The Open Championship 2025 Tips: X-Man to go back-to-back?

Major season comes and goes way too quickly, and a little over three months on from Augusta National opening its gates to the world’s best for The Masters, we arrive at our final major stop of the season: The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Our trusted golf tipster Jamie Worsley is here with his long-read preview of the event and has picked out six players to back each-way this week. Take a look at his thoughts and of course, you can read his The Open Championship 2025 Betting Tips below...

It's been a memorable year for golf's elite events so far. From Rory McIlroy finally getting the monkey off his back with an emotional victory at The Masters; to Scottie Scheffler dominating the field for an emphatic success in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow; to J.J. Spaun coming out on top in a thrilling final round at Oakmont in the U.S. Open, holing a monster putt on his 72nd hole to walk away with his first major title.

The magnificently breathtaking Royal Portrush provides the perfect setting to close out this quartet of events, and with storylines aplenty, we should be in for an unforgettable week in Northern Ireland.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

The Open Championship was first held in 1860, making it the oldest golf tournament in the world. Always played on British & Irish links courses, it tests players' ability to manage the most natural form of the game, and since 1872, the reward for winning this exacting challenge has been the famous Claret Jug.

Willie Park Sr won the inaugural Open Championship at Prestwick Golf Club, beating a field of just eight players. The event welcomed over 100 players for the very first time in 1901 at Muirfield – an event won by Scotland's James Braid.

Following further wins in 1905, 1906, 1908, and 1910, Braid became the first player to win five Open Championships. This feat has since been repeated by three other players: J.H. Taylor (1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913), Peter Thomson (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965) and Tom Watson (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983).

However, it's Harry Vardon who holds the record for most wins in the event with six, recording victories in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, and 1914.

Tom Watson was narrowly denied equalling Vardon's record in 2009, losing to Stewart Cink in a playoff. Had he been successful, the then 59-year-old would've been the oldest major champion in the history of the game.

Last five winners:

• 2024 (Royal Troon)

Winner: Xander Schauffele (-9)

Runners-up: Billy Horschel, Justin Rose (-7)

• 2023 (Hoylake)

Winner: Brian Harman (-13)

Runners-up: Jason Day, Tom Kim, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka (-7)

• 2022 (St Andrews)

Winner: Cameron Smith (-20)

Runner-up: Cameron Young (-19)

• 2021 (Royal St George's)

Winner: Collin Morikawa (-15)

Runner-up: Jordan Spieth (-13)

• 2019 (Royal Portrush)

Winner: Shane Lowry (-15)

Runner-up: Tommy Fleetwood (-9)

Xander Schauffele produced an impressively nerveless final-round display to win last year's Open Championship at Royal Troon – his second major victory after winning the PGA Championship earlier in 2024. He returns to defend, looking to become the first player since Padraig Harrington in 2008 to hold on to the Claret Jug for two straight years.

THE COURSE

Only 14 venues have been fortunate enough to host this famous old championship in its history, and it's back to the majestic Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for just the third time this week.

Previous Open Championships at Royal Portrush:

• 2019 – Winner: Shane Lowry (-15); runner-up: Tommy Fleetwood (-9)
• 1951 – Winner: Max Faulkner (-3); runner-up: Antonio Cerda (-1)

The first nine holes at Royal Portrush were laid in 1888 by Tom Gilroy, before Old Tom Morris returned to complete the other nine the following year. However, the design that we know today is very much the work of Harry Colt, who redesigned the course in 1932.

It was renovated prior to the 2019 Open Championship, with the creation of two brand new holes – the 607yds par-5 7^th and 434yd par-4 8^th – acting as the most significant changes.

Further alterations have been made in preparation for this week's event. Championship tees have been added to holes 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 15, whilst holes 1 and 6 have had green contours softened to incorporate new pin positions.

Other recent events hosted at Royal Portrush include the 2012 Irish Open, the 2014 Amateur Championship, and the 2018 Boys Amateur Championship.

The course will play just 37yds longer this year than in 2019, with this par 71 now measuring 7381yds. It possesses 4x par 3s (176-236yds), 11x par 4s (372-502yds) and 3x par 5s (532-607yds).

Rated as one of the best courses in the world, the strikingly beautiful and rugged Royal Portrush is located on the north coast of Northern Ireland, featuring stunning coastal scenery wherever you look. This hilly, undulating venue is open and expansive, with frequent elevation changes – more so than many other links courses – and weaves its way through natural valleys framed by soaring sand dunes.

The doglegging fairways are average in width overall, though the landing areas are tightened due to being at an angle to the tee position. Although bunkers aren't as plentiful as they are at some links courses, they strategically dot the fairways and are predominantly penal, whilst thick fescue rough – which is laced with heather and briar – along with other native foliage and gorse bushes, menacingly line the majority of holes.

Strongly contoured and often elevated greens are packed with variety – some small and others large. Many are narrow in shape and with severe run-offs and false-fronts at the perimeter of most, they are tricky to hit and regularly require approaches through the air. A mixture of pot bunkers, thick, protruding grassy-mounds, and short-grass chipping areas make for a serious test around the greens.

No two holes feel the same at Royal Portrush and it closely examines every area of your game. That being said, this is not a tricked-up course; it is fun and fair, with everything right in front of you. And if conditions are kind, players can score here, as shown by Shane Lowry's 15-under winning score in 2019.

THE WEATHER

There's wet conditions on the way in the buildup to the event and that is forecast to continue into Thursday's opening round. This should leave us with a more receptive course early doors, but at the same time, that lush rough becomes all the more difficult to play from.

Fortunately, the rain is forecast to disappear for the rest of the week and with the wind not appearing too troublesome – blowing at a constant of 6-10mph – the course could yield some low scores. Having said that, these forecasts should always be treated cautiously so far in advance of the start of the event, especially in an area known for volatile weather.

KEY STATS

• SG: Approach/Greens-in-Regulation

Players generally need to show quality in all areas of their game to conquer a major championship. However, with greens that predominantly need to be attacked through the air, which also reject balls at their edges and may be receptive at the start of the event, I expect iron play to carry the most importance.

It's a course that offers up a fantastically varied challenge in approach and this week's field will have to be equally as good with the long irons as with their wedges.

Each member of the top five – and the majority of the top 10 – here in 2019 arrived at the event having shown recent form in approach. Meanwhile, our winner that year, Shane Lowry, ranked 1^st in the field in greens-in-regulation.

• SG: Around-the-Greens/Scrambling

Receptive or firm, these greens will still repel plenty of approaches, leaving players relying on their short-game skills to get out of trouble from a variety of positions around the greens.

Indeed, scrambling was absolutely vital in 2019, with each of the top three ranking inside the top four: winner Shane Lowry ranked 3^rd, runner-up Tommy Fleetwood ranked 1^st, and 3^rd-place finisher Tony Finau ranked 4^th.

• SG: Off-the-Tee and/or Driving Accuracy

Royal Portrush is a deceptively difficult driving course. The fairways aren't overly narrow as a collective, but they proved tough to hit in 2019, due to many being positioned at awkward angles in relation to the tee box.

The trouble that awaits erratic drivers on links courses is often severe. This place is certainly no different, and it feels smart to focus on players who look to be in control of their game off the tee.

CORRELATING EVENTS

Although many courses attempt to replicate the feel of links golf – with differing levels of success – there is nothing that quite substitutes for the real thing. This makes previous form in The Open Championship a huge pointer this week.

That being said, each of these famous old courses have their nuances and Royal Portrush compares closer to others. Of the most recent hosts, I'd lean on those who performed well in either 2024's renewal at Royal Troon, or the 2021 edition at Royal St George's, due to their rugged, undulating feel, with holes framed by towering dunes and providing a similar test off the tee. It's no surprise that Shane Lowry performed well at each of these venues, finishing 6^th at Royal Troon and 12^th at Royal St George's – two of his other three best Open Championship performances.

The Open is only played once a year, therefore limiting comp form. However, there are several DP World Tour events played on links/modern links courses that can offer clues, for all their playing conditions aren't typically setup as difficult as this major championship. We can head to Scotland to find both the Scottish Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2024 editions of the Irish Open have also been held on links courses, whilst the 2019 British Masters and 2022 Cazoo Classic at Hillside Golf Club are too worth a look.

I'll remain on the DPWT and form in the Middle East has often proven a great indicator for potential links performers, because of the open, exposed and sandy nature of many courses there. The Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club has been particularly helpful – an event won by former Open Championship winners Ernie Els and Paul Lawrie. Furthermore, the Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links and Bahrain Championship at Royal Golf Club could also be useful.

Over to the US and PGA National, home of the Cognizant Classic, is always the most compelling comp course out there. This exposed, coastal course and its challenging test in approach has been won by several Open Champions, namely Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, and Padraig Harrington. In addition, Shane Lowry has finished 2^nd, 4^th and 5^th there, and 2019 Royal Portrush runner-up Tommy Fleetwood has finishes of 3^rd and 4^th.

2012 and 2021 PGA Championship host, Kiawah Island is a linksy layout and each of those events were won by Open champions: Rory McIlroy (2012) and Phil Mickelson (2021). Lastly, I wonder if the two events in Texas – the Texas Open at TPC San Antonio and the Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course – could help. Wind is often a major factor in these events and both courses are reasonably open with challenging green surrounds.

TOURNAMENT TRENDS

• Previous form in The Open is usually a necessity. Nine of the last 10 winners had recorded a top-20 before; eight of which had a top-10. Only two debutants have won in the last 49 years: Ben Curtis (2003) and Collin Morikawa (2021).
• High-class major championship form in general is even more important. Each of the last 10 Open Championship winners had already won or finished 2^nd in a major.
• Every winner since 2014 had a PGA Tour victory to their name.
• Eight of the last 10 winners had previously recorded a victory earlier that year.
• Each of the last 10 winners had a top-25 finish in their last three starts; nine had a top-10.
• None of the last 10 winners arrived at the event off the back of a missed cut; eight of those winners finished inside the top 20 on their most recent start.

THE FIELD

Royal Portrush will welcome 49 of the world's top 50 players this week, headed by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Rory McIlroy comes next, returning to the venue at which he broke the old course record as a 16-year-old in 2005. He'll be desperate to put on a show for the home fans after missing the cut here in 2019.

World No. 3 Xander Schauffele is back as the defending champion and is one of 16 former winners in attendance. He is joined by Brian Harman (2023), Cam Smith (2022), Collin Morikawa (2021), Shane Lowry (2019), Francesco Molinari (2018), Jordan Spieth (2017), Henrik Stenson (2016), Zach Johnson (2015), Rory McIlroy (2014), Phil Mickelson (2013), Darren Clarke (2011), Louis Oosthuizen (2010), Stewart Cink (2009), Padraig Harrington (2008, 2007), and Justin Leonard (1997).

2025 Amateur Championship winner Ethan Fang will be hoping to take to the links of Royal Portrush as he did at Royal St George's earlier in the year; Chris Gotterup is rewarded with an Open Championship debut after his impressive win in last week's Scottish Open; and Sergio Garcia gets a place as the highest-ranking LIV player not already exempt.

There were also 20 spots available across four final qualifying events two weeks ago. Lee Westwood was one of the stories there, rolling back the years to earn his first Open Championship start since 2022, and Estonian amateur Richard Teder became the first player from his nation to qualify for a major championship.

*You can check out The Open Championship 2025 Odds and bet on this event over on betfred.com

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders: Scottie Scheffler 5/1, Rory McIlroy 13/2, Jon Rahm 11/1, Bryson DeChambeau 18/1, Ludvig Aberg 22/1, Shane Lowry 22/1, Tommy Fleetwood 22/1, Tyrrell Hatton 22/1, Xander Schauffele 22/1

The Open Championship is a tough major to win, and the style of golf makes it more difficult for favourites to enjoy success. Hence why Scottie Scheffler has only recorded a best of 7^th here, compared to finishing 2^nd or better in each of the other three. With that, I'm going to resist the temptation to back him, or the back-to-form Rory McIlroy.

Jon Rahm was the one of that top four that appealed most. He finished 11^th here in 2019 and has also gone well at Royal Troon and Royal St George's. However, at 10 points bigger than his starting price last year, and arriving having finally got the driver under control, I'm taking Xander Schauffele to become the first back-to-back Open champion since Padraig Harrington in 2008.

2.5 pts Xander Schauffele each-way (1/5 - 10 places) @ 22/1

There's no doubt Xander hasn't been at his best since returning from injury earlier this year, but nor have his performances really given cause for much concern. He hasn't missed a cut in 12 starts, recording seven top-25s and finishes of 8^th, 28^th and 12^th in the first three majors. Meanwhile, he equalled his previous best of the season in Scotland last week, finishing 8^th – a perfect warm-up as he returns to defend the Claret Jug.

He was the best ball-striker in the field last week and also ranked 1^st in approach and 3^rd in greens-in-regulation. The driver behaved much better than it has so far this season, ranking 7^th in driving accuracy and 18^th in driving distance. Although his short game isn't quite up to scratch as yet, it was a positive to see it fire in the final round, as he ranked 10^th on the greens.

Schauffele possesses an excellent Open Championship record, finishing no worse than 41^st in seven starts, and he has hit the top 20 on five occasions. His previous best was a runner-up finish at Carnoustie in 2018, but he went one better at Royal Troon last year thanks to that super final round. His impeccable links record is enhanced by four top-20s in five Scottish Open starts, including winning in 2022, and if able to maintain that precision off the tee, he's the clear value play from the top 10 in the betting at Royal Portrush.

1.25 pts Russell Henley each-way (1/5 - 10 places) @ 40/1

There are few players performing stronger than Russell Henley in 2025. He considerably improved a modest Open Championship record with a 5^th-place finish last year and with his game in even better shape, he looks ideally suited for another contending effort in Northern Ireland.

Henley has produced eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts this season, going best when winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier in the year. He arrives here following consecutive finishes of 5^th in the Memorial Tournament, 10^th in the US Open, and 2^nd in Travelers Championship, and though a four-week absence would ordinarily be a negative, he did overcome the same break to finish 5^th in this event in 2024.

He ranks 5^th on the PGA Tour in strokes-gained: total and is especially excellent around-the-greens and in approach, ranking 6^th and 15^th respectively. His valuable precision with the long game is further emphasised by rankings of 14^th in greens-in-regulation and driving accuracy; his rankings of 10^th in par 4 scoring and 34^th in putting complete a compelling statistical profile for the demands of Royal Portrush.

Henley has made 10 Open Championship appearances, recording five missed cuts and just one top-30 finish in his first nine. However, he blew that form out of the water last year, entering the final round one shot off the lead in 2^nd, before eventually finishing 5^th. As a player who won at PGA National in 2014 and has often handled the wind in Texas, including winning the 2017 Houston Open, his game has appeared well suited to links golf. I expect him to prove it again this week.

1 pt Patrick Reed each-way (1/5 - 10 places) @ 60/1

Patrick Reed has a solid record in The Open, but due to the quality of his short game and ability to play in the wind, it still feels a little underwhelming. However, his best ever result in the event did come here in 2019 and showing much better form in approach in 2025, he has the potential to hit new heights in the event this week, which will also help his case of a possible Ryder Cup return.

Reed began the season on the DP World Tour and his game looked sound, finishing 10^th in the Dubai Desert Classic and 8^th in the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. He was an impressive 3^rd in The Masters in April – an event in which he ranked 2^nd tee-to-green and may well have won if his putter had been up to its normal standard – and following another solid major effort when 23^rd in the US Open, he won his first LIV title in Dallas – winning a four-man playoff on what was a difficult, windy week.

Much like at Augusta, his long game was in great shape at Oakmont – where he ranked 8^th in ball-striking – but was surprisingly denied a higher finish due to his short game. He’s hitting his irons just about as well as ever in 2025 and finding plenty of fairways, the American looks primed for the test at Royal Portrush.

Reed has made nine starts in The Open, missing just three cuts and recording three top-20s. His 10^th-place finish here in 2019 rates as his standout result, and having won several times by the coast, most notably at Torrey Pines in 2021 and Liberty National in 2019, he is well equipped to handle any wind that may arrive this week.

1 pt Ben Griffin each-way (1/5 - 10 places) @ 66/1

Ben Griffin’s progress in 2025 has been one of the stories of the season on the PGA Tour, which has resulted in him winning twice and hitting the top 10 in two majors. His excellent short game is a great advantage on the links, and with a long game now performing just as strongly, I think he’ll improve considerably on his two Open Championship missed cuts.

Signs were positive for Griffin at the start of the season, as he finished 7^th in The AmEx and recorded 4^th-place finishes both in Mexico and at the Cognizant Classic. He finally broke through on the PGA Tour at the Zurich Classic – alongside teammate Andrew Novak – and has gone from strength to strength since. In less than two months he has won the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial, recorded finishes of 8^th in the PGA Championship and 10^th in the US Open, and for a long time he was a viable contender to Scottie Scheffler in the Memorial Tournament, before eventually settling for 2^nd.

He did miss the cut on his latest start in the John Deere Classic two weeks ago. Although, his tee-to-green game still looked to be in great shape and I’m happy to forgive him that minor blip at the end of what has been the most hectic period of his career.

His approach play and short game have been assets since he stepped up to the PGA Tour, but he has majorly stepped up off the tee in 2025, driving it both further and straighter. He’s now got a perfectly-balanced game, ranking inside the top 50 in each strokes-gained area – a skillset that should translate to just about anywhere.

Griffin has missed the cut in both of his Open Championship starts, though only narrowly in 2023 and he’s a much better player now. In addition, he’s made the cut in both Scottish Open appearances, finishing 25^th in 2023 and 39^th last year, and based on St. Simons Island in Georgia, he’s no stranger to playing golf by the coast – something he put to good use to finish 4^th in the Cognizant Classic at PGA National back in March.

1 pt Tom Kim each-way (1/5 - 10 places) @ 110/1

A return to Scotland brought about Tom Kim’s best finish since February last week. He’s a player who has taken to the links with ease and with signs that he has rediscovered form in approach in recent starts, I’m happy to chance him finding further improvement in Northern Ireland.

Kim ended last year in excellent form and after finishing 7^th at Pebble Beach on his third start of 2025, I expected him to kick on. He’s done anything but, failing to record a single top-30 finish in his next 16 starts, though he put that right at The Renaissance Club, finishing 17^th.

The Korean had been out of sorts with his irons since April. He hit them brilliantly in the John Deere Classic two weeks ago, despite missing the cut, and maintained that last week, ranking 5^th in approach and greens-in-regulation. He also drove it straight, ranking 10^th in driving accuracy and with his short game also showing improvements after a sluggish start to the season – ranking 11^th in scrambling last week – his game is coming together at the perfect time.

Kim showed promise in his Open Championship debut in 2022, finishing 47^th, and built on that in a big way the following year, finishing 2^nd to Brian Harman at Hoylake. His links suitability is enhanced by a super Scottish Open record, finishing 3^rd on debut in 2022, and following with finishes of 6^th, 15^th, and 17^th in the last three years.

1 pt Kristoffer Reitan each-way (1/5 - 10 places) @ 225/1

There are a huge 10 places on offer this week and I’m hoping to take advantage of that by taking in-form Norwegian, Kristoffer Reitan at a big price. He performed admirably at a three-figure price when we were on last week, finishing 13^th, and hitting the ball superbly, he’s worth another shot at course where his combination of length and accuracy off the tee will be a major advantage.

Reitan returned for his second stint on the DP World Tour at the start of this season and performed solidly enough, but he has taken his form to another level in the last three months. He’s picked up six top-15 finishes in his previous eight starts, winning his first title at this level in the Soudal Open, and went close twice more, finishing runner-up in the Hainan Classic and Austrian Alpine Open. After being slow to get going last week he finished 13^th in the Scottish Open, where he was paired with Scottie Scheffler in the final round and bounced back from a sloppy start to shoot three-under on the back nine.

His ball-striking was excellent there, ranking 6^th off-the-tee – thanks to a combination of 10^th in accuracy and 14^th in distance – and was also inside the top 25 in approach and greens-in-regulation. That was very much representative of his wider performances this season. The putter ultimately let him down, but he’s largely putted well of late and 6^th on tour in par 4 scoring, he ticks a lot of boxes statistically.

Reitan hasn’t played in The Open before, with a missed cut in the 2018 US Open as an amateur his only major appearance to date. That being said, he does have some links pedigree – aside from that eye-catching performance at The Renaissance Club – as he led the stroke-play section of the Boy’s Amateur in 2016, and also finished 5^th and 25^th in this regard in the two previous editions – an event that is always played on UK & Ireland links courses.

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