Rankings

RBC Canadian Open Power Rankings

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July 24, 2018

2018 RBC CANADIAN OPEN POWER RANKINGS

5. TOMMY FLEETWOOD

Tommy Fleetwood 2018 Open Championship, Round 4 — Tommy Fleetwood checks his yardage book on the third tee at Carnoustie Golf Club during the final round of the 2018 Open Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland. Credit: Francois Nel/Getty Images

England’s Fleetwood will be making his Canadian Open debut this week, and one has to wonder if a disappointing week at the Open Championship will negatively affect him at Glen Abbey.

Considered among the favorites coming into Carnoustie, Fleetwood surged into contention with a second-round 65, but 71-73 weekend, at a venue where he holds the course record, dropped him into a tie for 12th. To add further insult, the performance also dropped Fleetwood out of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

The 27-year-old’s next attempt at major championship victory No. 1 will have to wait a month, but in the meantime, his elite iron game (he led The Open field in greens in regulation) should allow him to thrive in Canada, if he is focused on the task at hand.

Odds: 16-1
World Rank: 11th
2017 RBC Canadian Open: Debut
Last Seven: 12, MC, 59, 2, 23, 20, 7

4. BUBBA WATSON

Bubba Watson watches his tee shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the 2018 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Credit: Getty Images/Matt Sullivan

Well, Carnoustie was a bust for Bubba, as he missed the weekend after shooting 75-73, but given his awful history in The Open Championship, the result was neither unexpected or particularly concerning.

As the only three-time winner on Tour in 2018, Bubba has proven to be a great bet at any course where he has previously looked comfortable, and with a solo runner-up finish in 2015, where an unreal finishing stretch from Jason Day was the only thing to keep Watson out of the winner’s circle, Glen Abbey would appear to qualify.

Odds: 20-1
World Rank: 14th
2017 RBC Canadian Open: T42
Last Seven: MC, 13, 1, MC, 44, 57, 5

3. TONY FINAU

Tony Finau Open Championship Power Rankings — Tony Finau during Monday’s practice round at Carnoustie Golf Club in advance of the 147th Open Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland. Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Finau did not leave Carnoustie with the Claret Jug, but was relevant again, finishing T9 to become the only man on Tour with top 10 finishes in all three majors this year.

The bomber continues to be phenomenal with his irons, and he was second in the Carnoustie field in greens in regulation. Finau is still looking for his first career PGA Tour victory in a non-opposite field event, and perhaps his breakthrough will be in Canada, where he finished T5 last year in his third attempt at Glen Abbey.

Odds: 16-1
World Rank: 28th
2017 RBC Canadian Open: T5
Last Seven: 9, 21, 5, MC, 13, 57, 21

2. BROOKS KOEPKA

Brooks Koepka 2018 British Open, Round 1 — Brooks Koepka and caddie Ricky Elliott on the third tee at Carnoustie Golf Club during day one of the 2018 Open Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland. Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

The World No. 4 and winner of the past two U.S. Opens will be teeing up in Canada for the first time since a T18 finish in 2015, where he followed three consecutive 68s with a final-round 74. Koepka could be a little dejected after he failed in his attempt to win his second major of 2018 last week.

The 28-year-old bounced back nicely from a nightmare front nine on Thursday at Carnoustie, and stayed in contention going into the weekend, but a third-round 75 when a lot of the field was going low doomed his chances of hoisting the Claret Jug in victory.

Koepka has been a bit hit-or-miss since his return from a wrist injury, but when his game is going, few players in this field even have a prayer of keeping up. Currently in the top 10 on Tour in both scoring average and birdie average, the more of a shootout this week becomes, the better Koepka’s chances probably are., but as he proved in his recent win at Shinnecock Hills, he can thrive in any circumstances.

Odds: 11-1
World Rank: 4th
2015 RBC Canadian Open: T18
Last Seven: 9, 21, 5, MC, 13, 57, 21

1. DUSTIN JOHNSON

Dustin Johnson Canadian Open — Dustin Johnson talks with caddie Auston Johnson during the final round of the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, ON Credit: Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Those invested in the chances of Dustin Johns, the World No. 1, at Glen Abbey might consider it a positive that he got two unexpected days of rest, which happened because he shockingly missed the cut at Carnoustie.

The betting favorite coming into the week VandeVelded the 18th hole both days, with a triple bogey on Thursday and a double bogey on Friday to fall three shots below the cut line, something that looks even worse after the lead groups feasted on 18 in the final round.

Over the course of the season, he has still been fantastic though, with two wins, two runner ups, and only two finishes worse than 17th in 13 starts. DJ’s Open disaster might sting his confidence a touch, but he has shown to be resilient in recent years, and we do not think it will take long for him to realize he is the best player in the Canadian Open field.

DJ finished T8 at Glen Abbey last year, and was runner-up in both 2013 and 2016.

Odds: 6-1
World Rank: 1st
2017 RBC Canadian Open: T8
Last Seven: MC, 3, 1, 8, 17, 16, 10

NEXT 5: Sam Ryder, Sergio Garcia, JJ Spaun, Chesson Hadley, Martin Kaymer