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Ontario Sports Bettors Back Fellow Countrymen at RBC Canadian Open

Richardson Lilliana

Updated as of May 30, 2024 at 4:27 PM EDT. Read time: 1 minute and 38 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

Nick Taylor of Canada talks with the media following the Pro-Am of the RBC Canadian Open at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
Nick Taylor of Canada talks with the media following the Pro-Am of the RBC Canadian Open at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images via AFP.

Patriotism has reached unprecedented levels leading up to the 2024 RBC Canadian Open.

As per two bookmakers providing Ontario sports betting, bettors in the province are favoring Canadians more than the rest of North America in the current year.

Ontarians are hopeful that a Canadian player can win the 2024 Canadian Open, with a strong list of odds and favorites to back them up.

The Canadian Open this year features a record-breaking 28 Canadian players, the highest number in the tournament’s history. Local sportsbooks in Canada are noticing an increase in bets being placed on these homegrown athletes.

Canadians backing Canadians

The tournament, taking place at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario, started on Thursday. BetMGM reported on Wednesday that Ontario had the highest number of bets on this year’s Canadian Open compared to all other jurisdictions it operates in. Michigan sports betting, North Carolina sports betting, and New York sports betting were next in line.

BetMGM reports that seven Canadian players are among the top 20 most-bet on to win the tournament. Nick Taylor, Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Taylor Pendrith, and Mike Weir are receiving 150% more betting tickets from Ontario compared to other states/territories, as per BetMGM data.

In 2023, Taylor made history as the first Canadian to win the event since 1954. He accounted for 2.4% of tickets and 1% of the handle for BetMGM overall. However, in Ontario alone, he represented 4.4% of tickets and 1.9% of the handle.

Conners, currently ranked 49th in the world, showed a consistent pattern with 3.2% of bets and 2.2% of total bets at BetMGM, but received 4.4% of tickets and 3.2% of the handle in Ontario.

Taylor Pendrith and Mike Weir have been receiving a higher percentage of bets in Ontario compared to overall, unlike Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson who, although not experiencing the same trend, are still popular choices among betters in golf.

In addition to BetMGM, another top sports betting app in Canada also witnessed a higher rate of support for Canadian residents from the Great White North.

According to FanDuel, Sahith Theegala, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, and Rory McIlroy were the top picks for bettors to win the Canadian Open. However, in Ontario, Taylor and Conners were also popular choices, along with Theegala and Fleetwood.

Weir expressed his pride in the number of talented players coming out of Canada during a press conference on Wednesday. He commended Golf Canada for their successful development program, stating that the country is currently showcasing an abundance of golfing talent.

Written By:
Richardson Lilliana
Rob is a Publishing Editor at Underscoreg Review. He’s been with the team since early 2024, with this being his first full-time role in the sports betting industry. Before joining UnderscoregReview.com, he contributed to various sports outlets, including FanSided and Pro Football Network. During that period, he spent five years working full-time as a local community journalist, after attending Durham College for journalism and Wilfrid Laurier University for history. He previously hosted an NFL draft and college football-focused podcast where he had the opportunity to interact with future NFL players such as Maxx Crosby and Quinn Meinerz. Rob has spent multiple years working as a freelance podcast producer for numerous sports-related podcasts while making guest appearances on several college football shows. He’s also made guest appearances on SportsTalk Mississippi on several occasions to talk all things NFL draft. Rob values the way sports betting acts as a catalyst for telling stories and growing interest in certain sports, particularly FCS football, WNBA, and mid-major college basketball. He’s always been drawn to the more obscure teams and conferences in major college sports, but most of all, Rob loves using stats to find the best player props to back.