⛳ 2025 Open Championship Preview
Dates: July 17 - 20, 2025
Course: Royal Portrush Golf Club
Location: Northern Ireland
Defending Champion: Xander Schauffele
The 153rd Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush this week, and with it comes one of the most thrilling betting events in golf. Whether you're a seasoned bettor or new to wagering on majors, this preview breaks down the key players, top storylines, and expert insights to help inform your picks ahead of Thursday’s opening tee shot.
🏆 What Makes the Open Championship So Unique for Bettors?
Known as The Open or British Open, this major tests golfers in ways no other tournament does. Played on coastal links courses, The Open introduces unpredictable wind, tight fairways, and deep pot bunkers - factors that often create betting value for sharp punters.
The field consists of 156 players and includes a 36-hole cut, reducing the competition to the top 70 and ties. The final two rounds are played in leader-based pairings, making weekend betting lines especially dynamic.
🔥 Top Contenders and Betting Angles
Rory McIlroy – Hometown Hero, High Expectations
Rory McIlroy enters the 2025 Open as a fan favorite and a betting wildcard. Having recently completed the career Grand Slam with his win at Augusta, he now has a shot at redemption at Royal Portrush - where he missed the cut in 2019. If you’re eyeing emotional storylines and a potential bounce-back performance, Rory is one to circle for both outright and top-5 markets.
Shane Lowry – Returning to His Kingdom
The 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year returns to the course where he made history. While he hasn't won a major since, Lowry’s links pedigree and course familiarity make him a strong sleeper pick. He skipped the Scottish Open to rest, which could mean fresh legs and sharp focus.
Jon Rahm – The Consistent Contender
Two-time major winner Jon Rahm has quietly become one of the most reliable major performers in golf. With T11 or better in four of his last five Open starts and consistent top-10s this season, Rahm is trending toward a breakthrough win on links soil.
Xander Schauffele – Can He Go Back-to-Back?
Last year’s Champion Golfer of the Year, Xander Schauffele, arrives with a mixed 2025 campaign. But he showed sparks at the Genesis Scottish Open, finishing T8 while leading the field in strokes gained on approach. His consistency in majors (30 cuts in 33 starts) makes him a trustworthy bet.
Bryson DeChambeau – Boom or Bust in the Wind
DeChambeau’s aggressive style is often a risk on links tracks, and Royal Portrush has never been kind to him. However, his raw talent and recent major performances (including multiple top-6 finishes) can’t be ignored. When he’s on, he contends.
Tommy Fleetwood – Time to Win One?
Fleetwood nearly captured the Claret Jug here in 2019, finishing runner-up to Lowry. He has three top-10s in his last five Open starts and always shows up on links courses. As a major-less contender, he represents serious value for bettors looking beyond the big names.
Ludvig Åberg – Sleeper Pick With Upside
Åberg is one of the most intriguing young names in golf. Though his major results have been hit or miss, his T8 at the Scottish Open suggests he's trending upward. If you’re looking for a breakout candidate with upside, Åberg is your guy.
Chris Gotterup – Momentum Play
Fresh off a win at the Scottish Open, Chris Gotterup enters The Open with momentum and confidence. Can he pull a Ben Curtis or Collin Morikawa and win on debut? It’s rare - but not impossible.
Betting Angle: Deep longshot worth a flier in Outrights or Top 20 Finish markets.
📊 Past Open Champions
- 2024: Xander Schauffele (Royal Troon)
- 2023: Brian Harman
- 2022: Cameron Smith
- 2021: Collin Morikawa
- 2019 (at Portrush): Shane Lowry
These winners show that both favorites and underdogs can lift the Claret Jug - adding plenty of intrigue for betting enthusiasts.
💰 2025 Open Championship Best Bets
🏆 Outright Winner Picks
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | $5.67 |
| Rory McIlroy | $7.67 |
| Jon Rahm | $12.50 |
| Viktor Hovland | $27.75 |
| Cameron Smith | $109.33 |
🔎 Recommended Pick: Jon Rahm - solid value with strong Open pedigree and current major momentum.
🎯 Top 5 Finish
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jon Rahm | $3.60 |
| Xander Schauffele | $6.50 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | $9.00 |
| Justin Rose | $10.00 |
| Jason Day | $17.00 |
🔎 Recommended Pick: Matt Fitzpatrick - trending well on links and thrives in wind; good mid-range play.
✅ Top 20 Finish
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tommy Fleetwood | $2.23 |
| Joaquin Niemann | $3.00 |
| Adam Scott | $3.50 |
| Sam Burns | $3.68 |
| Jason Day | $4.05 |
🔎 Recommended Pick: Tommy Fleetwood - steady and consistent on links tracks, especially at The Open.
❌ To Miss the Cut
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cameron Smith | $2.40 |
| Min Woo Lee | $2.50 |
| Xander Schauffele | $3.63 |
🔎 Fade Play: Min Woo Lee - great upside, but recent inconsistencies and Portrush difficulty make this tempting.
✅ Get Your Bets in Before Thursday
The 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush promises drama, wind, emotion, and opportunity. Whether you're placing an outright wager, a prop bet, or building a weekend parlay, this is the week to stay sharp, do your research, and follow the momentum.
Get all of your British Open bets on here!
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