The Canadian Open Preview That No One Asked For

The PGA Tour returns to the Great White North to host the RBC Canadian Open at the Jack Nicklaus Signature, Glen Abbey Golf Club.

The course is famed for its “Valley Holes”, No. 11-15, which appropriately enough are played in a valley with hazards all around. Additionally, the course is noted for its 18^th hole because of the brilliant 6 iron that Tiger Woods hit from the fairway bunker in 2000 to solidify the Triple Crown of the PGA Tour.

(Side Note - I am really starting to hate the fact that my younger brother beat me to the Tiger bandwagon because I never got fully appreciate what he did in his prime.)

Like so many other Nicklaus courses, that make regular appearances on the PGA Tour – such as Valhalla, Muirfield Village, PGA West, PGA National, Montreaux Golf and Country Club, etc. – Glen Abbey often favors the best drivers of the golf ball. However, that fact is not a given as Chez Reavie and Nathan Green, both short hitters, have both won at the venue.

Glen Abbey will host the tournament for a record 28^th time. Of the 27 previous winners, a major champion has won the tournament 14 times (including Jason Day last year). Additionally either someone that won a major championship or finished finished runner-up or better in another contest at Glen Abbey, has won 18 of the 27 times.

Currently the betting favorites (according to betwc) are Jason Day and Dustin Johnson, both +400 (4:1 to win). Both would fit the criteria listed above as each is a major champion and has finished runner up or better in a previous Canadian Open hosted at Glen Abbey. Shockingly, the No. 1 and 2 ranked players in the world are heavy favorites.

Jason Day bounced back from leaving a lead-tying-putt short at last year's British Open hosted at St. Andrews with a win at Glen Abbey that propelled him to three more wins in his next five starts, including the PGA Championship.

Matt Kuchar has the next best odds to win at +1200 and could also be a potential winner as he finished tied for second in 2013. Jim Furyk is +1700, but I would stay away from the two-time winner of the Canadian Open as he has neither won nor finished runner up at Glen Abbey although if you’re simply looking for someone to place in the top 10, he wouldn’t be a bad selection as he has finished fourth and tied-ninth in the last two contests at Glen Abbey.

Brandt Snedeker is the 2013 champion at Glen Abbey and currently has the fifth-best odds to win this weekend, tied with Emiliano Grillo.  

One caution I would add when picking a favorite is that remember than thanks to the Olympics, the PGA Championship is next week. Many of the top-ranked guys have played a ton of tournaments since the Players (Dustin Johnson will be playing his eighth event in 10 weeks time), so they might not be so eager to stick around should they not be in contention.

Can't believe more top players aren't fired up to wear these.

If you’re trying to fill out your fantasy lineup or are looking to take a flyer this weekend, here are some other names that have had past success at Glen Abbey: William McGirt, Chaz Hoffman, David Hearn, Stewart Cink, Daniel Summerhays, Roberto Castro, Chad Campbell, Adam Hadwin. 

Ernie Els has had good success at the event, but if you want to bet on a 46-year-old who has missed the cut in five-of-his-last-six events, be my guest. Additionally if you're considering playing a Canuck, no one from our suburb to the north has won the tournament at Glen Abbey (American style course) or won outright since 1954. Therefore proceed with caution on Hearn, Hadwin, and Graham DeLaet.