Canadian Open 2018

OAKVILLE, Ont. – The last few years at Glen Abbey, it seems like Dustin Johnson has done everything but win.

And this year, the No. 1 player in the FedExCup is more driven than ever to get over the hump after a missed cut at The Open Championship last week.

“I miss cuts, but it bothered me because it’s a major and I wanted to play well, but it’s golf. It’s very frustrating and that’s one reason why I love it, but I also hate it sometimes too,” he said with a smile. “It definitely motivated me to play well this week for sure.”

Johnson, who has won twice already this year, has finished runner-up at Glen Abbey in 2013 and 2016. He finished tied for eighth a year ago and his scoring average is 68.75. He feasts on the par fives at Glen Abbey and hasn’t ever finished outside the top-6 in par-5 scoring.

“I can reach the par-5s which is definitely a help, but I enjoy playing here. It’s a fun golf course and it’s always in good shape,” said Johnson, who is playing the Canadian Open as an RBC ambassador for the first time.

Johnson is one of the fan favorites this week given the family connection to Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player of all time, who was born and raised just minutes from Glen Abbey.

But Johnson says as his own family grows, what’s happening at home is further inspiring to him.

“It definitely puts things into perspective. Kids… that’s everything now,” said Johnson, who is building a new house in Florida that will have his own gym. It will save him time from driving back and forth from his current gym, which means more time with his kids.

“Time is precious. Before golf was most important. Now it’s family and whatever they need is what happens. I go to the back burner now, which is fine. I love it. It’s incredible to have kids. Everything changes but in a good way.”

Johnson said he’s continuing to work on his game from 100 yards and in (although he is currently first on TOUR in both Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and Strokes Gained: Total, he’s 10th in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green), but said the reason for him to get where he is – world No. 1 – is all thanks to the shortest clubs in his bag.

“My wedges have gotten a lot better,” said Johnson. “It’s one area of the game you can get really, really good because it’s a short club and it’s easier to control. If I could be really good with those, then I’m going to play well most of the time.” 
Dustin Johnson will try to bounce back from a dismal performance at last weekend’s Open Championship over in Scotland when he tees off on Thursday as a strong +650 favourite on the 2018 RBC Canadian Open odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Johnson saw a run of three straight Top 10 finishes halted last weekend in Scotland, where he failed to make the cut for the third time in his past seven major tournament appearances. However, he remains atop the Official World Golf Ranking going into the 108th edition of the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ont.

The 34-year-old headlines a strong field that includes two-time defending U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, who sits second to Johnson on the Canadian Open odds at +1100, as well as two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, and Sergio Garcia, who earned his first green jacket at Augusta in 2017.

A pair of rising stars then round out the top of the odds, with Tommy Fleetwood joining Tony Finau at +1600. Fleetwood followed up a second-place performance at the U.S. Open as a +4000 bet with a 12th-place finish at the Open Championship, but has yet to earn a victory this season. Finau finished one stroke ahead of Fleetwood at Carnoustie as a +10000 wager,  and shot four sub-70 rounds to record a fifth-place finish at last year’s Canadian Open.

Watson is pegged at +2000 on the golf odds, ahead of Garcia, who joins Charley Hoffman and Matt Kuchar at +2500. It has been a roller coaster campaign for Watson. The 39-year-old has tallied three wins on the PGA Tour this year, including a victory at the Travelers Championship on +2800 odds, but missed the cut both last weekend in Scotland and last month at the U.S. Open.

Garcia started the season strong, posting Top 10 finishes in three of his first four outings, but has struggled horribly since, missing the cut in six of his past seven appearances, including all three of this year’s majors.

While Garcia looks to rediscover his game, Jhonattan Vegas aims to make history as the first golfer to win three straight Canadian Open titles while sporting lengthy +6600 odds. Vegas has also endured a tough season, recording just one Top 10 finish in 21 tour appearances, but has shot 67 or better in four of his past eight rounds at Glen Abbey.

Adam Hadwin is pegged as the top Canadian on the odds to win the Canadian Open, sitting alongside Vegas at +6600, well ahead of Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Connors, and David Hearn at +15000, while 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir lags at a distant +50000.