The Open Championship is finally upon us and with it, the end of major season. It doesn’t feel like too long ago that Rory McIlroy claimed an emotional Masters victory in the spring, completing the career grand slam in the process.
Since then, Scottie Scheffler won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, while JJ Spaun won an epic at Oakmont to seal a stunning maiden major title.
All in all, it has been a memorable 2025 in the biggest events. Can Royal Portrush top any of those this week?
The tournament returns to the venue for the second time in six years, where Shane Lowry powered away over the closing nine holes to win the Claret Jug in 2019.
There are so many narratives this week. Can McIlroy win on home soil? Will Scheffler win leg three of the career grand slam? Could there be another surprise winner of the tournament?
Whatever happens in Northern Ireland, the Open always delivers.
Course details: Royal Portrush
It is remarkable that it took the Open 68 years to return to Portrush. The course became the first outside the island of Great Britain to hold the event in 1951, but had to wait until 2019 for its second time hosting.
Royal Portrush, to put it simply, is a masterpiece of links golf. Regularly voted as one of the finest courses in the United Kingdom, the Dunlace links mixes dramatic sea views, plenty of dunes and contoured greens to offer an experience like no other.
The course was originally laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1899, but there have been several updates since then.
Portrush doesn’t offer an easy start. The opening hole features out of bounds on both sides of the landing area, turning a straightforward hole into something more tricky. Just ask McIlroy. In 2019, he recorded a quadruple-bogey 8, which knocked him for six as he went on to miss the cut.
There is just a single par-4 that measures under 400 yards, while all of the par-5s are over 530 yards in length.
The 16th – named ‘Calamity Corner’ – is a par-3 which measures 236 yards in length. It requires a powerful tee shot over a chasm to a perched green. Escaping with a par will certainly feel like a birdie.
Whoever tames Portrush can rightly call themselves the champion golfer of the year.
The field
In total, 156 players will tee it up in Northern Ireland this week. Scheffler starts as the undisputed favourite to win his second major of the year, especially after an excellent start to 2025.
McIlroy will be hot on his heels, however. He will be looking to give a better account of himself compared to 2019, no doubt about that.
Elsewhere, a record-breaking 19 LIV Golfers will play in the tournament. Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Joaquin Niemann lead the LIV Golf charge this week, but the likes of Dean Burmester, Tyrrell Hatton and Brooks Koepka could be in the mix.
In total, 17 former champions will tee it up at Portrush, including Ernie Els and 1997 winner Justin Leonard.
37 players will make their debut at the tournament this year, including JJ Spaun, Andrew Novak and Harry Hall.
The Open Championship 2025: Prize fund and how to watch
The total prize purse for the 2025 edition has yet to be announced. Last year, $17m was on offer, a new record.
Xander Schauffele took home a cheque for $3.1m after his victory at Royal Troon, up from $3m the year before.
Viewers in America will be able to catch all of the action on the Golf Channel.
In the United Kingdom, all four days of the tournament will be broadcast on Sky Sports Golf.
Open Championship 2025 winner
Scottie Scheffler 5/1
Rory McIlroy 11/2
Jon Rahm 12/1
Bryson DeChambeau 18/1
Tommy Fleetwood 20/1
Ludvig Aberg 22/1
Robert MacIntyre 22/1
Shane Lowry 22/1
Tyrrell Hatton 22/1
Odds provided by Betway and correct at the time of writing.
