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The Open 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

By: | Edited: Mon 14 Jul 2025

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When Rory McIlroy won The Masters in April there were many who believed that it would give him a new lease of life. He had completed the career grand slam and had finally ended a near-11-year major drought.

Well it hasn’t quite worked out that way. Clearly out of sorts, he refused to speak to the media at the US PGA Championship and ended the week in 47th place. He missed the cut at the Canadian Open after a dreadful second round of 78. 

He then finished in a tie for 19th place at the US Open in a tournament that was notable for a surly interview he gave to American golf media when he announced that he had earned the right to do whatever he wants and to speak to whoever he wanted whenever he chose to do so. He also admitted that he had struggled for motivation.

However, there were some signs of life at the Travelers Championship before he opted to take a short break, returning to a runner-up finish at the Scottish Open.

It has to be said that if the Northern Irishman cannot get himself up for this week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush then we will know for sure that there is something seriously wrong. This is a course that he knows like the back of his hand. As a 16-year-old he reduced it to just 61 blows during the Northern Ireland Championship.

There was little sign of what was to come when he reached the turn in three under par. An eagle at the 10th was followed by a birdie at the 11th and then five straight birdies to finish. McIlroy recalls: "There are not many golf rounds where I remember every shot but for that round, I do. I knew the record was 64. Once I got to nine-under through 16, I thought if I could par the remaining two and set the new record that would be pretty special.

"The 17th at the time was a par five and the easiest birdie on the course. That took me to 10-under and I just thought, don’t screw this up.

"I hit a perfect drive and a good eight iron into the heart of the green. I just wanted to two-putt but ended up rolling it in. I did not care what the score was, I just wanted the course record. I had my dad and a couple of uncles walking round and a mate of mine was on the bag. He had just turned 16 as well!"

Rory McIlroy

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

When The Open was held at Royal Portrush in 2019 it was little surprise that McIlroy started the week as favourite. But he began his challenge with an eight and would miss the cut. So he will surely feel that the course owes him something as he attempts to win the Claret Jug for a second time.

While McIlroy headed for home, Shane Lowry spent the week walking on air as he cruised to victory. And the good news is that despite being unable to win in 2025, Lowry has produced some wonderful golf and is chomping at the bit to prove his success six years ago was not a one-off.

There will be huge crowds and they will be cheering McIlroy and Lowry every single step of the way.

It is also going to be another important week for Tommy Fleetwood, who finished runner-up to Lowry in 2019. It is one of seven top-five finishes in majors. He had a great chance to finally land his first PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship. Leading by three after 54 holes, he stumbled early in his final round but battled back and led by two coming down the stretch before a dreadful finish that saw him lose out by a shot to US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. He admitted that it was a tough defeat to take but Fleetwood is a resilient character and I fully expect to see him contend this week.

Of course the man they all have to beat is world number one Scottie Scheffler. After a disappointing start to the year by his own incredibly high standards he won the Byron Nelson, the US PGA for his third major title, and The Memorial. It is hard to believe that he was once regarded as a golfer who could not finish the job. After a string of near-misses he finally won for the first time in 2020. Since then he has has claimed a remarkable 16 victories.

Last year he dominated the game in a manner no player has achieved since Tiger Woods in his prime.

So everybody else is playing for second place then? There is some encouraging news - in four starts at The Open his best finish is a tied for seventh behind Xander Schauffele 12 months ago. This is links golf and it provides a very different challenge to the one Scheffler faces week in, week out on the PGA Tour.

I believe this is going to be a big week for Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre

He was bitterly disappointed to finish second behind JJ Spaun at the US Open but the Scot was beaten by an outrageous piece of good fortune and has nothing to reproach himself about. 

His runner-up finish was his best in a major and proved to himself that he truly belongs at this level. Unlike many others who have lost out in majors, he will be carrying no scar tissue. 

He grew up playing links golf and loves playing in the wind. He is a fabulous shotmaker and possesses a wondrous touch on the greens. In other words, he has everything required to win an Open Championship.

The Open 2025 Preview Content

10 Picks to Win The Open 2025

10 Outsiders to Watch at The Open 2025

What Makes The Open Golf's Greatest Major Championship

Where The Open at Royal Portrush Will Be Won And Lost

Could These Open Debutants Challenge at Royal Portrush

How Xander Schauffele Won The Open in 2024

When Shane Lowry Won The Open at Royal Portrush

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Zach Johnson, in 2016 by Henrik Stenson, in 2017 by Jordan Spieth, in 2018 by Francesco Molinari, in 2019 by Shane Lowry, in 2021 by Collin Morikawa, in 2022 by Cameron Smith, in 2023 by Brian Harman and last year by Xander Schauffele. There was no tournament in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The Course:

Royal Portrush is a classic links course. It is a par 71 measuring 7,344 yards. Originally designed by the legendary Harry Colt, it offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. Before The Open in 2019, architect Martin Ebert led a major redesign that saw the construction of five new greens, eight new tee boxes, 10 new bunkers, and the creation of two new holes.

Form Guide:

On current form Scottie Scheffler is the man to beat (and is the 5/1 favourite on Betway) but he does not have a great Open record. Rory McIlroy (6/1) will surely be up for it this week and will be hoping for a better start than he made in 2019!

Prize Money:

The total prize fund stands at $17m with the winner collecting $3.1m, 10,000 Race to Dubai points, 5,000 Ryder Cup points and 750 FedEx Cup points.

How to Watch:

Monday, July 14, Tuesday, July 15, Wednesday, July 16, Live at the Range, Sky Sports Golf, 9am, 2pm, 7pm.

First round, Thursday, July 17, Sky Sports Golf, 6.30am; Second round, Friday, July 18, Sky Sports Golf, 6.30am; Third round, Saturday, July 19, Sky Sports Golf, 9am; Final round, Sunday, July 20, Sky Sports Golf, 8am.

BBC2 have Open highlights - 9pm Thursday, 10pm Friday, 8pm Saturday and Sunday.

TalkSport and Radio 5 Live will be broadcasting live from Portrush with regular updates throughout the tournament.

To Win:

Rory McIlroy (6/1). Admits that he has struggled for motivation since winning The Masters but if he can’t get up for this one then he can’t get up for anything. Could be a huge week for the world number two.

Each Way:

Robert MacIntyre (28/1). I have a really good feeling about the Scot. He has been making cuts for fun on the PGA Tour and came so close to winning the US Open. His game is made for links golf. Will hope the wind blows.

Each Way:

Collin Morikawa (28/1). Has enjoyed a fine season without yet finding a way to win, and will surely be boosted by having the vastly experienced Billy Foster on his bag at Portrush. Fabulous iron player.

Five to Follow:

Rory McIlroy (6/1). Crowd will go nuts if he wins.

Robert MacIntyre (28/1). Determined to go one better than at the US Open.

Collin Morikawa (28/1). Definitely ready for another win.

Scottie Scheffler (5/1). Enjoying yet another stellar season but his rivals should take some consolation from the fact that, by his own incredible standards, he does not have a great record at The Open.

Tommy Fleetwood (22/1). Was second here six years ago and will be desperate to go one better this time.

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Harry Hall (80/1). Sitting comfortably within the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings and is a PGA Tour winner but still had to come through qualifying - and did so in some style.

Lee Westwood (200/1). Now clearly in the autumn of his career but proved in qualifying at Dundonald that he still has his moments, securing his place with rounds of 70 and 67.

Martin Couvra (200/1). Gifted Frenchman who just missed out on a second DP World Tour victory of the season at the Italian Open, but did enough to secure a first major championship start.

Marco Penge (100/1). Hits the ball a mile. After narrowly keeping his card last season he is now a winner and is full of confidence. Needs to learn to harness all that power.

Aaron Rai (80/1). Goes about his business with the minimum of fuss but has established himself on the PGA Tour and makes a lot of cuts.

What The Bookies Think (2025 Open Winner)

1. Scottie Scheffler (5/1)

2. Rory McIlroy (6/1)

3. Jon Rahm (11/1)

4. Bryson DeChambeau (22/1)

5. Ludvig Aberg (22/1)

6. Shane Lowry (22/1)

7. Tommy Fleetwood (22/1)

8. Xander Schauffele (22/1)

9. Tyrrell Hatton (25/1)

10. Collin Morikawa (28/1)

11. Robert MacIntyre (28/1)

12. Viktor Hovland (28/1)

13. Justin Thomas (40/1)

14. Matt Fitzpatrick (40/1)

15. Justin Rose (50/1)


This 2025 Open Championship preview article was written in collaboration with Betway.


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