|
If the conclusion of this year’s RBC Canadian Open comes anything close to last year’s we could be in for a treat this week. On that occasion, England’s Tommy Fleetwood looked set to end his win drought on the PGA Tour until a late error saw him fall into extra holes with the home hero Nick Taylor. The play-off was wonderfully tense until Taylor drained an enormous putt, prompting scene of wild excitement which even included the marvellous sight of a security guard taking down Taylor’s friend and fellow player Adam Hadwin when he attempted to join in the celebrations. This year the championship returns to Hamilton G&CC in Ancaster (the LPGA is in Lancaster this week), a parkland track that was designed by the great Harry Colt. It is tree-lined and plays only a touch over 7,000 yards to a par of 70. With narrow fairways, those trees beyond, some lush rough and small greens it demands accurate golf. Since the last time the PGA Tour was in town the club has had an extensive renovation, however. All the greens and bunkers have been updated and renovated, and there are new tees to add to the difficulty. The greens are now a little bigger than in 2019. But as is common with recent redesigns the core principle has been to return to the ideas of the original architect. Rory McIlroy won in 2019 with a dominant weekend performance that saw him card rounds of 64-61 to sweep the field by seven shots. Seven years before that Scott Piercy triumphed. Jim Furyk was the champion in 2006 and Bob Tway landed his final PGA Tour title in 2003.
Angles to consider 1/ Colt McIlroy had already won at Colt’s Wentworth while one runner-up, Shane Lowry, has an exceptional record on Colt courses and the other, Webb Simpson, has three times finished top three at Colt’s Sea Island. Furyk had little experience of Colt before his win but has since finished top three at Sea Island. Wentworth runner-up Trevor Immelman finished top five in 2006, Wentworth specialist Justin Rose was the 54 hole leader and Wentworth winner Danny Willett eighth in 2019. 2/ Hot putter The top five in 2019 all ranked top six for Strokes Gained Putting. Bear in mind the changes to the greens, however. 3/ Form Each of the top five in 2019 had finished top 30 in the PGA Championship on a parkland set up. Three of them finished top 10. This year’s PGA was also on parkland at Valhalla.
Selections The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected. Shane Lowry The Irishman is very good on Colt designs. He has 11 top 20 finishes at Wentworth, including victory in 2022. He won his Open at Royal Portrush and, of course, he warmed up for that effort with second here five years ago. He was sixth in the PGA, one of four top six finishes this year, and he had a hot putter for once (hopefully twice). Alex Noren The Swede is relentless at the moment. He’s recorded eight top 25 finishes on the bounce with T12th in the PGA Championship his latest effort. He’s also got three top three finishes since the end of last season. He has eight top 30 finishes in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth including three top eights, the best of which was victory in 2017. He’s also got three top 25s at Colt’s Sea Island and he was T11th in the Open at Royal Portrush. Mackenzie Hughes The Canadian’s record at Colt’s Sea Island is very boom or bust but the boom is very, very good with victory in 2016 and seconds in 2021 and 2023. He was also T14th at Hamilton in 2019. He missed the cut at Valhalla but he was sixth at Quail Hollow the week before. His putter has been on fire recently: second for SG Putting at Innisbrook and Quail Hollow, eighth at Harbour Town and TPC Craig Ranch.
Tips: 0-3; -6.00pts 1pt e.w. Shane Lowry at 25/1 (bet365 1/4 1,2,3,4,5) 33rd 1pt e.w. Alex Noren at 25/1 (bet365 1/4 1,2,3,4,5) mc 1pt e.w. Mackenzie Hughes at 40/1 (Unibet, BetMGM, BetUK 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) 7th
|
