Golf
RBC Canadian Open preview: Drive for show… and for dough!
The PGA Tour heads north this week to Caledon, Ontario for the RBC Canadian Open.
Despite being one of the most prestigious tournaments on the PGA Tour calendar, the Canadian Open does not have a venue it can call home. This year, the North Course at TPC Ontario at Osprey Valley plays host.
The course poses a serious test of distance and accuracy as a par-70 measuring a whopping 7,389 yards. The fairways aren’t too narrow here so we’d be prioritising distance over accuracy, though a smattering of bunkers and challenging bluegrass rough means players can’t afford to be too wayward.
It is not the strongest field this week with only two of the world’s top 10 on show. We’re hoping for a strong showing from one of those, but he’ll have to beat Rory McIlroy if he’s to lift the trophy!
Ludvig Aberg 12/1
Our first selection this week is the man who sits second in the betting behind the Masters champion, Ludvig Aberg. The Swede is one of the top players competing here and is a class act when on his best form.
He has been somewhat inconsistent this season, with three missed cuts and withdrawal to go along with his Genesis Invitational victory, T5 at the Sentry and seventh-place finish at the Masters.
His ball-striking ability is undeniable and he has no trouble finding yards off the tee or from the fairway. His driver has been the best club in the bag this year, with the 25-year-old ranking 15th in the world for strokes gained off-the-tee and an average driving distance of 308.8 yards.
Long approaches will be a theme here given some of the beastly par-4s and that should pose no problems for Aberg as he ranks fourth in the world for strokes gained on approach from over 200 yards.
There’s no doubting he’s one of the most talented golfers on the Tour and at 12/1 looks a fair price against a weak field here. He should be more than capable of landing himself in the 8 places available with William Hill and, if at his best, he could easily emerge victorious.
Keith Mitchell 35/1
As an each-way play this week, we’re back with the old trusty Keith Mitchell. We sided with him for this tournament back in 2022 and he went on to finish T7, though we paid the price for sticking with him in 2023 as he failed to make the cut.
His stats so far this year suggest this test could suit him well. His average driving distance of 313.9 yards places him 11th in the world, while he ranks seventh for strokes gained off-the-tee. His long approach game isn’t too shabby either, ranking 31st on the PGA Tour for strokes gained on approach from 225-250 yards.
Birdie opportunities may be less frequent here than at other events, but Mitchell is one of the best when it comes to converting his chances. He converts over 35% of his birdie or better opportunities, making him the 18th-best on the Tour in that respect.
