2023 RBC Canadian Open Bets: Odds, Picks & Predictions

BOOM goes the dynamite! It feels pretty amazing to nail another outright winner from this column. Viktor Hovland might have been looping for his buddy in US Open qualifying before he took that $3.6 million check to the bank, but I have direct deposit. Hovland was knocking on the door of a victory all season before taking a battering ram to it at The Memorial Tournament at Jack’s Place. A top-10 slip on Wyndham Clark fell just short of paying +450 as well. The bankroll is brimming, and we have all summer to add on.

Speaking of money… The PGA Tour and LIV announced their merger to “unify the game of golf” on Tuesday morning. I might need some assistance retrieving my eyes from where they’ve rolled to the back of my head like they were running 14 on the Stimpmeter. At least, I think it will ultimately result in a better long-term product.

The final event before the US Open at LA Country Club is the RBC Canadian Open. Defending champion Rory McIlroy also won in 2019 before the pandemic wiped out the event in 2020 and 2021. My friend and cohost Conor Coughlin has jokingly started calling it the RBC (Rory Betting Card) Open. Last season, the event was held at St. George’s, but it has moved to another stop on the rotation for this year.

• Best Longshot Bets, Picks & Predictions
• First-Round Leader Picks & Predictions
• Head-to-Head Matchups Picks & Predictions
• Golf Best Betting Odds

2023 RBC Canadian Open Tournament Bets: Odds, Picks & Predictions

Oakdale Golf & Country Club near Toronto is nearly a century old, but this will be its first time playing host to the RBC Canadian Open. The par-72 track tips out to under 7,300 yards, meaning this top-heavy field will likely have very little difficulty raining red numbers on the scorecard. Tee to Green stats are always important in an event like this, combined with recent form and proximity on approach.

The key stat that I’ve highlighted heavier than in most weeks for my statistical model is Birdie-or Better percentage (BOB%). Par-5 scoring is a correlative stat that also warrants mention. I was correct in predicting last week’s winning score in single digits under par. This week, there isn’t a doubt the winning score will be -20 or better. More preference will be given to golfers who tend to appear on leaderboards at this type of birdie fest.

Load up on poutine and ketchup chips. Pour some Crown Royal, and may all our picks play the Weeknd. Let’s tee off, eh?

(Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Matt Fitzpatrick (Outright +1400 [1u]; Top-5 +300 [1u])

The young Englishman is simply not getting the respect he deserves for his exemplary play. Matt Fitzpatrick clawed back from a rough first round 76 to finish in the top 10 at last week’s Memorial. His recent form is stellar, with an all-around game bordering on flawless. Fitz is one of the better par-5 scorers in the world and seems to get stronger as the week progresses. A finisher of his caliber on this kind of heater cannot be overlooked, even if his name isn’t Rory McIlroy.

Corey Conners (Outright +1800 [1u]; Top-10 +190 [1u])

I’m not superstitious…only a little stitious. Michael Scott wouldn’t believe I’m the Corey Conners Kiss of Death, so neither will I. He was abysmal last week at Muirfield Village in a rare missed cut. Fortunately, it sets up some peculiar odds for his nation’s Open. Conners is an exemplary tee-to-green player. He will have supporters at full throat and is among the best at converting birdies and scoring on par-5 holes on Tour-time to really test the rebound theory.

Ludvig Aberg (Outright +5000 [0.5u]; Top-20 +225 [0.5u])

If you have been unaware of the name Ludvig Aberg until now, you’re in for a treat. The Texas Tech standout has been ranked as the world’s top amateur golfer the entire year and stands to make a lot of noise this week. Stanford’s Rose Zhang made history last week by winning her LPGA Tour debut a week after capturing her second NCAA title. Aberg might not be quite the prodigy as Zhang, but there is also a distinct possibility the young Swede bursts onto the world scene right away at Oakdale. He has made the cut in both PGA Tour events this season, including a 24th-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Carson Young (Outright +9000 [0.25u]; Top-20 +300 [0.5u])

Both PGA Tour golfers by the name “C. Young” are birdie-making machines. You’ll get much better odds on Carson Young earning his first win than you will with Cameron Young. Carson Young has seemingly appeared on every leaderboard with good scoring conditions this season. He finished third in Puerto Rico and 19th at the RBC Heritage. Young was 15th at Vidanta and 14th at the Byron Nelson. A Saturday 75 relegated him to a 21st-place finish in his last appearance at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he still carded 15 birdies on the week. Recent form is huge for this type of event, and Carson Young is in a really good place with his game over the past three months.

Akshay Bhatia (Outright +10000 [0.25u]; Top-20 +350 [0.5u])

Speaking of prodigies and birdie-making mavens, Akshay Bhatia is another ridiculously talented youngster who has already made some noise on Tour this season. Whether it was stripping down for a mud bath at the Honda Classic or nearly taking down the Mexico Open, Bhatia is a burgeoning star for the game of golf. He is 17th in BOB% this season and number one in proximity on approach for the targeted distance this week (150-175 yards). His finishes in the standings each week seem to be derailed by one bad round. I believe he will put together four solid days and really push the top of the leaderboard this time around.

Total Units Played: 6.5