This week the PGA Tour heads north of the border for the RBC Canadian Open, the third longest national open that is contested behind the British Open and U.S. Open. The event tees off Thursday from Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
The Canadians are not adverse to making the pros earn their money. Sean O'Hair captured the title last year with a winning score of only 4-under par, and he needed a playoff to secure wthe win over Kris Banks.
This year's event features a very strong field. Britiish Open champ Ernie Els is scheduled to compete, but said in his Claret Jug acceptance speech that he might "blow the thing off." Els will probably show up, but likely at the eleventh hour, and is defintely a player who's mind could be elsewhere.
You should always consider Canadian players in this event. Mike Weir's best days are far behind him but Graham DeLaet and Stephen Ames are capable of making some noise. U.S. Open champ Webb Simpson skipped the British Open but is scheduled to appear in Hamilton.
There are some middle-tier players that could seize the opprtunity this week at a decent price. Players like Robert Garrigus and Bo Van Pelt could be contenders, and Jim Furyk has won this event in the past with consecutive titles in 2006-07.
A sneaky long shot is Matt Every, who was a runnerup at the Texas Open and finished sixth at the Memorial. Every has only played once in the last two months, but has serious talent that makes him a legitimate win candidate in the the Canadian Open.
Listed below are the odds to win this week's PGA Tour stop, the RBC Canadian Open. Numbers listed current as of noon (ET) on Tuesday, July 24:
Matt Kuchar 11/1
Hunter Mahan 14/1
Jim Furyk 16/1
Brandt Snedeker 22/1
Ernie Els 25/1
Charl Schwartzel 25/1
Ryan Palmer 28/1
Bo Van Pelt 33/1
Jeff Overton 33/1
Sean O'Hair 33/1
Bud Cauley 40/1
Kyle Stanley 40/1
Robert Garrigus 40/1
Seung-yul Noh 40/1
Brendon De Jonge 50/1
Charlie Wi 50/1
Kevin Na 50/1
Retief Goosen 50/1
Rory Sabbatini 50/1
Scott Piercy 50/1
Tim Clark 50/1
Vijay Singh 50/1
Ben Curtis 66/1
Charley Hoffman 66/1
Graham Delaet 66/1
Harris English 66/1
J.B. Holmes 66/1
John Huh 66/1
Spencer Levin 66/1
Blake Adams 80/1
Brian Davis 80/1
Brian Harman 80/1
Cameron Tringale 80/1
Chris Kirk 80/1
David Hearn 80/1
Ken Duke 80/1
Kevin Streelman 80/1
Matt Every 80/1
Roberto Castro 80/1
Chad Campbell 100/1
Chez Reavie 100/1
Daniel Summerhays 100/1
J.J. Henry 100/1
Jhonattan Vegas 100/1
Jimmy Walker 100/1
Kevin Chappell 100/1
Ricky Barnes 100/1
Ryo Ishikawa 100/1
Scott Brown 100/1
Scott Stallings 100/1
Ted Potter 100/1
Tommy Gainey 100/1
Trevor Immelman 100/1
Troy Matteson 100/1
Will Claxton 100/1
Billy Hurley 125/1
Brian Gay 125/1
Camilo Villegas 125/1
Chris Couch 125/1
D-A Points 125/1
George Mcneill 125/1
Greg Owen 125/1
Heath Slocum 125/1
Kevin Stadler 125/1
Robert Allenby 125/1
Stuart Appleby 125/1
Garth Mulroy 150/1
Gary Christian 150/1
J.J Killeen 150/1
Jeff Maggert 150/1
John Daly 150/1
John Mallinger 150/1
Josh Teater 150/1
Martin Flores 150/1
Tom Gillis 150/1
William McGirt 150/1