The third Major of the year, the US Open, is just a week away, and after Scottie Scheffler claimed his third victory in four outings at last week’s Memorial, it is now up to world number two Rory McIlroy to lay down a marker at the Canadian Open.
The Northern Irishman swerved last week’s signature event and has twice won this before as he heads to confront a new test at TPC Toronto, starting on Thursday.
He and Ludvig Aberg are the only two members of the top ten teeing it up in Ontario, but there are plenty of others in the field who will want to make their mark before next week’s trip to Oakmont.
By Luke Seychell
Canadian Open golf betting tips
- Outright winner – Rory McIlroy @ 9/2 with Paddy Power
- Outright winner – Taylor Pendrith @ 22/1 with Sky Bet
- Outright winner – Matti Schmid @ 70/1 with bet365
McIlroy will be keen to step up
It is little surprise to see Rory McIlroy installed as hot favourite to win this week’s Canadian Open, and the bookmakers’ assessment looks to be justified.
It has already been a memorable season for the man from Northern Ireland following successes at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Players Championship and his memorable completion of the career grand slam at the Masters in April.
However, he needs to head into the US Open in fine form and the pressure is on after Scottie Scheffler’s recent dominant performances at the CJ Cup, the US PGA Championship and the Memorial.
TPC Toronto contains wide fairways which should allow McIlroy to utilise the prowess he possesses off the tee and it is hard to ignore his form figures of 1-1-9-4 at a tournament he clearly enjoys playing in.
His 47th at the PGA was a disappointment, especially as it took place at Quail Hollow, one of his favourite courses, but a week off will probably have done him good and his post-Augusta form was solid enough – he was seventh at the Truist Championship and 12th with Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic – to suggest another win may not be far away.
- Canadian Open Golf Betting Tip 1: Outright winner – Rory McIlroy @ 9/2 with Paddy Power
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Local knowledge looks a big asset for Pendrith
TPC Toronto is a course where few of this week’s field will have tested themselves, but Taylor Pendrith is from nearby Richmond Hill and it looks likely he will lead the charge for home glory.
Nick Taylor did that to end a 69-year wait for a Canadian success two years ago, but it is not just the fact Pendrith is local that makes him a standout selection for what would be his second success on the PGA Tour after a win at the CJ Cup last year.
His fifth at Quail Hollow was his fourth top-ten finish of the year and he followed that with a decent 12th at the Memorial last week, so this could be the perfect week for him to get back into the winner’s circle.
- Canadian Open Golf Betting Tip 2: Outright winner – Taylor Pendrith @ 22/1 with Sky Bet
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Schmid shining in lower-grade company
One outsider who could make a charge for glory is Matti Schmid, who has looked the part in recent weeks, particularly in some of the weaker fields.
This is not quite an elite gathering this week and the German should be confident of making waves after he was ninth at the Corales Puntacana, seventh at Myrtle Beach and then finishing second, a shot behind Ben Griffin, in the Charles Schwab Challenge.
He missed the cut at Muirfield Village last week, but this looks a good opportunity for him to bounce back, and little regard should be paid to two previous missed cuts in this tournament, which were at different courses.
- Canadian Open Golf Betting Tip 3: Outright winner – Matti Schmid @ 70/1 with bet365
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