Glen Abbey Golf Club 11th hole © Peter Corden
Brandt Snedeker 14/1 © Keith Allison
Glen Abbey Golf Club, where the Canadian Open will be played for the 25th time is home to one of Canada’s most famous courses. Located just west of Toronto it is also the home of the Royal Canadian Golf Association and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
The course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened for play in 1976. The course is heavily forested parkland track measuring 7,112 yards off the Black championship tees. The fairways are receptive but the greens are undulating and protected by steep bunkers.
Distinguishing features of the Glen Abbey course are the “Valley Holes” from the 11th to the 15th. On the 11th hole the players tee off a cliff to a fairway that is approximately 60 feet below on the valley floor. The 2nd shot must clear Sixteen Mile Creek to reach the green. The 15th is a short par 3 with a sharply sloping green.
Graham DeLaet 28/1© Keith Allison
My tips to win:
These are quite good odds on Brandt Snedeker 14/1 and when you add in the fact he was fifth the last time the Canadian Open was held at Glen Abbey Golf Club and Brandt has certainly come a long way since 2009. It may seem that Snedeker didn’t have the greatest Open Championship but if you look closely at the numbers it was only day two that put him out of the championship.
Another Top 10 finish for Hunter Mahan 18/1 at last week’s Open Championship saw the Californian make it five Top 25 finishes from his last seven events. It seems all that is missing from Hunters CV this year is a win and I think he may get that here this week.
I hope Graham Delaet 28/1 has recovered from his bruising at the Open Championship and his final round 79. The Canadian Open is one of the oldest Open Championships in the world and it would be fitting if this Canadian golfer who up until I tipped him a few weeks ago was in great form! As I have stated many times before some players buckle under the pressure of playing in front of a home crowd – I am hoping that is not the case with Delaet.
Jerry Kelly 66/1 © Keith Allison
My each-way tips:
Chris Kirk 50/1 looks like he’s getting his game back on track and his second round 65 at last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship, on the way to a Top 10 finish, would add weight to that argument when add to his Top 25 finish at the previous week’s John Deere Classic. Chris has had eight Top 25 finishes this season and I don’t think it’s going to be long before he adds to his one PGA Tour victory.
Another player who was tied fifth with Brandt Snedeker back in 2009 was Jerry Kelly 66/1 who opened with a 65, which set him up nicely for the week. What he would give for that opening round score this year. But Jerry has been in great form this season and finished the John Deere Classic in forth place and I am sure he will be looking forward to teeing it up on a track he obviously enjoys playing.
My outside tip:
A player that has impressed me over the last couple of weeks has been Martin Flores 100/1. He has had a Top 5 and a Top 25 finish in his last four events. Martin is still yet to win on the PGA Tour but it looks like he has found something to work on that has given him a more consistent game.
For updated betting odds during the tournament go to planetgolfreview.com
