Matt Kuchar, who came close to winning his first major last weekend at the British Open, has a track record at the Canadian Open that suggests winning it is just a matter of when.
Dustin Johnson boasts the top odds as the +600 favourite for the PGA Tour’s annual swing north of the border at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Kuchar is the second favourite at +1000 before a marked drop-off to other contenders such as Charley Hoffman (+2000), Bubba Watson (+2500), Tony Finau (+2500) and up-and-coming amateur Patrick Cantlay (+2800).
The tournament is at Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ont. The par-72 layout has smaller-than-average greens, which means players high in the PGA’s rankings for greens in regulation (GIR) and proximity to hole are apt to have a better shot at winning.
Johnson had a final-round fade at the British Open, but is a two-time runner-up at this event. Also, his length off the tee might give him an advantage on a layout with four par-5 holes. If going with the low-priced chalk is a turn-off, well, Kuchar has four top-10 finishes in the Canadian Open and was a runner-up as recently as 2013.
Among the next tier on this weekend’s board, Finau has been the best at GIR (sixth on the tour). Watson is also a past runner-up and will be playing in a de facto home event, since his spouse is from the southern Ontario region.
Amateur Patrick Cantlay (+2800) is teeing it up this weekend in a bid to capitalize against a diluted field that includes just seven of the top 30 on the FedExCup points list. This is Cantlay’s first pro event in almost two months, but he’s undeniably talented.
While a two-time Canadian Open winner cannot be called a darkhorse, Jim Furyk (+4000) offers an enticing price. Furyk is one of the Tour’s best at proximity, which as aforementioned, could really come into play this weekend. The same price is available on J.B. Holmes and Ian Poulter, but Holmes’ low standing in GIR and the fact Poulter’s never played Glen Abbey incline one to look elsewhere.
In fact, right down below that trio is Chez Reavie (+5000), the Tour leader in proximity to hole. Reavie also won the Canadian Open back in 2008.
It has been more than 60 years since a Canadian player won the tournament. Graham DeLaet (+4000) has never made a cut in a Canadian Open at Glen Abbey. Adam Hadwin (+5500) is a true wild card due to his recent slump, but the two-time top-10 finisher might find his form while playing on home soil might also rejuvenate his game.
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