2010 RBC Canadian Open
Dates: July 22nd-25th, 2010
Where: St. Georges Golf and Country Club Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV: The Golf Channel/CBS
by Evergreen, Pro PGA Handicapper, Predictem.com
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After a week abroad, the PGA comes back across the pond this week but a bit of international flavor remains as the players hit Toronto for the 2010 RBC Canadian Open. Many of the premier names on Tour will be skipping the event but there is still a strong field in attendance this week and the Canadian fans have always been enthusiastic hosts regardless of who is or isnt playing. St. Georges Golf and Country Club will host the event for the fourth time overall but the players will be in for a new test as 1968 marked the last time the championship was contested here.
Not many courses look and play like the Old Course at St. Andrews, but just like the Open venue, St. Georges requires players to have a great week of ballstriking to score well. The par 7,046 yard, par-70 track features several holes in which players will be coming into the greens with mid to long irons so precision in that phase will be a key to success. A strong tee to green game will be rewarded with birdie opportunities with those able to work shots in both directions seeing the greatest benefit.
Each week, we take a look at the online golf sportsbooks and highlight a few players that we think will contend for the title. We make a short, middle and long odds pick for the win and breakdown a few head to head matches that you can find at most offshore betting sites. Here are our picks for the 2010 RBC Canadian Open.
Short Favorite: Retief Goosen (18 to 1 odds to win)
Goose is quietly having one of the best seasons on Tour in terms of consistency and comes into the week with a PGA best seven top-10 finishes. The breakthrough week has just been out of his grasp but this may be the week as Goosen has had success in Canada, including the playoff runner-up from 2009. Entering the week, Goosen is 11th in total driving and 7th in scoring with strong marks in fairways and greens hit. The putting has been good enough for the 24th best birdie average and a top-20 scrambling stat will help save those critical pars.
Middle of the Road: Hunter Mahan (33 to 1 odds to win)
The 2010 Waste Management champ ended a string of four missed cuts last week with a solid week at the British that was marred by a second round 76 out in the wind. Mahan is the best on Tour in total driving on the strength of a 22nd rank in fairways and hits the 14th most fairways for a second best overall ballstriking mark. The only hiccup for Hunter this year has been the putter which has consistently ranked outside the top-150 but everything should be a bit easier this week when compared to the grind of the Open.
Longshot: Charley Hoffman (50 to 1 odds to win)
Hoffmans results in 2010 havent lived up to his skill level but he is coming off his best finish of the year at the John Deere where he ran T7 at the scorefest in Silvis. Charley is strong off the tee, ranking 13th in driving distance and 26th in total driving but is solid overall with top-50 ranks in putting, birdie and scoring average. Currently 16th in all around rank, he likely has the most versatile game in the field this week and a less than stellar field could play into his favor in a big way.
Head to Head Matches (our pick) *listed matches are for entire event. Check with your favorite online bookie for single round matches and prop bets.
Tim Clark (-115) v. Matt Kuchar (-115) (Kuchar)
Golf fans know that these two are very underrated players that could have had multiple wins during this season. Both will hit a ton of fairways and greens but Kuchar has made more birdies despite being the lesser putter. Clark falls behind in overall ballstriking making Kuch the pick here.
Chad Campbell (-115) v. Stephen Ames (-115) (Ames)
When in doubt, take the local favorite. Ames will have the fan support of his fellow Canucks but also outranks Campbell in GIR%, putting average and birdies. Chad is the better ballstriker but just isnt scoring right now.
Good Luck!
