Golf tips, free bets and odds for the RBC Canadian Open and the US Women’s Open

Rory McIlroy has to share top billing this week – not with Scottie Scheffler, but with an even more dominant world No 1 in Nelly Korda.

While McIlroy bids for a third win in the last four stagings of the Canadian Open, Korda will be looking for a seventh win in her last eight starts at the US Women’s Open.

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Korda’s astonishing recent run includes a victory at the first women’s Major, the Chevron, and there is already talk of her winning all five on the LPGA schedule, for a Nelly Slam. 

McIlroy has his sights set a lot lower. He just wants to regain the winning feeling after his back-to-back victories going into the USPGA raised false hopes of a first Major triumph in ten years.

Despite only finishing 12th at Valhalla, McIlroy is a red hot favourite at 4-1 in Canada – the same price as Korda is for the US Women’s. There will be plenty of punters tempted to have a small wager on a potential 24-1 double.

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Golf tips

Despite Korda’s incredible run of form, McIlroy probably has more going for him this week.

The Canadian Open changes its venue most years, and this time it returns to Hamilton in Ontario. That is where Rory romped to a seven shot victory five years ago.

After two blank years of Covid he successfully defended the title at St George’s, near Toronto, in 2022, and was ninth at nearby Oakdale last year. 

But Hamlton clearly suits him best. He set a new tournament low by taking just 258 shots to win there in 2019 – finishing 22 under par.

Korda looks like she could win anywhere at the moment. But Lancaster Golf Club in Pennsylvania would not be her first choice. 

If she has one weakness it is a tendency to spray it a bit off the tee. And Lancaster’s tight fairways, ankle deep rough, and small greens will test her to the limit.

The player who triumphed when Korda did not win – shock, horror – is world No 5 Hannah Green. The Aussie is a generous looking 28-1 to repeat the feat this week.

Minjee Lee, who won this event in 2022, has been a bit inconsistent recently. But a 33-1 quote for her in a format that plays to her strengths is also pretty appealing.

Lydia Ko cannot compete with the likes of Korda and Green in the power stakes, but her impeccable short game makes 50-1 appear tempting. 

And at the same odds, gritty scrapper Carlota Ciganda also offers each way value, especially after finishing sixth at the Chevron. And there are plenty of decent priced alternatives to McIlroy too.

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The Canadian Open usually turns into a birdie feast. That should suit Sahith Theegala, who would break into the world’s top ten by striking the right notes at Hamliton.

Theegala is one of the best putters in the game, and he does everything else pretty well too. At 20-1 he looks great value.

Cameron Young IS going to win one of these days, and after raising expectations by going close in the Majors a few times he might prosper in a less glamorous event. So a top priced 28-1 could prove rewarding.

Shane Lowry was runner-up to McIlroy at Hamilton in 2019 and his sixth place at the USPGA was very encouraging. He also has to come into the reckoning at 25-1.

Taylor Pendrith was a disappointment last time he was highlighted here. But on home  soil, the Canadian may be worth another chase at around 50-1. He is another excellent putter, and tracks that offer plenty of birdie opportunities suit him.

Olympic bronze medallist C.T. Pan was third in this event last year. He looked like he was close to recapturing his best form with three good rounds in the Charles Schwab last week, and his 125-1 odds look fair.

Frenchman Victor Perez, who was close to a Ryder Cup debut in 2021, is looking more and more at home on the PGA Tour. So 175-1 is not to be sniffed at.

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