PGA First Look: RBC Canadian Open

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The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

What a week at Royal Birkdale. I love every major, but that one was quite the show on Sunday with Jordan Spieth climbing the Alps to find his ball, only to take an unplayable and hit his next shot off the practice range. He miraculously made a bogey and followed it with one of the best four-hole stretches we will ever see in golf. With another collapse looming, he went birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie to take control of the championship.

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This week the PGA Tour heads to Ontario, Canada for the RBC Canadian Open. This may not have the same star-studded field as the Open Championship, but we still have some big names competing. Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, and Bubba Watson are a few of the notables teeing it up at Glen Abbey Golf Club. The course is a Par 72 that measures 7,253 yards. We haven’t had four par fives in play for a while, so scoring on these reachable holes will be critical. If you are looking at course history for the event, make sure to only look at 2016, 2015, and 2013 in the last five years. The event has rotated courses a few times throughout the years.

The greens here used to be poa annua, but they are now bentgrass. This is only the second year for this event with bentgrass greens, so we may want to weigh last year’s results a little more than the ones from 2015 and 2013. If you are looking to play the Canadian angle, you may want to hold your horses. A Canadian born golfer hasn’t won this event since 1954 and a number of the entrants this week have struggled here in the past.

Depending on the weather, this course can play easy and it can play difficult. The fairways are extremely tough to hit, but the rough isn’t all that penal. More important than hitting fairways is being on the right side of the hole, which is what we have to come to expect from a number of Jack Nicklaus-designed courses. We’ve seen a mix of short and long hitters compete here, so rather than focusing on distance or accuracy, just target the golfers that are gaining strokes off the tee, regardless of length. I will also be looking at strokes gained approach (always), birdie or better percentage, and greens (or fringe) in regulation.

Cut Rule:Top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the original cut.

Recent Winners of this Event: Jhonattan Vegas (2016), Jason Day (2015), Brandt Snedeker (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Strokes Gained Off the Tee
3) Birdie or Better %
4) Par 5 Scoring
5) Greens (or Fringe) in Regulation

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013, 2015, 2016)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds Cuts 2016 2015 2013
Dustin Johnson $12,200 $10,600 $19,400 1 7 0% 0% 0% 2/2 2 500 2
Matt Kuchar $11,400 $10,100 $18,200 12 11 0% 0% 0% 3/3 9 7 2
Charley Hoffman $10,300 $9,000 $16,400 38 23 0% 25% 0% 2/2 500 7 16
Tony Finau $9,500 $9,200 $16,200 64 27 0% -33% 0% 2/2 70 22 500
Bubba Watson $9,400 $8,300 $16,200 46 29 0% 29% -25% 2/2 500 2 21
Jim Furyk $9,100 $7,100 $15,500 89 41 -67% 44% -43% 3/3 13 4 9
Kevin Chappell $9,000 $6,900 $15,500 32 38 0% 67% 0% 1/2 500 135 68
Keegan Bradley $8,900 $7,500 $14,800 100 56 -113% -42% -6% 0/0 500 500 500
David Lingmerth $8,800 $7,400 $14,700 99 57 -100% -38% 0% 1/1 500 500 12
Ian Poulter $8,700 $7,400 $15,500 71 40 10% 31% -29% 0/0 500 500 500
Shane Lowry $8,600 $7,800 $14,800 79 55 -45% -60% 0% 0/0 500 500 500
J.B. Holmes $8,500 $8,600 $15,400 51 42 8% -120% 0% 1/1 500 79 500
Harris English $8,400 $7,000 $14,300 115 69 -123% -53% -7% 0/0 500 500 500
Graham DeLaet $8,300 $6,800 $14,900 110 48 7% 43% 7% 0/2 103 500 95
Ben Martin $8,200 $6,600 $14,900 187 50 0% 50% -7% 0/1 142 500 500
Patrick Cantlay $8,100 $7,200 $15,800 130 37 63% 63% 0% 0/0 500 500 500
Robby Shelton $8,100 $5,200 $14,200 493 73 -94% 63% 0% 0/0 500 500 500
Danny Lee $8,000 $8,400 $15,500 81 39 56% -33% -14% 1/1 32 500 500
Grayson Murray $8,000 $6,400 $14,500 87 63 -22% 39% -10% 0/0 500 500 500
Gary Woodland $7,900 $7,900 $14,300 47 66 -25% -178% 7% 1/1 500 500 61
Sung Kang $7,900 $6,900 $14,300 88 70 -50% -43% -11% 0/1 92 500 500
Nick Taylor $7,900 $5,900 $13,200 194 95 -100% 23% 13% 1/2 103 56 500
Hudson Swafford $7,800 $5,700 $13,400 93 94 -70% 34% -5% 2/2 14 72 500
Kelly Kraft $7,800 $6,100 $13,100 171 106 -122% -13% 4% 1/1 26 500 500
Kevin Tway $7,700 $6,700 $14,400 178 63 4% 8% -4% 0/0 500 500 500
Graeme McDowell $7,700 $7,300 $14,400 101 62 24% -27% 17% 1/3 124 127 74
Luke List $7,600 $6,000 $12,600 151 116 -119% -18% 12% 2/2 14 500 21
James Hahn $7,600 $6,500 $13,800 69 86 -30% -6% 0% 2/2 500 11 40
Anirban Lahiri $7,600 $6,500 $14,100 70 74 -19% 3% 0% 0/0 500 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $7,600 $6,100 $12,500 180 148 -163% -58% -3% 2/2 43 41 500
Chez Reavie $7,500 $6,600 $15,200 136 45 61% 60% 0% 3/3 14 41 31
Chad Campbell $7,500 $6,800 $15,000 161 48 55% 39% -8% 3/3 26 11 16
Scott Stallings $7,500 $6,200 $14,600 211 62 39% 56% 0% 0/2 81 500 106
Curtis Luck $7,500 $5,800 $13,100 294 108 -68% 5% 2% 0/0 500 500 500
Geoff Ogilvy $7,500 $5,500 $13,000 230 115 -84% 17% 0% 1/2 9 500 106
Cheng-Tsung Pan $7,500 $5,300 $12,400 169 157 -145% 4% -7% 0/0 500 500 500
Stewart Cink $7,400 $6,700 $13,400 173 86 0% -42% 0% 1/2 81 5 500
Adam Hadwin $7,400 $8,000 $14,400 55 67 27% -238% -17% 2/3 49 7 134
Ricky Barnes $7,400 $5,600 $13,900 265 85 8% 48% -3% 2/3 5 11 78
Smylie Kaufman $7,400 $6,100 $13,900 148 83 11% 27% 0% 0/0 500 500 500
Seung-Yul Noh $7,400 $5,900 $12,800 204 132 -76% -25% -7% 3/3 59 85 75
Sean O’Hair $7,300 $6,800 $12,800 75 119 -45% -165% 0% 0/2 81 103 500
Chris Kirk $7,300 $6,100 $13,400 134 96 -2% 4% -16% 2/2 14 500 21
Ryan Blaum $7,300 $5,900 $13,100 279 111 -29% -4% -2% 0/0 500 500 500
Jim Herman $7,300 $4,800 $11,900 92 188 -102% 21% 14% 1/3 131 22 95
Sebastian Munoz $7,300 $5,300 $11,400 283 253 -169% -43% 3% 0/0 500 500 500
Ollie Schniederjans $7,200 $7,000 $14,300 141 69 40% -47% -4% 1/1 500 22 500
Camilo Villegas $7,200 $5,800 $12,400 361 157 -64% -40% -8% 3/3 49 22 52
Jared du Toit $7,200 $5,200 $11,900 192 -85% -4% 12% 1/1 9 500 500
Johnny Ruiz $7,200 $4,500 $12,400 146 -49% 46% 1% 0/0 500 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $7,200 $5,700 $11,900 172 217 -121% -76% -5% 0/0 500 500 500
Andres Romero $7,100 $4,900 $13,300 177 104 8% 52% -9% 2/2 500 34 21
Boo Weekley $7,100 $5,300 $12,100 309 193 -71% -13% -5% 0/0 500 500 500
Joel Dahmen $7,100 $4,900 $11,800 426 227 -104% -5% 0% 0/0 500 500 500
Brian Stuard $7,100 $4,900 $11,900 174 225 -102% -4% -6% 2/3 92 22 75
Greg Chalmers $7,100 $4,700 $11,700 340 247 -113% 0% -2% 2/2 70 500 40
Daniel Summerhays $7,000 $6,700 $14,500 95 63 63% 19% -5% 1/3 103 11 78
Patrick Rodgers $7,000 $7,600 $14,500 129 63 61% -100% -10% 1/2 32 131 500
Jhonattan Vegas $7,000 $6,100 $12,700 78 118 -5% -33% 8% 2/2 1 48 500
Nick Watney $7,000 $6,600 $13,000 304 114 2% -87% 2% 1/1 500 34 500
Steve Wheatcroft $7,000 $4,800 $12,400 453 157 -32% 30% -6% 2/2 5 58 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $7,000 $5,300 $11,900 316 213 -79% -29% -3% 2/2 74 34 500
Jonathan Randolph $7,000 $5,300 $12,100 313 198 -67% -20% -12% 1/1 500 87 500
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano $7,000 $4,700 $10,900 671 350 -130% -18% 0% 0/0 500 500 500
Matt Every $7,000 $4,500 $11,100 929 313 -119% 4% 2% 1/2 500 92 28
Steven Alker $7,000 $4,500 $11,100 732 340 -126% 1% -2% 1/1 500 87 500
Ryan Palmer $6,900 $6,700 $13,400 119 98 34% -69% -19% 3/3 43 41 31
David Hearn $6,900 $6,500 $14,400 198 67 61% 21% -13% 2/3 103 3 44
Trey Mullinax $6,900 $6,400 $13,300 245 103 31% -28% -5% 0/0 500 500 500
Cameron Tringale $6,900 $5,700 $13,800 227 86 48% 41% 0% 2/2 14 500 44
Scott Piercy $6,900 $6,300 $12,900 72 126 6% -58% -7% 2/2 500 79 52
Brandon Hagy $6,900 $5,400 $12,800 293 132 3% 13% -7% 0/0 500 500 500
J.J. Spaun $6,900 $5,800 $12,100 146 200 -45% -76% -14% 1/1 500 41 500
Shawn Stefani $6,900 $5,500 $12,400 431 153 -10% -7% -4% 0/1 103 500 500
Spencer Levin $6,900 $5,200 $12,500 305 145 -3% 18% 0% 1/2 14 147 500
Hunter Mahan $6,900 $5,700 $12,300 751 173 -24% -41% -1% 1/2 103 63 500
Tim Wilkinson $6,900 $4,500 $11,200 390 280 -79% 8% 0% 1/2 103 22 500
Chad Collins $6,900 $4,800 $12,300 255 172 -22% 23% 0% 1/2 92 41 500
Hugo Bernard $6,900 $4,500 $10,600 553 -113% -10% -2% 0/1 151 500 500
Charlie Beljan $6,900 $4,500 $10,500 570 -115% -11% 0% 0/1 500 119 500
Mike Weir $6,900 $4,500 $10,400 833 -124% -15% 0% 1/2 136 500 49
Cameron Percy $6,800 $5,000 $13,400 323 103 44% 52% -24% 3/3 26 18 44
Morgan Hoffmann $6,800 $6,400 $13,200 164 100 45% -25% 2% 1/3 103 119 52
Cameron Smith $6,800 $6,300 $13,200 167 95 49% -5% 9% 0/1 136 500 500
Seamus Power $6,800 $6,400 $12,600 319 136 17% -89% -1% 0/0 500 500 500
Mackenzie Hughes $6,800 $6,200 $13,200 112 115 29% -35% -26% 0/1 500 500 134
Matt Jones $6,800 $5,800 $12,700 260 124 24% -13% 5% 0/1 500 108 500
Harold Varner $6,800 $5,700 $12,100 157 192 -6% -47% -2% 0/0 500 500 500
JT Poston $6,800 $5,500 $12,300 213 175 -2% -22% -2% 0/0 500 500 500
Rick Lamb $6,800 $5,000 $12,400 281 159 5% 19% -10% 0/0 500 500 500
Whee Kim $6,800 $5,600 $11,600 186 234 -30% -62% 4% 1/2 38 152 500
John Huh $6,800 $5,100 $11,900 244 217 -26% -13% -4% 0/3 103 135 125
Andres Gonzales $6,800 $4,500 $11,600 339 265 -43% 10% -4% 1/3 103 22 106
K.J. Choi $6,800 $5,100 $12,100 301 198 -16% -4% -12% 2/2 38 76 500
Mark Anderson $6,800 $4,700 $11,300 425 293 -48% -9% -2% 0/0 500 500 500
Ernie Els $6,800 $5,400 $11,700 408 248 -37% -49% -3% 2/3 65 103 21
Ryan Ruffels $6,800 $4,700 $11,200 442 293 -48% -9% -1% 1/1 500 87 500
Max Homa $6,800 $4,500 $10,600 707 471 -70% -7% 1% 0/1 500 108 500
William McGirt $6,700 $7,200 $13,400 57 91 62% -138% -3% 3/3 59 34 2
Jason Kokrak $6,700 $5,700 $13,400 102 95 59% 31% -11% 1/1 500 500 31
Retief Goosen $6,700 $5,400 $13,200 253 108 46% 29% -15% 1/1 500 76 500
Brian Gay $6,700 $5,200 $13,200 199 105 51% 42% -7% 1/1 500 500 73
Ben Crane $6,700 $6,000 $12,900 416 127 35% -28% -8% 2/2 9 48 500
J.J. Henry $6,700 $5,500 $12,400 423 168 18% -17% -14% 2/3 81 41 31
Troy Merritt $6,700 $5,000 $12,400 318 151 26% 24% -3% 1/2 32 92 500
Roberto Castro $6,700 $5,100 $12,000 135 205 -1% -10% -6% 3/3 65 48 6
D.A. Points $6,700 $4,900 $11,200 222 271 -19% -17% 2% 1/2 124 56 500
Brian Campbell $6,700 $5,000 $11,700 411 240 -11% -15% -1% 0/0 500 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $6,700 $4,600 $11,200 487 313 -26% -3% -4% 0/0 500 500 500
Ken Duke $6,700 $4,600 $10,800 471 413 -38% -13% -1% 1/2 49 103 500
Andrew Loupe $6,700 $4,600 $11,100 377 347 -31% -7% -2% 0/2 103 92 500
Wyndham Clark $6,700 $4,600 $11,000 333 -29% -6% 2% 0/0 500 500 500
Ryan Williams $6,700 $4,500 $10,800 1076 413 -37% -5% -1% 0/0 500 500 500
Sam Horsfield $6,700 $4,700 $10,700 443 -39% -24% 0% 0/0 500 500 500
Austin James $6,700 $4,500 $10,500 580 -46% -12% -1% 0/0 500 500 500
Matt Hill $6,700 $4,500 $10,500 650 -47% -12% -1% 0/0 500 500 500
Robert Garrigus $6,600 $4,900 $13,200 243 105 58% 51% -7% 0/3 92 108 95
Michael Kim $6,600 $5,700 $12,400 219 167 32% -34% -11% 1/1 49 500 500
Alex Cejka $6,600 $5,200 $13,100 216 113 53% 35% -4% 2/2 5 41 500
Rory Sabbatini $6,600 $5,200 $12,800 500 132 44% 23% -7% 2/3 142 11 12
Martin Flores $6,600 $4,800 $12,100 299 203 15% 7% -16% 1/2 500 63 106
Zac Blair $6,600 $5,500 $12,100 307 188 27% -23% 0% 1/2 124 70 500
Ryan Armour $6,600 $4,500 $11,600 509 255 3% 12% -2% 0/1 500 119 500
Peter Malnati $6,600 $5,500 $12,100 545 203 16% -42% -15% 0/1 131 500 500
Cody Gribble $6,600 $4,600 $11,500 263 263 1% 4% -1% 0/0 500 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,600 $4,900 $11,200 445 320 -9% -26% -6% 1/1 49 500 500
Brett Drewitt $6,600 $4,500 $11,200 640 310 -6% 5% -3% 0/0 500 500 500
Jason Bohn $6,600 $4,500 $10,700 556 480 -20% -8% -1% 1/1 500 500 2
Carl Pettersson $6,600 $4,700 $10,600 1083 490 -21% -27% -1% 0/1 148 500 500
Garrett Rank $6,600 $4,600 $10,500 650 -25% -21% -1% 1/2 77 148 500
Bryn Parry $6,600 $4,500 $10,500 733 -27% -15% -3% 0/1 500 500 148
Shane Bertsch $6,600 $4,500 $10,500 681 -26% -14% -3% 0/0 500 500 500
Daniel Kim $6,600 900 -29% 0/0 500 500 500
Scott Brown $6,500 $6,300 $12,400 150 148 47% -78% 0% 1/2 146 500 61
Blayne Barber $6,500 $4,700 $12,000 256 197 31% 16% 1% 2/2 63 91 500
Johnson Wagner $6,500 $5,400 $12,000 257 193 34% -19% 5% 2/3 43 18 125
Kyle Reifers $6,500 $5,100 $12,400 240 167 41% 13% -11% 0/3 81 103 106
Tag Ridings $6,500 $4,600 $12,000 472 195 31% 24% 2% 0/1 500 500 117
Richy Werenski $6,500 $4,700 $12,000 295 197 31% 16% 1% 0/0 500 500 500
Billy Hurley $6,500 $5,600 $11,800 140 235 19% -64% -2% 1/2 49 141 500
Ryan Brehm $6,500 $5,000 $11,400 306 257 14% -20% 1% 0/0 500 500 500
Julian Etulain $6,500 $5,100 $12,100 432 193 34% 2% -5% 0/0 500 500 500
Kramer Hickok $6,500 $4,600 $11,900 674 209 25% 17% -2% 0/0 500 500 500
Vijay Singh $6,500 $4,700 $11,400 284 273 11% -7% -3% 2/3 59 108 31
Mark Hubbard $6,500 $4,700 $11,800 653 237 19% 2% -3% 1/2 49 108 500
Brad Fritsch $6,500 $4,500 $10,800 537 400 0% -3% 1% 0/2 124 119 500
Bryce Molder $6,500 $5,200 $11,200 314 297 8% -46% -3% 0/1 103 500 500
Miguel Angel Carballo $6,500 $4,600 $10,900 631 400 0% -11% -2% 1/1 79 500 500
Ryo Ishikawa $6,500 $4,500 $10,900 176 380 1% -2% -1% 2/2 500 85 77
Bob Estes $6,500 $4,500 $10,900 393 1% -2% -2% 1/1 500 500 52
Bobby Wyatt $6,500 $4,500 $10,600 721 520 -6% -9% -1% 0/0 500 500 500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2012 – 2016 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on Twitter – @RG_Notorious