The PGA Tour heads across the border this week for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open in Hamilton, Ontario. With a relatively lackluster field this year, Rory McIlroy is heavily favored and looking to win for the third time at the RBC and for the third time this season on the PGA Tour. McIlroy has also had a win and a T2 on the DP World Tour.
McIlroy has been hot this year, finishing in the top 25 in all but two of the tournaments he’s played in 2024. He also had back-to-back wins, at the Zurich Classic with Shane Lowry and then at the Wells Fargo earlier this month. McIlroy is a huge favorite this week at +360, with Tommy Fleetwood (+1600) and Sahith Theegala (+1800) his closest competitors.
McIlroy Expected to Dominate at Hamilton GCC
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Rory McIlroy last won the RBC Canadian Open in 2019, the last time it was held at Hamilton, by seven strokes with a final score of -22. Since then, the par 70 course has undergone an $8.7 million Martin Ebert renovation, playing 126 yards longer overall for a total yardage of 7,084 yards. While it’s not the longest course on tour, it has historically favored long drivers.
Rory’s driving distance and accuracy are surely the main factors for such low starting odds. It’s rare to see any player favored over the field by double, much less by over 400 percent. McIlroy’s play has improved significantly since last year, and it’s clear that the handicappers have taken notice. And despite recent reports, it would seem that Rory McIlroy’s May 13 divorce filing hasn’t affected his game at all.
Don’t Sleep on Sahith Theegala
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Sahith Theegala has quietly made his way up to 5th on the FedEx Cup points list with five Top 10 finishes in 2024. He hits the ball a long way as well, and his game is solid across all metrics. Over the past six months, Theegala is second in strokes gained overall. At +1800, he is a much more valuable pick than McIlroy, with the length and consistency to give Rors a run for his money this week.
Other Value Picks at the RBC Canadian Open
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Some surprising names have shown up on betting sites and in simulations already this week. Among these are Alex Noren (+2500), the 41 year old Swede who has had two Top 10’s this year, but never a win. The enthusiastic young Korean, Tom Kim (+3000), is also high on the odds list. Kim made a big splash at the President’s Cup in 2022, and celebrated his 21st birthday with a win (defending his 2022 title) at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
Sam Burns is another value pick at +2500, among the top 10 favorites for the RBC Canadian Open. The Shreveport native has racked up five wins since 2019 and has four Top 10 finishes so far this year. Burns’ consistent play and solid putting could lead to some low numbers this week.
While Rory McIlroy will be hard to beat at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, there are definitely some good players who are being undervalued. If you’re like me and prefer dark horses to heavy favorites, this could be a good week to cash in.
About the Author
Andrew Lazzara is a New Orleans native, lifelong Saints fan, golfer, and father of three. He writes for Total Apex about sports, entertainment, and gaming. Andrew writes for Total Apex Sports about the Saints, the NFL in general, and the world of golf. For Total Apex Entertainment, he writes about movies, TV, music, and entertainment news. Andrew writes for Total Apex Gaming about the gaming industry, new technology, and game strategy. Follow Andrew on X @Andrew_Lazzara and to see more of his work, click here.
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