Betting tips: Who to back at the Canadian Open
There’s nothing like the week after a major to bring us all back down to earth.
Having walked the fairways with the greats of the game at Birkdale, star quality is a bit thinner on the ground this week.
At least the world number one is in action, as the main attraction at the Canadian Open, but the 6/1 on Dustin Johnson is short enough for me.
DJ showed some good stuff in Lancashire but a final round 77 is symptomatic of his game since he fell over just before the Masters.
Matt Kuchar, having had the Claret Jug ripped from his hands by Jordan Spieth, is also straight back into the fray and available at 12s.
Each-way bets are sensible on Kuch as he’s such a consistent performer but I wonder whether this is a week too soon for the American.
He must be reflecting on what might have been and there’s significant potential for mental let down at the Canadian Open.
Brandt Snedeker’s record here is fantastic – a win and two fifths are on the CV – but just be aware he pulled out of the Open with a rib injury before getting involved at 20/1.
Ian Poulter’s in the line-up and I’m drawn to him at odds of 45/1.
An indifferent third round at the Open – a one-over 71 was no help when low scores were going in all over the course – shouldn’t disguise that this was another good week for the Englishman.
He looks revitalised and motivated after regaining his PGA Tour card and has enjoyed being back in the spotlight.
Take out the HSBC and it’s been seven years since his last win Stateside, and that was in a matchplay event.
But with as many as seven places being offered by some firms, I’ll play each way on a guy who’s finished 14th and ninth in his last two events.
At some of the larger prices, Chez Reavie (60/1) has quietly been in reasonable form with two top 20s – tied 4th at the St Judes Classic and tied 16th at the US Open.
He’s got some course form to draw on too, having won here in 2008 and finishing 14th last year.
There was a lot to like about Gary Woodland’s first couple of days at the Open as well. He’ll be disappointed about a difficult weekend but there were plenty of birdies in his two 74s and at 80/1 he might be able to overpower this course.
Anirban Lahiri (80/1) missed the cut by about half an inch at Royal Birkdale but, in a second round 73 in some terrible weather, he played beautifully.
The Indian finished second at Memorial and recorded a top 20 at the Travelers so is clearly in relatively decent touch.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
