Here's everything you need to know about 2024 RBC Canadian Open first-round leader picks — including our expert's three FRL bets for this week's PGA Tour event in Ontario, Canada.
With the Charles Schwab Challenge in the rear-view mirror, we now look forward to this week's 2024 RBC Canadian Open, which Hamilton Golf and Country Club will host for the first time since 2019.
Hamilton is a par-70, 7,084-yard track designed by Harry Colt that underwent a renovation following. which was led by Martin Ebert and Tom Mackenzie, following the 2019 season.
Find my 2024 RBC Canadian Open first-round leader picks below.
2024 RBC Canadian Open First-Round Leader Picks (FRL)
Tommy Fleetwood +3500 (FanDuel | 0.15 Units)
Thursday Tee Time: 12:33 p.m. ET
Tommy Fleetwood is usually one of my favorite golfers to back in the FRL market.
For some reason, the guy just can't win on Tour. However, he is still undoubtedly one of the best golfers in the world and that naturally makes him one of the best golfers in this watered-down field.
Fleetwood enters this week in great form and has made the weekend in six consecutive tournaments. He also has three top-15 finishes over that stretch. That run includes a third-place finish at the Masters, and if he can compete against that field, he can surely compete against this one.
In the intro, I mentioned that Hamilton is a Colt design that was renovated by Ebert and Mackenzie. If that sounds familiar, it is because Ebert and Mackenzie also renovated Colt's Royal Liverpool prior to the 2023 Open Championship.
Fleetwood was tied for the lead after the first round of that tournament, which was, once again, amongst a much tougher field.
Cameron Young +4000 (bet365 | 0.15 Units)
Thursday Tee Time: 12:44 p.m. ET
Cameron Young tees off in the group immediately following Fleetwood. I also love backing Young in this market and feel he has the ability to turn into the next generation's Fleetwood.
It's still early in Young's career, so I'm not saying he won't win on Tour, but he has yet to do so despite flirting with winning on a consistent basis over the past three seasons. Therefore, I like him in the FRL market more than the outright market this week.
There's no denying Young's talent. He's great off the tee, on the approach and on the greens. His greenside play still needs some polishing, but he's such a good player that he's rarely forced to scramble.
So, at 40/1, I will take a shot on one of the better golfers in this field to lead after the first round.
Adam Scott +4500 (bet365 | 0.15 Units)
Thursday Tee Time: 7:29 a.m. ET
Adam Scott is my final FRL target this week. Scott is just a solid high-floor option.
He has made the weekend in nine of his 11 tournaments on Tour this season and has posted five top-20 finishes over that stretch. Scott has never played competitively at Hamilton, but has had great success on Colt designs.
Scott has played Royal Liverpool three times when competing for the Open Championship and made the weekend all three times, finishing eighth or higher twice. With experience on Colt tracks, strong recent form and a weak field, I like Scott to get off to a strong start Thursday.
Here's my full betting card for the RBC Canadian Open, and you can find more of my thoughts on this week's tournament on the Links + Locks Best Bets podcast:
- Rory McIlroy Outright Winner (+375 at bet365) – 0.35 Units
- Alex Noren Outright Winner (+2500 at bet365) – 0.35 Units
- Taylor Pendrith Outright Winner (+6600 at BetRivers) – 0.35 Units
- Robert Macintyre Top 10 (+750 at bet365) – 0.21 Units
- Ryan Fox Top 10 (+800 at bet365) – 0.21 Units
- Zach Johnson Top 20 (+550 at FanDuel) – 0.20 Units
- Tommy Fleetwood FRL (+3500 at FanDuel) – 0.15 Units
- Cameron Young FRL (+4000 at bet365) – 0.15 Units
- Adam Scott FRL (+4500 at bet365) – 0.15 Units
