Can Rory McIlroy return to the top at the Canadian Open?
Since the start of the 2023 PGA Tour season, everyone has been wondering when Rory McIlroy will top the leaderboard again. And, to be fair, he did hold the lead for a spell at last weekend's Memorial Tournament. But now comes a pivotal few weeks of golf where the Irishman will defend his title at the RBC Canadian Open before competing in the big field at the U.S. Open.
So, where exactly do oddsmakers think McIlroy will finish at this juncture in the season?
For the Canadian Open, DraftKings lists McIlroy as the 9-2 favorite in the field as he chases an elusive three-peat in the event. There have been two golfers in the past who have won back-to-back Candian Opens but missed out on a third straight victory: Jim Furyk in 2006 and 2007, and Jhonattan Vegas in 2017 and 2018.
After a couple of months of uncharacteristic struggles on the links, McIlroy at least appears to be returning to his usual dominant self. After a long hiatus following his missed cut at the Masters, the four-time major champions finished T47 at the Wells Fargo Championship and rebounded to finish T7 at the PGA Championship. He also traded having the lead with Scottie Scheffler during the final round of the Memorial Tournament before eventually finishing T7 yet again. (Viktor Hovland eventually won the event in a playoff against Denny McCarthy, while Scheffler finished in third place.)
How McIlroy plays -- and places -- in this year's Canadian Open could definitely impact his odds for the upcoming U.S. Open as well. DraftKings currently lists McIlroy at 14-1 odds to top the leaderboard, behind favorites Scheffler (15-2), Jon Rahm (9-1) and PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka (12-1).
The RBC Canadian Open tees off on Thursday, June 8.
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