STAR GOLF PREVIEW: Canadian Open with BLUE HORSESHOE

The PGA gets out its passport and takes flight to the land of ice hockey, comedians, and Neil Young this week, writes BLUE HORSESHOE.

My fellow countryman, Ryan Fox, won this event last year to notch his maiden PGA Tour victory. He’s back to defend his title, but he’ll have to up his game as his form has been a little ropey lately. To be fair to the big kiwi, he’s having to work his way back into form after an enforced stay in hospital due to a medical procedure.

Sam Burns looks the logical pick for those of you who like to live in the less exotic spaces than I inhabit. Burns has a great track record at the Canadian Open with two top-five finishes in the last two years. He also really should have at least been in the playoff at the Memorial last week, but Sammy tends to go for broke with his game, and once again he found himself having to scramble out of the long grass to save par late on Sunday, instead of maintaining a steady course and being in the reckoning coming up the eighteenth.

As ever, I’m on the hunt for monster returns for a modest outlay and I firmly believe I have uncovered them in my four selections this week. I have not been as confident of a good result as I am this week in a long time.

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Blue Horsehshoe Loves:

Lee Hodges – currently at ? with starsports.bet

Hodges flew out of the traps at the Charles Schwab Challenge a couple of weeks ago. He ended up as the first round leader and was right in the mix until a very shabby three over on Sunday put paid to his chances. This is Lee’s biggest problem; he has three decent rounds and one absolute shocker. But he is also a PGA Tour winner, and if he gets away well again and keeps his tail up, he has a ton of game. Hodges is any old money here, and I think he’s a big shout to win it, but maybe go top ten or each way just to be safe.

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Austin Eckroat – currently at ? with starsports.bet

I think Austin Eckroat is a guy who is continually undervalued by the market. He is a double PGA Tour winner, makes a ton of cuts, has a superb iron game, and has been trending really consistently this year. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Eckroat swoops in under the radar at a big number.

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Eric Cole – currently at ? with starsports.bet

Cole was only just denied his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Charles Schwab after losing in a playoff to Russell Henley. He backed that strong form up with another prominent performance at a very tough Memorial course last week. Jack Nicklaus makes it a real test at his home course and Cole was right in the fight until Sunday where he just couldn’t bridge the gap to the two runaway leaders, Poston and Gerard. He will find things far, far easier here as he looks at breaking that bridesmaid tag. He looks great each way value.

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Mac Meissner – currently at ? with starsports.bet

I really like the cut of this young man’s jib. He’s got a very reliable, repeatable swing and was also firmly in the hunt at the Charles Schwabb. He made the cut at the Memorial, which is an achievement in itself and his game looks to be trending in exactly the right direction. He looks a very solid each-way play.

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RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Lee Hodges 0.5pt each/way at 125/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Austin Eckroat 0.5pt each/way at 25/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Eric Cole 1pt each/way at 35/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Mac Meissner 1pt each/way at 50/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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(JUN 2026): PROFIT/LOSS: -10.14 points

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