The Open Championship Preview

The 153rd Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush Golf Club from July 17-20, 2025, marking just the third time the iconic Northern Ireland venue has hosted the oldest major in golf. After Shane Lowry’s memorable 2019 victory at Portrush, fans and players alike are eagerly anticipating a dramatic return to the rugged Dunluce Links, a course known for its scenic beauty and treacherous layout.

Royal Portrush, a par-71 measuring 7,381 yards, offers a pure links experience along the coastline. Known for its unpredictable weather, deep pot bunkers, undulating fairways, and punishing rough, the Dunluce course demands imagination and resilience. Holes like the infamous par-3 16th, “Calamity Corner” will test even the most elite ball-strikers, especially under Open Sunday pressure. With wind and weather always a factor, this year’s Open promises a battle of strategy as much as power.

The field is stacked with talent. World number one Scottie Scheffler enters as the odds-on favorite following a dominant season that includes wins at both the PGA Championship and The Players. He’s consistently been in the hunt at majors and seems poised to raise the Claret Jug for the first time. Rory McIlroy, representing Northern Ireland, is the emotional favorite. After a heartbreaking missed cut at Portrush in 2019, he was quoted as saying, “This is my Everest,” referring to the emotional weight of contending on his home soil.

Other top contenders include defending Open champion Xander Schauffele, who won at Royal Troon last year, and Jon Rahm, whose game fits the Open style perfectly. Brooks Koepka and Collin Morikawa, both proven major winners, also cannot be discounted.

Dark horses to watch include South African, Thirston Lawrence, who finished T4 in the 2024 Open, and US Open runner-up Robert MacIntyre of Scotland, who thrives in windy, coastal conditions. The unpredictability of the Open often allows for surprises, with recent years showcasing unexpected contenders and thrilling finishes.

Organizers expect record attendance, with more than 275,000 spectators anticipated across the week, and millions more tuning in around the globe. The atmosphere will be electric, especially if McIlroy mounts a charge. But the Open’s charm lies in its history and unpredictability. From Tom Watson’s duels with Jack Nicklaus, to Tiger’s brilliance, the Claret Jug always writes its own script – and in 2025, Royal Portrush is the stage once again.

Will the home crowd carry Rory to glory? Can Scheffler extend his historic run? Or will a new name etch himself into golf history? One thing is certain, the eyes of the entire golf world will be firmly fixed on Northern Ireland in mid-July.

Don Brown

Don has been playing this great game for nearly 50 years…loves the challenge that a new round brings, the grind of holding together a quality round, the lifetime of friendships forged, the beautiful scenery to enjoy and of course a cold beer or two on the 19th hole. He's the proud host of the Penn Masters Golf Championship for 28 years, the country’s largest amatuer golf getaway…also known as the ‘Greatest Event in All of Golf.’ He resides in Liverpool with his wife Lauren and has two daughters in college curently at The University of Tampa and Fransican University of Steubenville.