick-start their preparations for the PGA Championship which will be held later in August.
All eyes will be on 33-year-old American Brandt Snedeker as he tries to defend the Canadian Open title he won last year by three shots. Read on for more on the defending champion and check out our picks for the full list of high-value sleepers in this field that could challenge Snedeker in this weekend’s tournament.
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2014 RBC Canadian Open Preview and Prediction
Favorites – Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson
Furyk has long been one of the most consistent golfers on the PGA Tour. Though he has not managed to win a tournament yet this season, he has five top-10s this year including a pair of runner-up finishes in the Wells Fargo and the Players Championship. The 44-year-old American is also no stranger to winning in this tournament, capturing back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 and is the odds-on favorite at +1,000 to take home his third crown here.
Another player who is due for a breakthrough victory this season is Dustin Johnson who has five top-10 finishes this year including a fourth-place finish at the US Open last month. The 16th-ranked golfer also would like to atone for his missed opportunity last year when he triple-bogeyed the penultimate hole and eventually relinquished the lead to eventual winner Brandt Snedeker. He is pegged at +1,100 to take home the title this year.
Best Value – Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar
After winning last year’s Canadian Open, Brandt Snedeker has been in a slump, failing to win a tournament ever since, and missing the cut three times already this year. But things have taken a turn for the better for the six-time PGA Tour winner ever since he teamed up with renowned golf instructor Butch Harmon.
He finished tied for ninth at Pinehurst in last month’s U.S. Open and with his game rounding to form, he is a good bet at +2,000 to win his second consecutive Canadian Open.
Kuchar, on the other hand, had a chance to win the Canadian Open last year but had to eventually settle for a tie for second with Johnson, William McGirt and Jason Bohn. Kuchar has been in solid form this season winning the RBC Heritage golf tournament in April and is a good bet at +1,200 to win his second tournament this year in Montreal.
Long Shots – Graeme McDowell and Charl Schwartzel
You can never count out these Europeans especially when it’s a Ryder Cup year. Therefore, it is no surprise that the Northern Irishman is hitting peak form at just the right moment, evidenced by his win at the French Open just this month. McDowell, priced at +1,400, has seven top-10 finishes in the European and PGA Tour this season and will surely be one of the contenders when the Canadian Open tees off this week.
Charl Schwartzel on the other hand has been struggling lately with his golf game, recording only three top-10s this year and the same number of missed cuts including one at last month’s U.S. Open. However, the 2011 Masters champion is familiar with the golf course and may be an intriguing pick to bring home the championship this year and is listed at +1,600 in doing just that.
Writer’s Prediction
Furyk’s game is just solid right now and his experience in playing the RBC Canadian Open and winning at that will prove vital in him capturing his third title here in Montreal. Create a betting account now and get into what has been a great season of golf.
