🏌️ Golf's Richest Caddies

Good Morning! The final field for this week’s RBC Canadian Open is all set as 156 players prepare to tee off at Hamilton tomorrow.

There has been a late withdrawal - last week’s winner Davis Riley has pulled out of the event and will be replaced by Sean O’Hair.

You can catch all the live action on Golf Channel and don’t forget to check out our top betting picks for the tournament.

Fun Fact: The last time someone successfully defended the US Women's Open title was 23 years ago - Karrie Webb in 2001.

⛳ This day in history: On this date, in 2011, Tom Watson made a birdie on the first playoff hole with David Eger to win the 72nd Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. It was his second Senior PGA victory.

ODDS AND PICKS
Our Top Picks For RBC Canadian Open

🚩 The RBC Canadian Open tees off tomorrow, with PGA Tour stars assembling at the iconic Hamilton Golf and Country Club to battle it out for the prestigious title.

💰 Purse: $9.4 million, winner takes home $1.692 million.

Here are our top picks we’re betting on:

🚀 Most Likely to Win: Tommy Fleetwood (+1600) narrowly missed winning the Canadian Open last year, and we're anticipating another impressive showing from the Englishman this year. Recently, Fleetwood secured a top-30 finish at the PGA Championship, where he excelled in both ball-striking aspects. His exceptional accuracy off the tee and proficiency with the putter should serve him well this week at Hamilton.

🚀 Key Player in the Top 5: Sam Burns (+500) is performing better than his recent results indicate. Although he missed the cut at the PGA Championship, he gained over 2.5 strokes on approach shots. Now, he heads to a course that should better highlight his abilities. Burns is one of the top putters within 15 feet in this field and has consistently excelled on shorter, more strategic golf courses.

🚀 Key Player in the Top 10: After narrowly missing a playoff at last year's Canadian Open, Aaron Rai (+320) is poised for another strong showing in Canada. The English golfer recently finished 32nd at Colonial, gaining 4.4 strokes off the tee and 2.5 strokes on approach. Rai has consistently gained over 3.5 strokes in ball-striking in his last three starts. If the 29-year-old can deliver a solid putting performance, we anticipate he will be a serious contender on Sunday afternoon in Ontario.

🚀 Key Player in the Top 20: Having recently won the CJ Cup, Taylor Pendrith (+188) is in excellent form. Returning to his home country, the Canadian is likely to be especially motivated to maintain his momentum. Pendrith is quietly one of the top putters on bentgrass/Poa annua surfaces in this field. His runner-up finish at Detroit Golf Club, another shorter course with bent/Poa greens and undulating complexes, further boosts our confidence in his performance.

🚀 Underdog Likely to Emerge: Brice Garnett (+2200) secured a win earlier this year in Puerto Rico and is known for his accuracy off the tee. He recently finished 35th at the PGA Championship, where he gained six strokes on approach. Garnett is also one of the better putters in this field, with his best putting performance occurring on similar Bent/Poa greens at the Travelers Championship.

* All odds via BetMGM, at the time of publishing.

ALBATROSS
Rory's Return Headlines Canadian Open

The PGA Tour ventures up to Ontario this week for the 113th edition of the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf Club. Two-time champion Rory McIlroy headlines the 156-person field in Ancaster.

World No 2 McIlroy is back in action after skipping last week's Charles Schwab Challenge. He won the last time this event was at Hamilton and also took the 2022 RBC at St. George’s.

McIlroy headlines a strong field that includes the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala, and Shane Lowry among others. World No 1 Scottie Scheffler is a notable absentee.

⛳️ Course Changes Pose Unique Challenge: The golf course will play 112 yards longer than it did in 2019. The par-3 sixth, the second-most difficult hole at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, will play 25 yards longer. The par-4 seventh (new back tee) will play 35 yards longer.

Hamilton Golf and Country Club has undergone an $8.5 million renovation which includes reconstructing tees, bunkers and greens on all 27 holes at the property. The club also now has a new irrigation system, practice putting green and new practice areas.

All eyes will be on the course's iconic ice-hockey themed hole, also referred to as 'The Rink', over the next four days.

TWEET
Worth Mentioning

EAGLE
This One Change Transformed Nelly Korda's Game

Nelly Korda has won six of seven starts, including her second career major at the Chevron Championship and she has revealed the secret to her phenomenal start ahead of this week's US Women's Open.

Korda has had the on-site support of her swing coaches Jamie Mulligan or Brett Lederer with her nearly every week. The only week she hadn't had someone with her was during Cognizant Founders Cup and she didn't hit very well that week.

The presence of Mulligan and Lederer has been the real difference-maker this year, ensuring that her swing is in its proper form on the days leading up to an event.

Ensuring that her coaches made it out to more events was a key point of conversation with her entire team at the end of last season, and her tendency when things go wrong is to over-rotate her hands, which makes it more difficult to get back to the proper position in the downswing and at impact.

🏌‍♀LPGA Great Announces Retirement: Lexi Thompson will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2024 season, at the age of 29. She is an 11-time LPGA Tour winner - including her lone major at the 2014 Chevron Championship and also represented the United States in six Solheim Cups as well as two Olympic Games.

She notably became the seventh woman to compete on the men's PGA Tour when she participated in the 2023 Shriners Children's Open.

Thompson is currently 54th in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, however she has missed each of her last three cuts.

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

Scheffler's Arrest: Charges against Scottie Scheffler likely to be dropped by Louisville prosecutor.

For Sale: This Rolls-Royce-themed golf cart for sale makes the walk-versus-ride decision easy - the no-reserve auction ends Thursday.

Visa Approved: Angel Cabrera granted a visa, set to return to the US with plans to play PGA Tour Champions.

Golf Course: This Pennsylvania golf course designed by AW Tillinghast is on sale for $1.1 million.

New Career: Stephen Curry plans to play professionally on the PGA Tour Champions circuit after his Hall of Fame NBA career comes to an end.

BIRDIE
These Are Golf's Richest Caddies

Caddies receive a solid $2,500 weekly base fee, complemented by a 10% share for wins and 7% for non-win situations, not to be overlooked are additional revenue streams like endorsements - here are the ones who make the most in the sport.

💰 Harry Diamond (Rory McIlroy): Best friend turned co-worker, turned wealthiest caddy on tour. Harry Diamond has been caddying for Rory McIlroy since 2017 and accumulated $2.5 million last year.

💰 Tedd Scott (Scottie Scheffler): 2024 has proven to be highly profitable for Ted Scott, Scheffler’s caddie since 2022. He has amassed an impressive estimated earnings of $1.6 million through May putting him near his total earnings of $1.65 million from 2023.

💰 Sam Pinfold (Cameron Smith): Pinfold met Cameron Smith at the New Zealand Open. When Pinfold’s player missed the cut, Smith invited him to caddy.

Smith’s stellar performance cemented their player-caddy relationship since 2015 and the bagman earned over $1.025 million last season.

💰 Austin Kaiser (Xander Schauffele): Former San Diego State Aztec teammate and buddy of Schauffele has been on his bag for the past 6 years. He accumulated $985,000 last year.

💰 Joe LaCava (Patrick Cantlay): LaCava, Tiger Woods’ caddie since 2011, opted to depart following Woods’ recent ankle surgery. In 2023, LaCava joined Cantlay as his caddie and earned $895,000 on the PGA Tour.

Read the full article.

DRIVING RANGE
How To Improve Your Handicap

In today's video, Bryson DeChambeau demonstrates how you can improve your handicap even by practicing indoors.

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