BOOM goes the dynamite! It feels pretty amazing to nail another outright winner from this column. Viktor Hovland might have been looping for his buddy in US Open qualifying before he took that $3.6 million check to the bank, but I have direct deposit. Hovland was knocking on the door of a victory all season before taking a battering ram to it at The Memorial Tournament at Jack’s Place. A top-10 slip on Wyndham Clark fell just short of paying +450 as well. The bankroll is brimming, and we have all summer to add on.
Speaking of money… The PGA Tour and LIV announced their merger to “unify the game of golf” on Tuesday morning. I might need some assistance retrieving my eyes from where they’ve rolled to the back of my head like they were running 14 on the Stimpmeter. At least, I think it will ultimately result in a better long-term product.
The final event before the US Open at LA Country Club is the RBC Canadian Open. Defending champion Rory McIlroy also won in 2019 before the pandemic wiped out the event in 2020 and 2021. My friend and cohost Conor Coughlin has jokingly started calling it the RBC (Rory Betting Card) Open. Last season, the event was held at St. George’s, but it has moved to another stop on the rotation for this year.
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2023 RBC Canadian Open Tournament Bets: Odds, Picks & Predictions
Oakdale Golf & Country Club near Toronto is nearly a century old, but this will be its first time playing host to the RBC Canadian Open. The par-72 track tips out to under 7,300 yards, meaning this top-heavy field will likely have very little difficulty raining red numbers on the scorecard. Tee to Green stats are always important in an event like this, combined with recent form and proximity on approach.
The key stat that I’ve highlighted heavier than in most weeks for my statistical model is Birdie-or Better percentage (BOB%). Par-5 scoring is a correlative stat that also warrants mention. I was correct in predicting last week’s winning score in single digits under par. This week, there isn’t a doubt the winning score will be -20 or better. More preference will be given to golfers who tend to appear on leaderboards at this type of birdie fest.
Load up on poutine and ketchup chips. Pour some Crown Royal, and may all our picks play the Weeknd. Let’s tee off, eh?
(Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Matt Fitzpatrick (Outright +1400 [1u]; Top-5 +300 [1u])
The young Englishman is simply not getting the respect he deserves for his exemplary play. Matt Fitzpatrick clawed back from a rough first round 76 to finish in the top 10 at last week’s Memorial. His recent form is stellar, with an all-around game bordering on flawless. Fitz is one of the better par-5 scorers in the world and seems to get stronger as the week progresses. A finisher of his caliber on this kind of heater cannot be overlooked, even if his name isn’t Rory McIlroy.