We’re a little over a week away from the season’s third Major, but judging by the field for this year’s Canadian Open, there are plenty of top-named players who want to hone their game ahead of the US Open, in what promises to be a competitive and absorbing tournament.

This year the competition is taking place at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, instead of Glen Abbey. Hamilton is a relatively short course, by the standards of the PGA, so this isn’t a layout that will particularly benefit the big hitters, while the narrow fairways and severe rough suggest that success in this year’s tournament will be based on accuracy and precise shot-making.

That said, the current favourite is one of the biggest hitters in the game. Dustin Johnson heads to Canada as the defending champion, and if he brings his A-game he will take some stopping. BetCris have him as the 525 favourite, no doubt partially due to his record of twice winning a tournament before the US Open, including the St Jude Classic last year.

Also involved in what is a strong field this year is double US PGA Champion Brooks Koepka, who got the better of Johnson at Bethpage, and who should be fresh for this challenge. He is joined at the top of the list of favourites by Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy. McIlroy has been struggling for form since March but can never be written off, while Thomas has yet to return to his best golf after a wrist injury, but clearly has the class to win this competition.

But there will be plenty of strength in depth at Hamilton, including the double Masters winner Bubba Watson. Another big hitter, Watson has been in solid form this season. Although he missed the cut at the PGA, the course at Hamilton may suit him better as he has the shot-making capacity to excel there, as he did back in 2006, when he finished fourteenth thanks to a first-round 65. The poa annua putting greens should also be to his liking, and if his putting holds up, he could be a lively contender.

The short nature of the course may also suit those who excel when the premium is on accuracy, which could bring the likes of Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker and Webb Simpson into contention. Hamilton has some similarities to the course at Sedgefield and River Highlands, and all three have shown form at those venues, while Snedeker in particular will be suited by the greens at an event that he will have fond memories of, having won it in 2013.

And one more potential contender to note is Scott Piercey. He won this event when it was last held at Hamilton in 2012, ahead of Robert Garrigus and William McGirt, and that has to put him in the shake-up even if the layout doesn’t appear at first glance to suit his driver-dominated playing style.