PGA tour - RBC Canadian Open July 26th – 29th 2012

[The rabbit]

The PGA tour moves to Ontario for the RBC Canadian Open which takes place at a different venue than last year when Sean O'Hair won. The Hamilton Golf and Country Club at Ancaster hosts this tournament this year and it is a par 70 course of about 7000 yards with two par 5's and has tree lined fairways. Thunderstorms are possible for the first three days but sunday should be fine.

Open Champion Ernie Els is presently on the list of competitors set to play in this event along with Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson and Hunter Mahan.

Selections etc to follow but I do not fancy the chances of many in this.

Good luck as usual

Pete

[drobgod]

Noticed Ernie said in an interview that he was going to delay his trip to Canada so that he could go to London and meet up with family to celebrate his Open victory. He was talking about getting to Canada as late as Wednesday so could be one to oppose in match bets.

[brewster39]

Spencer LEVIN (80/1)

I'm not sure the likes of Kooch, Mahan and Furyk are much value at the top of the betting so going to find some nicer priced alternatives. This brings me onto my first selection, Spencer Levin. Yet to break his duck after a few years at this level, but plenty of near misses I'm hoping he can come close here. A good, solid sort with plenty of potential and scope to improve. 15/22 cuts made this year, very respectable, A week off last week would have helped him, and the previous week a decent effort in the John Deere, finishing 36th, could definately find a bit more here. 80/1 a good bet, for a good little player.

Cameron TRINGALE (100/1)

Tringale is a handy youngster. If he can find his A-game here he's got every chance with this field where I don't think there's any real A-listers to take the game to anyone else, so it's fairly open. yet another one of those players who often finds 3 good roudns but the other round will let him down, and that's probably why he hasn't won on the tour yet, but loads and loads of top ten finishes will keep him interested. He's already had four of these this year, and like the other two players im backing, 15/19 cuts this year means I'm likely to get a run for my monies. Got a sharp short game and that's what gives him so many birdie opportunities, which he often converts. Think 100/1 is good value.

Harris ENGLISH (100/1)

Young Harris English has enjoyed his first year on the PGA tour this year, playing 20 events, and making 16 cuts - a decent effort! A couple of top tens as well will have done wonders for his confidence. Hard to tell when he's going to get his first win, but I think it's just a matter of time for a player who could be onto big things in the coming years. He's a long player with the driver, hitting close to 300 consistently, with a 60% fairway hit rate. I will mention again that I think there's a lot of value in the longer priced sorts in the field this week, with tough weather conditions especially. 100s, dabbling price.



My selections, backed e/w singles + e/w doubles on european tour

Good luck all


_________________
brewsty39

[The rabbit]

Webb Simpson is now not playing in this and Jonathan Byrd has also withdrawn.

Going with these three and hope I have more luck this week than I did with Adam Scott in the Open

Hunter Mahan ( 16/1 ) finished jt 19th at the Open last week which was a bit disappointing but it could be that he does not like Links Golf as his record in that Major is not that good. He could do better in Canada this week where accuracy looks very likely to be important and he is capable of playing very good golf from tee to green ( 9th in driving accuracy and 3rd in greens in regulation on PGA tour so far in 2012 ).This course of about 7000 yards will suit him and he has already won two PGA tournaments in 2012 ( Accenture Match Play Championship and the Shell Houston Open ) so has been in good form this year and he was jt 8th in the event before the Open.

Tim Clark ( 66/1 ) has won one tournament on the PGA tour which was the Players Championship in 2010 but he has also finished runner up many times. He did not play much golf last year due to injury problems with his right elbow which required surgery. It has taken him a while to find his form this season but his jt 4th recently at the Travelers Championship was his best effort of the year so far. He missed the cut at the Open last week but that course is not his type and he could do much better on the short Canadian course this week. His accuracy off the tee has been good this season and if he can find his best form with the putter then he could produce a good performance.

John Mallinger ( 175/1 ) is a Californian who lives at Long Beach and has yet to win on the PGA tour but has twice come close and his most recent good performance was earlier this season at the Humana Challenge when he finished jt 2nd after looking the likely winner at one stage during the final round. He missed the cut in his most recent PGA event but his jt 11th at the difficult AT&T National was a decent effort. The course at this tournament should suit his style of play as I think he is best on par 70 course which are shorter than average. His accuracy off the tee is good and I remember him playing well previously in this event on a different course back in 2007. He can be a bit unpredictable but will probably win or come close again sometime in the future and hopefully it will be this week so he looks worth an e/way bet in my opinion.

Good luck everybody

Pete

[KangaMick]

Hunter Mahan 14/1



The World No.13 is having the season of his life. He has recorded two wins this year already in the WGC Match Play Championship and Shell Houston Open. Add to that high finishes such as:

T6th Farmers Insurance-January
T12th Masters Tournament-April
T11th Travelers Championship-June
T8th AT&T National-July
T19th Open Championship-July

His stats are second to none and are perfect for this course.

9th in driving accuracy
3rd in GIR
1st in ball striking
9th in par 4 performance
3rd in GIR from other than fairway.

With his current form and the lack of a strong field this week Hunter should be claiming his third Victory of the season. At the current odds of 14/1 he is the best eachway bet so far this season. Come Sunday we should all have a big smile on our face.



Roberto Castro 80/1



If you are after a good long shot this week look no further than Roberto Castro. Last season he played all his golf on the web.com tour however he played in the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament and finished a respectable T13th.

This year on the PGA Tour he has had 18 starts and made the cut in 14 of those starts. That is some pretty good golf from the tour rookie.

Notable finishes include:

T14th Puerto Rico Open-March
T19th Crowne Plaza Invitational-May
T7th The Greenbrier Classic-July
T18th True South Classic-July

What really made Roberto stand out was his finishes in the Crowne Plaza and Greenbrier. These two courses are considered short tracks much like the Hamilton course.

His last two starts have been Top 20 finishes so he is also in good current form.

Stats wise his game should suit the Hamilton course well.

34th in driving accuracy
15th in GIR
10th in total driving
19th in all round ranking
9th in ball striking

At the available odds of 80/1 we should get a great run for our money on an Each Way basis.
_________________
Living the Dream!

[drobgod]

Hamilton Golf Course is expected to favour straight drivers that can hit accurate irons into small greens so I've gone for the following players in the hope it will suit their game:-

Brendon de Jonge – Currently ranked 74th for Driving Accuracy and 7th for Greens In Regulation De Jonge looks to have the perfect game to contend in this weeks Canadian Open. In five of his last eleven events he's finished inside the top twenty and made all eleven cuts, so he's clearly a consistent player.

De Jonge recently held the lead in the AT & T National after 54 holes but a final round 77 saw him fall away and finish in 11th place. Hopefully he'll be over that now and give me a run for my money. Although not on this course he did finish 13th in the 2010 Canadian Open. Ladbrokes offer of 66/1 looks fairly generous.


Ben Curtis – Although currently out of form I'm going to have to take a chance on Curtis this week as the course looks perfectly set up for him. Currently ranked 4th for Driving Accuracy and 11th for Greens In Regulation I'm just hoping he can rediscover the form shown earlier in the year.

Another plus for Curtis and further proof that the course should suit is his 20th place finish here in 2006 when Hamilton Golf Course last hosted the Canadian Open. Bet 365 have him at 70/1 and again this looks a decent each-way price.


Blake Adams – I've said on the forum before that I'm sure Blake Adams has a win in him and I think tighter courses suit him better than the ones set up for winning scores of twenty under or better. This season he's finished 12th in the Players Championship, where he ranked 8th for Driving Accuracy and 21st in the US Open.

Although on a different track he did finish 24th in the 2010 Canadian Open and I'm prepared to forgive last weeks missed cut on a course where the winning score was 24 under par. Odds of 100/1 are again very generous.


John Mallinger – Totally agree with 'The Rabbit' about Mallinger. He's ranked 18th for Driving Accuracy and 66th for Greens In Regulation so should be suited to the demands of this course. A 7th place finish in this event in 2007, although on another course is a positive and his odds are far too big at 175/1.

[drobgod]

Think Brendon de Jonge has pulled out

[robert611]

John Mallinger 175/1 Each Way for me this week agreeing with a couple of previous posters cant really elaborate on whats already been said but i think he will play well fingers crossed

[dleiper]

Hello folks,
Well not feeling very adventurous this week and am going for some of the faves e/w- need a return!!

Jim furyk- has been threatening recently and won here in 2006

Hunter Mahan- Accurate enough player in good form

Brandt snedeker- played well at the open and if not too shell shocked could be the winner here

Ryan Palmer- Has put in some good performances lately and I think this course might suit him

Finally going for a small e/w on Trevor Immleman- hasn't had a very good season so far and needs something to happen for him - maybe it can at a venue where he was T5th in 2006

Good luck all,
Dave

[rockon]

hi all

CURTIS 70-1.

wanted to leave him alone for a bit as may well have had his best patch a few weeks back, but this course just seems to suit. accurate off the tee....good strong putter, strong par 4 perf.....just a question mark over his form.

have added MAHAN 15-1 and HUH 74-1. both accurate players with possibly good chances. MAHAN should go very close.

have decided to give Betfair a go this week. 1st effort and have gone with small stakes and bigger odds as not too confident what im doing (any tips/advice welcome) selected CASTRO 110-1, SUMMERHAYS 95-1, CLAXTON 130-1, HORSCHEL 160-1 and MALLINGER 330-1 (thanks to rabbit, robert611 n drobgod for tipping him up) might have a go at a couple more too.

noticed MALLINGER has already been cut to 170-1 and a Lay bet of 210-1 so already a bit of potential there?

good luck all

J

[jimmywomble]

Hi all

The PGA Tour heads north with a rare trip out of the US to Canada for the Canadian Open, which this year will be from the Hamilton GC. Hamilton has hosted 4 times in the past with winning in 06, in 03 and Tommy Armour I in 1930, the later not to be confused with Tommy Armour III who is his grandson. 1919 was the 4th year it hosted. Winner at the Shaughnessy GC last year was Sean O’Hair.

There is a couple of years of course form and only 1 player has two decent results from 2003 & 2006 and that’s Tom Pernice Jr who was 3rd in 2003 & 14th in 2006. However his current form is very poor as I highlighted last week when he again missed the cut making it 12 missed from 16 this season, and no better than 43rd back in Jan. Was in the final group for the last round at the US Senior Open a couple of weeks back before fading to 15th. But with the course about 7,000yds he may have a small shout.

One thing I do note from looking at the past results here is the number of experienced players at the top of the leaderboard. 5 of the top 10 in 2003 are now on the Champions Tour including the top 3, plus Vijay Singh is nearly there, plus 2 Tommy Armour III & Jay Don Blake were also just outside the top 10. Just 1 of the top 10 in 06 are now on the Champions Tour but 3 more of the top 20 are. Obviously these players weren’t 50+ at the time but they were into their 40’s and it shows that someone who works their way around the course rather than a crash bang walloper will do well here.

The winner in 06 was Jim Furyk and he fits into the category of someone who works his way around the course. 34th last week at the Open and 4 weeks ago at the AT&T National, missing the cut at the Greenbrier. That poor run followed 9 top 26 finishes in a row, which included 2 top ten’s at similarly short courses.

One of just 4 players in the field to make the cut in both previous years here is Hunter Mahan. He was 42nd in 03 & 60th in 06. Obviously has improved since then and is having a great year with a couple of big wins. He was 19th last week, and 8th at the AT&T his only top 10 since his win in Houston, 11th at the Travelers as well, so 3 top 20’s in his last 3 events is solid form.

Final thought is the winner from last year Sean O’Hair who was also 3rd behind Furyk in 06 when the event was last here. Missed the cut in his last event the John Deere, but was on an improving run before that with 67th, 22nd & then 7th at the Greenbrier. Had missed 4 of the previous 5 cuts before coming here & winning last year.

I think really it’s a two horse race in terms of who I pick, Mahan or Furyk, as I not always keen on repeat winners I’ll go with the top ball striker on tour Hunter Mahan.

Cheers

Jimmy
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[chappy]

just had a bet in running on Troy Matteson @25-1 with corals,in decent form after second and top 40 in the open and can shoot low after already having a 61 this season,lots of players up there who have a chance but not many with the experience of winning or competing on sunday so gone for Troy with that 2nd at the John Deere to stand him in good stead