Canadian Open Picks and Preview 2024 - Back Bobby Mac to Strike Gold at Hamilton

Robert MacIntyre is finding his flow on the PGA Tour

There's a European Flavour to the Canadian Open market led by Rory McIlroy at 4/1. Rory's partner in crime for the Zurich Classic win, Shane Lowry, last year's Canadian Open playoff loser Tommy Fleetwood and Alex Noren take up four of the first five sports in the betting. Sahith Theegala infiltrates them as the only American present, but lurking just outside the top five in the market are Sam Burns and Cameron Young who this time last year would have been top 3 in the betting in present company. 

Canadian Nick Taylor, who I'm happy to say we were on board at 80s + last year was the first Canadian to win their home Open in decades. As for the Canadians now, Taylor, Adam Hadwin and Mac Hughes all broke the top thirty last time out at this track. Ben Silverman also recorded a top 20 and is currently showing progressive form. Corey Conners will be looking for a good showing as will Taylor Pendrith and a home winner again would not surprise.

Course and Player Profiling

We're back at the low scoring Parklands style track Hamilton GC which will host the Canadian Open for the 7th time. Last time the Canadian Open was held here it was Irishman McIlroy who took home the cheddar with big ShaneO, second. Rory shot 61 on Sunday to win by 7 in what was a low scoring event. Hamilton GC is a par 70, newly renovated to play just over 7,000 yards. Greens are average size and equipped with mown areas now. Precision over power is the tipple here, just like last week at Colonial.

Key metrics and premiums

Driving accuracy 

Proximity to the hole

Approach from 100-150 yards

Par breakers

Putting from 10-20ft

Nic's Picks for the Canadian Open

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We won't be backing any of the favourites at this week's Canadian Open and instead, we'll start by sticking with Tom Kim 33/1. Joohyung had a chance to win going into the final day at Colonial, albeit that would have needed a collapse by Davis Riley and a low round by Kim. It turned out to be one of those windy days where most players went backwards and you can pretty much disregard the data in rounds like that. The course played more than 2.5 shots harder than it did the day before and the wind made it difficult to hit fairways and greens, while the rough was around half a stroke penalty. Kim is progressing nicely form wise as I said in last week's preview and I expect a big performance and 4 good rounds from him soon.

Bob MacIntyre 80/1 is an auto pick for me this week. As I alluded to, I'm prepared to chuck the Colonial results out the window especially as it was a newly renovated course and the week after a major. A major where MacIntyre secured a top 10 with an eagle on the 72nd hole and this followed a top 15 one week earlier at Myrtle Beach. Robert says he's starting to settle in on US soil and find some form with the flat stick......

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