Eric Patterson reported that the intimidating fescue shown in course flyovers has been largely mown down to accommodate spectators, meaning wayward drives will not face the knee-high native grass many preview articles warned about. During his on-site media day the rough was playable and less than two feet tall, making it "bombs away" for Tour pros. Patterson said this softens the previously touted accuracy premium and re-emphasizes raw distance: long hitters can swing freely without fearing unplayable lies. Bettors should downgrade fairways-hit props, fade short-knock specialists in matchups, and bump up bomber exposure in DFS after seeing the actual setup.

Eric Patterson highlighted the 320-to-330-yard sixth hole as a potential drivable par-4 every round. The downhill shape leaves only about 290 yards of carry for big hitters, giving anyone with 310-plus off the tee a legitimate chance to putt for eagle. Patterson expects tournament officials to keep the box forward because the course lacks other birdie holes, turning #6 into a pivotal risk-reward spot. He suggested prioritizing aggressive drivers such as Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, and Ludvig Aberg in first-round leader bets and single-round Showdown builds, and he flagged the hole-specific Eagle streak bonus on DraftKings as a sneaky tiebreaker when choosing between mid-range bombers.

Eric Patterson said bettors should give serious consideration to the YES side of the hole-in-one prop because tournament officials have moved the tee on the famous “rink” hole (#14) up to roughly 140 yards—down from its usual 190-yard uphill beast. That turns the shot into a smooth wedge for the entire field instead of a long-iron scramble for par. Patterson added that the tournament wants highlight material, so he expects at least one funnel pin placement during the week to encourage aggressive lines. He noted the Canadian Open has produced zero aces on this hole since the rink concept debuted, meaning sportsbooks will likely hang a plus-money price that no longer reflects the new setup. He recommended monitoring early-week practice rounds for confirmed forward tees or test pins, then pouncing on YES-ace markets before they adjust.

Eric Patterson projected the Canadian Open champion finishing around 10-under par—possibly as high as –8 or as low as –13—depending on wind. Patterson noted the course has been lengthened nearly 300 yards since the 25-under shootout in 2019, converted from a par-72 to a par-70, and now features only two par-5s and multiple 500-yard par-4s. He added that Ontario’s wet spring has the rough growing "U.S.-Open thick," and the property’s open farmland setting offers no tree cover if prevailing northwest winds arrive. Patterson referenced the 2024 PGA Tour Americas Championship at TPC Toronto, where 30-mph gusts limited the winning total to –5 and the top finishers ranked top-2 in scrambling. Bettors should hammer under 14-under winning-score props and consider live unders if early rounds confirm calm conditions.