Canadian Open/ European Masters

Always hard to get too excited by the fare on offer after a major, this week is no different. I have backed the last 3 winners of the Canadian Open though, so I am fast developing a soft spot for it! As is also always the case a week after a big one, the first question to ask is should the Major stars be backed or ignored this week?

I have gone for a few that were there and a few that were not.

I cant have Jason Day at the prices this week. Yes he is a superb talent, but not a prolific winner yet, and squanders too many opportunities to be backing him at 9-1 before the event. He doesn't seem to have the greatest of constitutions, often withdrawing or MC when playing a few events on the trot. In fact he very rarely plays the week after a major, and I am very surprised he is playing here at all.

3 from near the head of the market that do interest me are Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar and Luke Donald.

I wouldn't really be of the opinion that this is a bombers paradise. Its short enough that anyone on there game can feel they can contend. Its a second shot and putting golf course. Snedeker missed a huge amount of fairways when successful here in 2013(landing a forum plunge!!). He hit some cracking irons and putted extremely well.

Furyk has won two Canadian Opens, albeit at different venues, but it is clearly an event he relishes and really should have took title number 3 last year. He failed to shut the door on a rallying Tim Clark, and his winless run was extended. He has got rid of that 'losers' tag this year though, so if in contention on Sunday, I would expect him to be more adept at closing it out.  The event he won was another RBC sponsored event, the week after the Masters. He will be hard to beat in my opinion.

Kuchar seems to have been slowly rediscovering his best, a second at the Scottish Open maybe a hint that a victory is imminent. Another who has find winning difficult of late, he will view this relatively weak field as a prime opportunity, and was second to Snedeker the last time it was held here.

Luke Donald is certainly on his way back. His putting is once again becoming a real asset now that he has regained his confidence in his long game. This course sets up really well for an in form Donald, and I will be very surprised if he isn't in the hunt come Sunday.

Tim Clark went off a well backed 50-1 shot in this event last year, and duly obliged. He is not in the same form this time around, and is a debutante here. But it is clearly an event he looks forward to, with good results ijn his last 3 outings, and this track should suit every bit as much as last year. 150 on here seems a bit of an insult.

Chez Reavie was victorious here in 2009, and though he hasn't done a whole lot since, he has started to show some form in the last couple of months. He led wire to wire that week, holding off an in form Anthony Kim(remember him!!), and may surprise a few this week.

One player who seems very overpriced is the in form Englishman Greg Owen. He has really blossomed of late, with two top tens in 3 events before going to St Andrews. A top 20 finish there among the worlds elite will have given him even further confidence. He may struggle to get over the line, but in the hope that fatigue will not be an issue, I think he will be right in the hunt on Sunday. 12th here in 2013 when a poor Sunday cost him a better finishing position, he has had enough 'heat of the battle' of late to give him the belief that he can get it done. 9-2 for top 20 also looks big.

William McGirt had last week off, and will have had this as his Major. Second in 2012 and 2013, he is in good enough form of late, to give him and backers hope that he can go close once again.

Sean O'Hair and Hunter Mahan just missed the cut.

2pts e.w Jim Furyk 16-1
1.5pts e.w Matt Kuchar 20-1
1.1pt e.w Luke Donald 28-1
.3pt e.w William McGirt 100-1
.4pt e.w Greg Owen 125-1
.3pt e.w Tim Clarke 125-1
.3pt e.w Chez Reavie 125-1

4pts Greg Owen Top 20 9-2

Will update P&L when have time next week.

Best of Luck all.

Catch Me ifyoucan  • July 24, 2015 9:43 PM BST 
Brooks Koepka
Sergio Garcia

May get one part of it right

Backed Day @ 4.7 last night , pars the par 5 when all and sundry are making birdies , hope he's not going to bottle it again this week...

Yes Pa,he says it out loud ,a good win for him today..

No , Watson a big danger now.

First five bets today all beat in photos , laid four horses yesterday they all won. Praying for a change of luck.

Don't be putting a big jinx on him now WR

Jammy fecker,i,d have took a play off myself for accounting reasons, a chip in is still on

Thanks huddys , give me a ring now l'll give you that horse now ..

Fair display from Day. The cream certainly rose to the top. Furyk was feeble enough on the back 9, though shaved a few edges and was unlucky with his second on 16.

Day a likeable sort.

Now for 7 days of serious punting!!