Golf Report - RBC Canadian Open

Tee-off: 7/23/2009

The British Open is in everybody’s rearview mirror as the PGA returns to North America this week for the RBC Canadian Open.

Contested at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, the RBC Canadian, for a purse of $5,100,000, will give some of the also rans in the British Open a chance to regain some of their lost luster.

One of those also rans, Steve Marino, actually had a shot to win the British but failed to close the deal. He, along with Camilo Villegas and Anthony Kim, will try to make amends in the RBC Canadian Open.

Let’s take a look at a few of the contenders to win the RBC Canadian Open.

Golf: RBC Canadian Open To Win

1. Mike Weir +1600 - - His British Open was downright painful to watch…if you had watched on Friday. On Thursday, Weir shot a 67 and was actually in the top ten of The Open. He’s played on Glen Abbey many, many times as he is a Canadian and he understands how to score on the Par 3s. The hometown boy is the pick.

2. Steve Marino +3000 - - Marino had 23 birdies in this tournament last year. That’s incredible. If he had just played par golf instead of getting a few bogeys, he might have won. He finished 3rd last year, had two great rounds in the British, and should be a force in this.

3. Camilo Villegas +1400 - - Villegas usually turns it on this time of year but he faces an uphill battle at Glen Abbey as he has missed the cut and finished 53rd the only two times he’s played this course. He’s still a decent bet because he hits his greens in regulation almost 70% of the time.

4. Anthony Kim +1600 - - Kim did what was expected in the British Open, miss the cut. The difference between this tournament and last week is that until a final round 75 in this tournament last year, Kim was atop the leader board. He still finished 8th and could be a force again this year. He still needs to learn how to play smart because physically he’s amazing, but mentally? Yeah. That’s the issue.

5. Sean O’Hair +1800 - - It’s time for Sean to get back on the right track. He tied for 3rd at Glen Abbey last year and for that deserves to be mentioned in this top 6 but he hasn’t played well since his Quail Hollow victory. Still, if O’Hair gets his game going in the right direction the 18 to 1 makes him an overlay.

6. Retief Goosen +1400 - - He’s the hot choice to win this tournament among gamblers right now. There’s a reason for it. He was only two shots away from being in a playoff with Watson and Cink at The Open last week. That’s a sign that he’s at the top of his game right now.

Best Longshot

Scott Verplank +2800 - - Verplank has shot 27 rounds in the 60s this year with 11 coming at under 67. That’s impressive. He also has finished in the top 10 2 weeks in a row. He could surprise some in this.