After a week across the pond, the PGA Tour heads north of the border to Glen Abbey Golf Club, Oakville, Ontario for the RBC Canadian Open. The 7,253-yard Jack Nicklaus designed track will play host to a respectable field, including nine of the top 30 players in the FedExCup standings.

The Canadian Open hasn’t been played at Glen Abbey since 2009. That year, the course played -1.108 strokes to par. Indeed, the winners the last two times the tournament was played at the course were 18-under and 17-under, respectively. Given this, and the predicted absence of poor weather/high winds, scores will be significantly lower than, say, last week’s Open Championship in Scotland.

The course features significant elevation changes (particularly on the “Valley Holes”) and well-bunkered greens that average just 4,000 square feet in size. As such, a premium is placed on accurate approach shots and greens in regulation this week.

Another point of note, since the second World War, only 15 players have won the Canadian Open more than once. With this fact in mind, plus the wide-open nature of the field this week and the post-Open hangovers of top players, we’re not likely to see a player lifting the Royal Canadian Golf Association’s trophy on Sunday who has done so before.

Here’s a look at the prime contenders for Canada’s national open.

Hunter Mahan: 18-1 odds*

Although the oddsmakers have Hunter Mahan pegged at slightly worse odds than his fellow American Brandt Snedeker, it’s Mahan who is more likely to leave Canada a winner this week. He tied for fourth at Glen Abbey in 2004, and is thus a legitimate “horse for the course.” He’s also accustomed to making the trip to Canada following the Open Championship, having done it the past several years.

As one of the best pure drivers of the golf ball and a player who hits enough greens in regulation (nearly 67 percent), Mahan has been knocking on the door this year. A top-10 finisher at last week’s Open Championship, the Ping staffer should dominate this week against a comparatively weaker field.

Brandt Snedeker: 12-1 odds

A second-round 79 during the Open Championship sunk Brandt Snedeker’s hopes of winning at Muirfield. However, he played well throughout the weekend to finish tied for 11th. Objectively one of the best players in the field, the only question with Snedeker is whether the combination of playing two consecutive weeks and the stress of Open Championship preparation on his injured ribs will compromise his play this week.

If not, the Tennessee native certainly hits enough greens (nearly 68 percent) and putts well enough to win this week.

Graham DeLaet: 28-1 odds

What would this list be without a Canadian? DeLaet has only made the cut twice in his four starts at the Canadian Open. He also made the cut at the Open Championship last week, and leads the tour in greens in regulation, which will be a tremendous boon at a course that demands accuracy on approach shots.

DeLaet makes birdies in droves (an average of 3.74 a round) and is in the ascendency. This week could be a breakout week for the Saskatchewan native.

Ernie Els: 28-1 odds

Although the Big Easy wasn’t in danger of defending his title at Muirfield, he’s been in good form lately with four top-six finishes in his last eight starts across all tours. Ernie Els made The Open Championship-to-Canadian Open trip last year, but suffered a post-Open letdown, failing to make the cut.

This year, however, could be a different story. Although nothing about Els’ play in 2013 is statistically overwhelming. He still hits the ball a long way, but only finds 57 percent of fairways and 59 percent of greens. The lack of accuracy off the tee won’t hurt him at Glen Abbey this week, but the lack of precision on approach shots could. Els makes this list because he’s one of the best players in the field and has been playing well recently.

Hideki Matsuyama: 33-1 odds

Recipient of a slow-play penalty at The Open Championship, Hideki Matsuyama hopefully travels more quickly than he golfs, or else he won’t make it to Ontario in time to tee off. All joking aside, though, Matsuyama played well at Muirfield, rebounding from the penalty with a final-round 70 and was second in greens in regulation for the week. In his 10 starts as a professional, the young Japanese golfer has logged an impressive nine top 10s.

A penalty for playing too slow on the weekend at a major is ultimately a better sign in the long run from a young player than a frenetic meltdown. Matsuyama is calm, composed, and abundantly talented. As an international talent accustomed to jetting all over the world, flying into Canada this week and winning is a real possibility for the 21-year-old.

*odds according to Bovada.com