The 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush brings golf’s oldest major back to Northern Ireland.
The 153rd Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush Golf Club this week, bringing the world’s best golfers to Northern Ireland for golf’s oldest and most storied major.
The Open Championship, golf’s oldest major founded in 1860, is the only one held outside the United States, played on historic links courses and awarding the Claret Jug to the “Champion Golfer of the Year.”
This year’s edition marks just the third time Royal Portrush has hosted The Open (after 1951 and 2019), but the rugged coastal layout, featuring notorious holes like Calamity Corner, has already earned legendary status. With wind, rain, and firm fairways set to test every aspect of a player’s game, Portrush is primed to deliver another classic.
Xander Schauffele returns as the defending champion, having claimed his second major at Royal Troon in 2024 with a masterclass in tough conditions.
He’s back in strong form and among the top picks to contend again. However, the field is stacked with big names.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the betting after a dominant PGA Tour season that includes another major title. Rory McIlroy, playing on home soil just a short drive from his hometown of Holywood, will draw massive support as he looks to add to his 2014 Open victory.
Other major threats include Jon Rahm, who has three top 10 finishes in the Open in the last four years and has unfinished business at Portrush after a T11 finish in 2019, and Bryson DeChambeau, whose power game and 2025 LIV Golf form make him one to watch.
There’s also room for local heroes and sentimental favorites. Shane Lowry, winner the last time The Open came to Portrush in 2019, will be hoping lightning can strike twice. Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg, and Robert MacIntyre are all in excellent form and possess the links pedigree to contend.
Off the course, major talking points include the growing presence of LIV Golf players, a rising crop of amateur stars, and a possible emotional farewell for veterans like Phil Mickelson.
The Open Odds
| Golfer | Odds |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | 5/1 |
| Rory McIlroy | 7/1 |
| Jon Rahm | 14/1 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 25/1 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 28/1 |
| Xander Schauffele | 28/1 |
| Ludvig Aberg | 28/1 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | 30/1 |
| Viktor Hovland | 30/1 |
| Shane Lowry | 33/1 |
Who is the favourite to win the Open 2025?
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (5/1 - various bookmakers) and local hero Rory McIlroy (7/1) lead the betting for the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Scheffler arrives with three PGA Tour wins this season, including the PGA Championship. However, his Open record remains modest, with no finishes better than T-7, and his inexperience at Portrush could be a factor.
McIlroy, on the other hand, returns to familiar ground with a proven Open track record and the backing of a home crowd.
The 2014 champion and recent Masters winner will be desperate to make amends for missing the cut here in 2019, though questions remain over his driving accuracy and post-Masters form.
The Open Latest Betting
| Golfer | % of Bets |
|---|---|
| Justin Rose | 5.81% |
| Ludvig Åberg | 4.83% |
| Robert MacIntyre | 4.40% |
| Marco Penge | 4.33% |
| Rory McIlroy | 4.21% |
| Scottie Scheffler | 3.45% |
| Viktor Hovland | 3.40% |
| Sepp Straka | 3.33% |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | 3.26% |
| Shane Lowry | 3.26% |
The table above shows the most backed golfers to win The Open via oddschecker in the last 24 hours.
Justin Rose is currently the most backed at a best price of 75/1 with Paddy Power.
The Open Most Popular Outsiders
1. Marco Penge
Marco Penge is a best price of 225/1 with VBet. He is the fourth most backed bet through oddschecker in the last 7 days.
Marco Penge enters the 2025 Open Championship as a longshot but his recent form suggests he could surprise.
A breakout season that includes a win at the Hainan Classic and a T-2 finish at the Scottish Open last week, played in links-like conditions, proves he can compete in strong fields.
His power off the tee and improved putting are assets at Royal Portrush, but limited major experience and patchy form remain concerns.
Still, with momentum on his side and a game suited to links golf, Penge could emerge as a dark horse if he starts strong.
2. Ryan Fox
Ryan Fox is the 15th most backed player in the last seven days to win the US Open.
He is a best price of 80/1 with Bet Victor.
Ryan Fox enters the 2025 Open Championship as a lively outsider, riding high after a breakout season that includes two PGA Tour wins and a T-7 finish at the PGA Championship.
His power off the tee and playoff composure have been standout features of his game in 2025, and his experience on links courses, highlighted by a win at the Alfred Dunhill Links and a T-16 at the 2019 Open, could give him an edge at Royal Portrush.
While his Open record is mixed and his scrambling can be inconsistent, Fox’s current form and proven ability to compete under pressure make him a potential dark horse worth watching.
3. Harry Hall
Harry Hall is the 16th most backed golfer through oddschecker in the last seven days.
He can be backed at a best price of 110/1 with AKBets.
Harry Hall heads into his Open Championship debut as a longshot, but his recent form suggests he’s capable of making a splash.
The Cornishman has posted seven consecutive top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour, including a recent top 20 at the Scottish Open, played on a links-style course, highlighting his comfort in similar conditions.
Hall’s strengths lie in his elite putting and short game, which will be crucial on Royal Portrush’s firm, undulating greens.
However, with limited major experience and concerns over driving accuracy, the challenge of a demanding layout and elite field could prove steep.
Still, if his putter stays hot, Hall has the tools to contend for a top-20 finish or better.
