Brown and Kuchar edge ahead in Canada

World number 250 Scott Brown shares the Canadian Open lead on -12 with ‘Mr Consistency’ Matt Kuchar but Brandt Snedeker is the man to watch this weekend (Kuchar 16/5 Outright Betting).

Brown (14/1) is something of a journeyman golfer and his 2013 victory in Puerto Rico remains the only PGA Tour win of his career.

Last year was a disaster for 36-year-old Georgian, with no top-10 finishes and 14 missed cuts but he has found his range in 2019, securing three top-10s to date.

Kuchar keeps grinding out results week after week and picked up a win early in the season in Hawaii while the 40-year-old also has two second-place finishes and three other top-10s.

Friday belonged to Snedeker (6/1), however, as the 38-year-old Tennessee resident signed for a superb round of 60, with eight birdies and an eagle, and he shares third place with Canada’s Nick Taylor (14/1) on -11.

The nine-time PGA Tour winner’s putter was in red-hot form and he admits it is vital to strike while the iron is hot.

“You don’t get these days very often on tour,” he said. “More often you’re getting beat up, so when you have these days you’ve got to take advantage of them.”

American Webb Simpson (11/2) carded an excellent 64 to move into outright fifth place on 10-under, while Canadian Adam Hadwin (16/1) is a place back on -9.

Graeme McDowell is in a group of six players to reach eight-under after 36 holes and the former Ryder Cup star needs to maintain his level on Saturday and Sunday to finally secure a spot in the Open.

He is desperate to make the year’s final major, held on his home course of Royal Portrush, and needs a top-10 to stand a chance of teeing it up in County Antrim next month.

Compatriot Rory McIlroy (10/1) is in a group of three stars on -7 while Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson have work to do as they are four-under ahead of the third round.

Odds subject to change