Who is the favourite to win the The Open Championship 2025?

Daily Mirror

5 days ago

Golf's finest go head-to-head in the final major of the year as they arrive at Royal Portrush including Northern Ireland's very own Rory McIlroy who is surprisingly not the bookies favourite
Golf's greats will once again descend on the dramatic links of Royal Portrush for the 2025 Open Championship, returning to a course that last witnessed Shane Lowry's unforgettable triumph in 2019. That year, Lowry delivered a dominant display, finishing at 15 under par—so far ahead that only nine others finished within eleven shots. His win wasn't just about handling the pressure or mastering the greens; it was a celebration of those who could drive it straight and strike pure irons, a pattern that defined the leaderboard.
Reviewing the top performers from that week—Tommy Fleetwood, Tony Finau, Brooks Koepka, Lee Westwood, Rickie Fowler, Tyrrell Hatton, Danny Willett, Robert MacIntyre, and Patrick Reed—it's clear that accuracy and consistency with long clubs were prized over sheer distance or short-game heroics. Portrush is no pushover; it rewards those who can keep their ball in play and hit precise approaches while punishing even minor lapses.
What made 2019 remarkable was how even the world's best found the course a stern test. Of the top six in the Official World Golf Ranking at the time, only Koepka cracked the top 20. In majors where big names often dominate, Portrush levelled the playing field—demanding unwavering quality over reputation.
The layout at Royal Portrush is a true test of nerve and shot-making. When you're dialled in, there are low scores to be had. But for anyone off their game, mistakes add up quickly and dramatically. Unlike some other Open venues where scoring tends to bunch up, Portrush exposes both excellence and frailty. The opening hole alone sets nerves jangling with out-of-bounds on both sides—just ask Rory McIlroy about his experience there.
Looking ahead to this year's contest, Portrush is set up perfectly for those who excel with their irons and drive it accurately. It isn't a place for players to simply overpower trouble or rely on miraculous recoveries around every green. Instead, it demands composure under pressure and technical brilliance throughout four days.
In this context, Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler stand out as likely contenders. Scheffler especially seems poised for a breakthrough at The Open—his ability to find fairways and hit crisp approaches fits exactly what Portrush requires. If he can avoid the hazards that lurk off every tee and approach, he could well be lifting his first Claret Jug come Sunday.
Who is the favourite to win The Open?
Despite Rory McIlroy's impressive display at the Scottish Open, Scottie Scheffler is priced as the favourite to win legendary Claret Jug in Northern Ireland this weekend. The American is best priced at 6/1 with Sky Bet to win the competition in what will be only his fourth major win and first Open Championship victory.
Other bookies are listing Scheffler at 5/1 including Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and Unibet while William Hill and SpreadEx have the current PGA Championship winner on 11/2.
The world number one is keen to get his hands in the Jug in what has been the only major he has struggled with in comparison. This and the US Open are the remaining majors to win to secure a Career Grand Slam having already picked up the PGA Championship this year and two Green Jackets in the Masters in 2022 and 2024.
The Open Championship 2025 Outright Odds
Scottie Scheffler - 6/1
Rory McIlroy - 13/2
Jon Rahm - 12/1
Bryson DeChambeau - 22/1
Ludvig Aberg - 22/1
Tommy Fleetwood - 22/1
Tyrrell Hatton - 25/1
Shane Lowry - 25/1
Robert MacIntyre - 28/1
Viktor Hovland - 28/1
Collin Morikawa - 33/1
BAR - 66/1
18+ | Gamble responsibly | gambleaware.org | Odds subject to change | Odd supplied by Sky Bet
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