Former Texas Tech Red Raider Ludvig Aberg probably didn't appreciate the pressure Rose Zhang just added to his pro golf debut this week at the PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open.
Aberg, the Swedish 23-year-old who has been No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking since September 2022, recently earned full PGA Tour membership after a dominant career in Lubbock, and he heads north this week seeking to cash his first pro check after several flashes on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour as an amateur over the past year.
Aberg would not have been a favorite this week across Texas sports betting considering the field features stars like Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sam Burns, Justin Rose and more, but Zhang just proved that a win in your pro debut can indeed be done.
Zhang, the game’s most decorated women’s amateur golfer the past couple years, on Sunday won the inaugural LPGA Mizuho Americas Open in her pro debut, setting up Aberg for a possible record-breaking back-to-back weeks across the men's and women's game.
But can the Swede truly contend at Oakdale Golf and Country Club? We take a look below.
RBC Canadian Open Odds
Although there are no legal sportsbooks in the state, you can expect to have access to BetMGM Sportsbook Texas among other national brands when betting does become legal.
Sportsbooks Not Underestimating Aberg
While Aberg over at BetMGM Sportsbook is far from a favorite this week, his spot on the oddsboard is reflective of the burgeoning talent he takes to the PGA Tour. At +6600 to win, Aberg is well behind McIlroy (the four-time major champ is a heavy favorite at +450), but in relative decent company all the same.
The Swede is just behind World No. 48 Adrian Meronk (+5000), who has three worldwide wins over the past 11 months, including the recent Italian Open on the DP World Tour.
Aberg also has the same odds as two-time PGA Tour winner Nick Taylor, who seeks to become the first Canadian to win their national open since Pat Fletcher in 1954. Other notables around Aberg on BetMGM? Two-time DP World Tour winner Nicolai Højgaard (also +6600), three-time PGAT winner Brendon Todd (+8000) and 25-year-old Englishman Harry Hall (+8000), fresh off a T3 at the PGA Tour Charles Schwab Challenge in Ft. Worth.
Over at DraftKings Sportsbook, Aberg is actually +6000 to win, +1200 for a Top 5, and +550 for a Top 10.
Needless to say, operators aren't counting out the former Texas Tech phenom this week, and by the time Texas sports betting apps launch, Aberg may be a heavy favorite week-in and week-out on the PGA Tour.
