The PGA Tour heads over the boarder into Canada this week for the RBC Canadian Open which is being played on the Glen Abbey golf course in Oakville, Ontario.
The tournament was last played at Glen Abbey in 2009. This will be the 26th time the course has hosted this event. It is a Jack Nicklaus designed Par 72 course measuring 7,273 yards.
Fairways are generous so expect low scoring this week much like 2009 when Nathan Green won with -18 and 2008 when Chez Reavie was triumphant on -17. The approach shot will be the main key this week as there are many green side bunkers that have been strategically placed to catch you out.
The Top Five in betting this week are 14/1 Brandt Snedeker, 18/1 Matt Kuchar, 18/1 Hunter Mahan, 20/1 Dustin Johnson and 20/1 Graeme McDowell.
My two players to follow this week are-
Hideki Matsuyama 35/1 www.sportsbet.com.au
Hideki is the name on a lot of people lips at present. This guy has a huge career ahead of him and plenty more people will be taking about him as the year continues.
I selected him last week in The Open to be the Leading Asian player at 11/2. Not only was he successful in this market he also finished T6th after rounds of 71-73-72-70 and that included a one stroke penalty in the third round for slow play. It was that result that brought him to peoples attention.
If you look at his record to date you will see why he has been on my radar for a while now. In 2010 he won the Asian Amateur Championships and successfully defended the title the following year. He played in the 2011 Masters Tournament and finished T27th and was the leading amateur.
In 2012 he had eight starts and managed four Top 10 finishes while still an amateur. He started the year ranked N0.202 in the World and finished the year as No.131.
This year he has gone from strength to strength. From eleven starts he has had nine Top 10’s and two wins. Highlights have been 1st Tsuruya Open, 1st Diamond Cup Golf, 2nd The Crowns, T2nd Nissin Cup and T4th Sammy Cup. They were all on the Japan Tour.
You then look at his two Major Starts this year. T10th in the US Open and T6th at The Open last week. It seems like he is bullet proof when it comes to nerves!
Interesting to note that he was ranked 2nd in greens in regulation last week. Not bad from a kid playing in his first Open. He is now ranked 34th in the world.
Then there are his Japan Tour stats. He is 1st in money earnings this season by a long way, 1st in scoring average, 11th in putting average, 4th in greens in regulation, 2nd in birdie average and 1st in Par 4 performance.
Matsuyama is one talented player. With youthful exuberance and the calm demure I expect to see him up there on the leader board challenging on Sunday.
Jerry Kelly 66/1 www.sportsbet.com.au
We go from one young up and comer to an elder statesman. Jerry Kelly is having a good season. 13 made cuts from 19 starts for five Top 20’s.
The 46 year old comes into contention this week when you look at his last four starts. T56th St Jude Classic, T41st US Open, T24th Travelers Championship and T4th John Deere Classic. That is a pretty good upwards graph.
At the Canadian Open in 2009 Jerry was T5th and T37th in 2008. So he has good knowledge of the course this week.
He is hitting the ball well at present. Ranked 7th in driving accuracy, 46th in scoring average, 16th in scrambling and 17th in 3 putt avoidance.
There is still plenty of life left in the old legs. 66/1 makes for good each way value.
Good Luck and Good Punting.