Canadian Open preview: Expect more fireworks up north

One of the oldest tournaments on the PGA TOUR is upon us as the circuit returns north of the border to Hamilton Golf and Country Club for the RBC Canadian Open.

Nick Taylor electrified the country last year with an insane 72-foot eagle putt in a playoff to become the first Canadian in 69 years to win the tournament. Prior to that, it was a lengthy four-year reign for Rory McIlroy with the 35-year-old winning on both sides of the two pandemic-enforced cancelations.

The Canadian Open has produced some of the most thrilling golf on the PGA TOUR over the past five years. While the field may lack the strength of next week’s signature event at the Memorial Tournament, don’t be shocked if more drama decides the winner this year about 45 minutes outside of Toronto.

How to watch

Canada

United States

Last year’s result

For all the off-course drama during Canadian Open week in recent years, the tournament has been absolute box office on the course. McIlroy’s recent success was very popular with the Canadian crowd, but nothing topped last year’s result at Oakdale.

Taylor offered one of the greatest moments in Canadian sports history with an outrageous 72-foot eagle in the playoff to defeat Tommy Fleetwood. The putt caused bedlam on the 18th green, with security tackling fellow Canadian golfer Adam Hadwin as he charged toward Taylor with champagne to celebrate.

Recent winners

2023: Nick Taylor (-17)
2022: Rory McIlroy (-19)
2021: Canceled due to COVID-19
2020: Canceled due to COVID-19
2019: Rory McIlroy (-22)
2018: Dustin Johnson (-23)
2017: Jhonattan Vegas (-21)
2016: Jhonattan Vegas (-12)

Featured groups (all times ET)

Group: Tom Kim, Daniel Berger, Adam Scott
Round 1 – 7:29 a.m. (No. 10 tee)
Round 2 – 12:44 p.m.

Group: Rory McIlroy, Taylor Pendrith, Nick Taylor
Round 1 – 7:40 a.m. (No. 10 tee)
Round 2 – 12:55 p.m.

Group: Sahith Theegala, Tommy Fleetwood, Corey Conners
Round 1 – 12:33 p.m.
Round 2 – 7:18 a.m. (No. 10 tee)

Group: Akshay Bhatia, Erik van Rooyen, Cameron Young
Round 1 – 12:44 p.m.
Round 2 – 7:29 a.m. (No. 10 tee)

Group: Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Shane Lowry
Round 1 – 12:55 p.m.
Round 2 – 7:40 a.m. (No. 10 tee)

Reasons to watch

Rory in Canada

For 51 weeks a year, McIlroy is a citizen of Northern Ireland, but the week the PGA TOUR heads north, he’s undoubtedly an adopted Canadian. He holds the unique distinction of winning back-to-back Canadian Opens (though it coming over a four-year stretch).

“If there was some honorary Canadian citizenship bestowed upon me I certainly wouldn’t turn it down,” McIlroy said with a laugh after winning in 2022. “The fans are amazing. They come out and they support this event really well. I think they just really appreciate the fact we come up here and play in your national championship.”

McIlroy will surely be the crowd favorite once again in Hamilton, where he flirted with a 59 in the final round before finishing with a 61 and a seven-shot win in 2019. He comes in on fine form with two wins in his last three starts on the PGA TOUR.

National Open status

While the tournament isn’t designated as a signature event on the PGA TOUR, the Canadian Open brings the extra punch of a national open to the calendar. Despite a tough date that comes before three straight signature events or majors, the home crowd always rises to the occasion to bring one of the more raucous atmospheres of the season. It also offers the potential for a national hero to arise as we saw last year with Taylor.

Canadian men’s golf has never been stronger than it is this time around at Hamilton as a record six players currently find themselves in the top 100 in the world rankings. There are 28 in the field looking to join Taylor and grab a slice of history this week.

Renovated Hamilton

McIlroy’s 22-under total from 2019 suggests a very player-friendly setup, but the fact he won by seven shots and nobody else got past 15-under challenges that narrative. The course has also changed drastically since the last time the PGA TOUR stopped by, with world-renowned architect Martin Ebert leading a restoration to return the layout closer to its original Harry Colt design.

The result is a much bigger challenge on the putting surfaces with numerous new options for testing pin positions. Added bunkering will come into play off the tee and tightly mown areas around the greens will confound even the world’s best players. There will still be plenty of scoring opportunities for those who find the fairway, but Hamilton should present a solid test for the field this week.

Betting odds

Rory McIlroy +375
Sahith Theegala +1,600
Tommy Fleetwood +1,600
Alex Noren +2,200
Corey Conners +2,200
Shane Lowry +2,200
Sam Burns +2,500
Cameron Young +2,500
Tom Kim +3,000
Maverick McNealy +3,300
Adam Scott +3,500
Mackenzie Hughes +3,500
Aaron Rai +4,000
Keith Mitchell +4,000
Akshay Bhatia +5,000
Adam Hadwin +5,500
Taylor Pendrith +5,500
Davis Thompson +6,000
Erik van Rooyen +6,000
Nick Taylor +6,000

Odds via theScore Bet