The RBC Canadian Open tees off this week at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.
This is a look at the best first-round leader bets to make for the event on DraftKings Sportsbook.
RBC Canadian Open: First Round Leader Picks
The RBC Canadian Open is being played at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. The RBC Canadian Open is one of the longest-running events on the PGA Tour. This will be the first time that TPC Toronto has ever hosted this event. TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley is a par 70 golf course and ranges 7,389 yards, one of the longest courses on the PGA Tour. The course requires a strategic approach from players due to the tough bunker placement and tricky chipping areas around the greens. There will be a full field of 156 players with a standard cut after Friday’s round. This field will be headlined by Rory McIlroy, who makes his first start since the PGA Championship. Other top players in the field include Ludvig Aberg, Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, along with the hometown Canadian favorites, Nick Taylor and Corey Conners. Scottie Scheffler, along with many other top players, is taking the week off to rest before next week’s US Open.
Shane Lowry FRL (+3500)
Shane Lowry has been one of the best players in the world this season. Lowry has always been a great player, but he seems to have found a level of comfort with his game that is allowing him to thrive on a weekly basis. In 13 events played this season, Lowry had nine top-25 finishes and four top-10 finishes. Lowry has also been a quick-starter this season, making him ideal for a first-round leader bet. Over the last few weeks, he shot opening rounds of 64, 64 and 69 at the Zurich, Truist and Memorial, respectively. Lowry ranks fifth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained total and third in strokes gained approach to green this season. To avoid the tricky bunkers around the green, players will need to be on target with their irons, and Lowry is one of the best in the world with his irons. Shane Lowry also has three top-12 finishes in six career starts at the RBC Canadian Open. Lowry has a great chance to go low and jump out to a first-round lead on Thursday.
Nick Taylor FRL (+5500)
The Canadian players in the field always get extra attention the week of the RBC Canadian Open. Corey Conners is the best Canadian player on the PGA Tour this season, but Nick Taylor is the local hero at this tournament. Taylor won the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, the first Canadian to win the event in nearly 70 years. Those fond memories should make Taylor feel comfortable and confident playing in this tournament. It has also been a solid start to the season for Taylor, who currently ranks 16th in the FedEx Cup standings. In 15 starts in 2025, Taylor has seven top-25 finishes, including a win at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Nick Taylor also played fantastically last week at The Memorial in tough conditions, finishing fourth in that field. Taylor is 13th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach to green this season, that all-important stat for this course, where Lowry also thrives. With the crowd behind him, Taylor is worth a longshot bet to go low and be the first-round leader at the RBC Canadian Open.
