Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

2 juicy longshots for the RBC Canadian Open

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated 6/7/23

Who doesn't love firing on a massive longshot in golf? Sure, it's easy to pull the trigger on a Scottie Scheffler or a Jon Rahm at the top of the odds board, and chances are you'll at least be in for a Sunday sweat with how consistent they are. You have that option this week at the RBC Canadian Open, as Rory McIlroy stands alone at the top as a +550 betting favorite to win his third straight title up north.

But where's the fun in that?

Let's check out two longshots I'll have on my betting card for the RBC Canadian Open.

Akshay Bhatia 110/1

I'm expecting the 2023 RBC Canadian Open to play out as another low-scoring affair. Over the last four runnings of the event, the winner each year finished at 19 under par or better, and we should be in for a similar finishing score at Oakdale Golf and Country Club.

That brings me to Akshay Bhatia, one of the premier birdie-makers on the PGA Tour.

Bhatia ranks 17th on Tour this year in birdie or better percentage (23.68 percent). His two best finishes of the season came at birdie fests with a solo second at the Puerto Rico Open and a solo fourth at the Mexico Open at Vedanta. Both tournaments featured winning scores of 21 under or better.

The problem for Bhatia all year has been his putter, as he ranks 165th on Tour in strokes gained: putting. If he can put together a spike putting week, though, the 21-year-old will have a great chance to notch his first win.

Mark Hubbard 110/1

I really like what I've seen from Mark Hubbard over the past month. Dating back to the Mexico Open at Vedanta in April, Hubbard has recorded four top-30 finishes in his last five starts. His T30 at the Memorial last week may not seem impressive on the surface, but the layout at Muirfield Village couldn't have fit his game worse as a long track with thick rough.

Now Hubbard returns to an easy layout at Oakdale, and considering he's gained strokes on approach in seven straight starts, the 34-year-old should set himself up for a ton of birdie chances this week. Let's hope he takes advantage of them.

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