Look, predicting a pre-tournament Sportsbook in golf isn’t easy. While it’s true sports bettors can find fantastic value, it’s incredibly frustrating when one of your picks doesn’t even make the cut. That’s why I’m here to help.
Every week I’ll highlight three golfers who have a good chance to win the hardware for the upcoming weekend. This week it’s the RBC Canadian Open.
For a full breakdown of the tournament, check out my betting preview.
My favorite pick: Charley Hoffman +2200
Hoffman has always been a streaky player, and when he’s on a heater, he’s an incredibly intriguing pre-tournament bet. That time is right now. The 41-year-old hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down and enters the RBC Canadian Open with four straight starts inside the top 20.
Hoffman has some unfinished business at Glen Abbey, as he came up short in a playoff to Jhonattan Vegas here a year ago. With showings of T-16, T-7 and the runner-up finish in 2017, he’s no stranger to contending north of the border, and I think he has a good chance to pick up a win in Ontario this time around.
Solid value: Ian Poulter +4000
Poulter is far from a fan favorite, but there’s no denying the Englishman’s resurgence after he almost lost his Tour card last season. Poulter collected a solo third in his debut at Glen Abbey last year and looks like a likely candidate to place high on the leaderboard on Sunday.
Poulter paced the field in par-4 scoring while ranking T-10 in greens in regulation at the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. He’s been in striking distance of notching another victory, evidenced by his nine top-25s in his last 12 starts worldwide. He’s worth a shot at the +4000 price.
My favorite sleeper pick: Austin Connelly +25000
It’s been 64 years since a Canadian won this tournament, and there’s no shortage of pressure on the 21 Canucks in the field to end that drought this week. While Adam Hadwin is unquestionably the most talented of the bunch, Connelly is offering some serious value at +25000.
The 21-year-old, who was born in Texas but has dual citizenship and plays under the Canadian flag, raised eyebrows across the world a year ago when he recorded a T-14 at the British Open. Connelly had a successful venture into the European Tour in 2017 and has managed three top-20s in his past 11 events. A flier on him at +25000 looks like a great choice.
