THE Jack Nicklaus-designed Glen Abbey Golf Course plays hosts to the Canadian Open for the 30th time this week.
This is the fifth time in six years the course has been the venue for the tournament. The back nine features the “Valley Holes”, tarting at the 11th with a tee shot to a fairway 60 feet below.
It then follows Sixteen Mile Creek for three holes before climbing out of the Valley to the 16th tee. Jhonattan Vegas returns to try and win this event for the third time in a row and be the first to complete a “three-peat” on the PGA Tour event since 2011.
The course seems to favour big hitters so I’ll be taking that into consideration along with GIR stats.
Course: Glen Abbey Golf Course, Oakville, Ontario, 7253 yards, par 72.
Charley Hoffman
One man who stands out for me this week is Hoffman. He has three top-10 finishes at Glen Abbey with last year finishing runner-up to Vegas in a play off.
He can be a bit of an up-and-down player but is on a run of four consecutive top 20s worldwide. He played well at Carnoustie last week if not spectacular, finishing T17.
A 73 on Sunday was his worst round but overall a good performance from the Californian. He was 10th in GIR and 21st in Putts per GIR at Carnoustie which count him in good stead with the soft conditions at the Glen Abbey course.
- Driving Distance: 297.7 yards (84th). GIR: 67.15% (88th).
Tony Finua
It’s hard to believe FInau has only won once on the Tour, the Puerto Rico Open in 2016. Seven top-10 finishes this season with three of them in the Majors shows good form.
He’s had a lot of followers this year but just hasn’t been able to get that second Tour win. His stats point to him to being a good fit for Glen Abbey and if there is a win in him this could be it.
- Driving Distance: 317.1 yards. GIR: 70.03% (23rd).
Joaquin Niemann
Following a T23 at the John Deere Classic, his sixth top 25 in nine starts, Niemann had last week off. As I said a couple of weeks ago Niemann is one to watch.
In his first year on Tour he has played 10 tournaments, missed the cut four times and four top-10 finishes. In his last 24 rounds he has hit 16 sub-70 rounds, with six under 65. Not bad going for the 19-year-old from Santiago.
- Driving Distance: 301.1 yards. GIR: 72.82%.
Recommended Bets
- 1.5pts ew Charley Hoffman (Betfred, 25-1) – Pays 7
- 1.5pts ew Tony Finau (Paddy Power, 16-1) – Pays 8
- 1.5pts ew Joaquin Niemann (Paddy Power, 28-1) – Pays 8
