- Rory McIlroy aiming for third successive Canadian Open triumph
- Oakdale Golf & Country Club makes its debut as a Canadian Open venue

Recommended bets:
- Shane Lowry to win and each-way
- Justin Rose to win and each-way
- Eric Cole to win and each-way
- Michael Kim to win and each-way

With the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club just a week away, many of golf’s big names have given the Canadian Open a swerve, which should boost Rory McIlroy’s confidence as he looks for a third successive win in the tournament.

The four-time Major winner is unsurprisingly 5/1 with LiveScoreBet to do just that and get over the disappointment of last week at the Memorial, when he posted a closing 75 when well-positioned.

There is a strong European presence at the top of the market with Tyrrell Hatton available at 11/1 and US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick rated a 14/1 chance alongside Sam Burns and home hopeful Corey Conners.

Lowry primed for a strong challenge

Players are presented with a new course in this year’s Canadian Open but the tree-line test at Oakdale should suit former Open champion Shane Lowry, who can be backed at 20/1 with LiveScore Bet.

It has just been a case of knitting everything together for the Irishman in recent weeks and he has generally enjoyed his trips to Canada – he missed the cut on his first visit but has tournament form figures of 12-2-10 since.

Lowry has been a nearly man in recent weeks. He was 12th at the US PGA Championship after recovering from an opening 73 and he could have made a much stronger challenge at Memorial last week had it not been for a second-round 76 as he finished 16th.

The raw materials appear to be there and this looks a good chance for a morale boost on the eve of the third Major of the season.

Rose looking back to his best

It is 10 years since Justin Rose won his only Major to date, triumphing in the US Open at Merion and the Englishman is showing signs that his best years may not necessarily be behind him.

This quality ball-striker could go well this week, just as he did last year when he was fourth on his tournament debut at St George’s Golf & Country Club. He can be backed at 18/1 with LiveScore Bet.

Rose was ninth at the US PGA and followed that with a 12th last time out at the Charles Schwab Challenge, and he already knows what it is like to win on the PGA Tour in 2023, following his victory at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.

Cole and Kim look lively outsiders

Anyone who thought Eric Cole’s defeat in a play-off at the Honda Classic in February was a fluke will have been silenced by some good recent performances among decent company.

He was 15th at the US PGA Championship and 24th last week at Memorial in strong fields and the fact the rookie is playing at a course where few have experience should hold him in good stead. He is available at 66/1 with LiveScore Bet.

Michael Kim had completely lost his way before the 2018 John Deere Classic winner regained some confidence with some good results on the subsidiary Korn Ferry Tour last year.

He finished seventh at the Wells Fargo and sixth at the Charles Schwab in recent weeks so that should have done his confidence the world of good, so he could be of interest too at 66/1 with LiveScore Bet.