Canadian Open predictions: Expect McIlroy to lay down a marker
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- The Canadian Open will be played at a new venue this year, the North Course at TPC Toronto
- This is a 7,389-yard par-70 layout, which has just two par-fives, the first and the 18th
- Recommended bets:
- Rory McIlroy to win
- Taylor Pendrith to win and each-way
- Matti Schmid to win and each-way
There is just one week to go before the third Major of the year, the US Open at Oakmont, and while many of the game’s leading lights will be swerving the Canadian Open this week, Rory McIlroy will be hot favourite to continue his excellent record in the event.
This year’s gathering will take place at TPC Toronto for the first time and a strong home contingent will be led by Corey Conners, while Robert MacIntyre will hope for a successful defence of the title he won at Hamilton Golf & Country Club last year.
McIlroy set to make a statement
Rory McIlroy truly joined the greats of golf when he became the sixth player to complete the career grand Slam of Majors at Augusta in April, but since then all the talk has been about world number one Scottie Scheffler.
The Texan will not be in Toronto for the Canadian Open this week as he enjoys a well-earned rest following three victories in his last four tournaments, which has been a near perfect preparation for next week’s US Open at Oakmont.
McIlroy sat out the latest of those successes at last week’s Memorial Tournament, but he will be anxious to demonstrate he is still around and should be geared to improve his already impressive Canadian Open record.
The Northern Irishman has form figures of 1-1-9-4 in this tournament and this week’s venue should be right up his street with the wide fairways allowing him to make the most of his driving prowess.
A break after a disappointing 47th at his beloved Quail Hollow in the US PGA Championship should have done him the world of good.
Course familiarity points to Pendrith
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Nick Taylor became the first home-grown player to win the Canadian Open since 1954 two years ago and Taylor Pendrith, who has played TPC Toronto many times as he hails from nearby Richmond Hill, can lead the charge this week.
But it is not just his proximity to the track that provides reason for support as he has been in decent form lately.
His fifth at the PGA Championship was his fourth top-10 result of the year and he followed that with 12th at last week’s gathering in Muirfield Village.
He knows what it is like to finish at the head of affairs on the PGA Tour, having won last year’s CJ Cup and another strong performance looks likely.
Schmid can continue strong progress
Those looking for a player a little further down the list who could go well are pointed towards German hopeful Matti Schmid.
His two missed cuts at the Canadian Open came on different courses and while he also had the weekend off at the Memorial, his recent results have been encouraging, especially in the lower-grade events.
He was ninth at the Corales Puntacana, seventh at Myrtle beach and then second a shot behind Ben Griffin at last month’s Charles Schwab Challenge, so he is definitely making progress and looks a strong outsider.
