2025 Open Championship: Its Prep Time

Posted on July 14, 2025
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The Open returns to Royal Portrush after last hosting an Open Championship in 2019 at the Dunluce Links when Lowry outdueled Tommylad in some challenging conditions from start to finish.

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Designed by Old Tom Morris and then tweaked by Harry Colt in the 1920s and 1930s. Portrush is a brute and gem at the same time. Known for its bumps and hollows across the fairways and greens, its a course where continual precision will be key requirement to become the Champion Golfer of the Year.



Last year we were treated to a rollercoaster at The Open , the last day at Troon had it all and then with 5 holes to play, X started to pull away as he found his unerring stride. The weather caused havoc all week, with so many hopefuls in the mix to win and it ended with a crowded leaderboard that would have been hard to predict. That same toughness can be expected again for the final major of the year at Royal Portrush.



Weather forecasts are for cold, wet and windy weather all week, in typical fashion, though the players will be hoping for something different.

Keep an eye open for the majorpunter changes introduced last year, with a no-subs option, adding a 6th pick and the addition of another wildcard. See the updated RULES on the site, which also include a no-sympathy approach to players withdrawing once the first tee shot has gone off.



In 2019, Lowry was in mixed form, but found some fire from the local crowd and had a sublime freak week. In reality, he is in much better form this time around, finding his stride in the past 18 months, especially with his iron play. Perhaps he might even have a chance at a defense.
Scoring was very tough in 2019, though Lowry was able to shift gears with a brilliant 63 on Saturday and ultimately won easily, by 6 shots to claim the Claret Jug.

Last week was a cracker in Scotland for The Scottish Open where players tuned up their links games in time for the trip to The Open this coming week. The latest qualifiers stamped their tickets there, with Gotterup coming to Portrush with a significant bit of form after an impressive win against a very strong field.



The Headliners:
The list of potential winners at a place like the The Open is wide open. The draw can favour a particular side and of course, its a week where players can find their Links games faster than others. 2024 had so many potential winners as we rolled into Sunday, even heading into the final 9 it was not locked down yet.

X came through the pack and had outlasted through some of the worst of the weather in a challenging spell early on in the week. What a Championship it was!

The list of Open winners before reads a picture: X (’24), Harmie (’23), Cambo (‘22), Collin (’21), Lowry (’19), Moli (’18). A real mixed bag of different skill sets.

Scottie & Rory are both chasing their 2nd major of the year, which has only been done a handful of times. Those who have done it multiple times in the last 50 years is only Watson, Tiger & Jack, a very short list that Rory can join.



Its obviously a hunt for Ryder Cup places and a good showing could lock that up for either of the teams. Then the band of youngsters chasing a 1st major (or a 2nd) is a powerhouse mix. So much talent in the mix, littering the top of the DATA GOLF RANKINGS.
Some of those youngsters had good finishes in Scotland as a nice lead up like Fitzy, The Hov & aBerg, but there was also nice form from the bog dogs too.



The Defending Champ:
X has struggled this year with fitness and form, though he takes his defence very seriously. It was a masterclass in 2024 and he will hit those highs again.



The Field
The Open Championship FIELD is a great mix of seasoned pro’s and then a strong list of qualifiers including players from the LIV and other global Tours, plus a variety of professionals and amateurs who went through various qualifying routes over the course of the previous 12 months, culminating last week with the final 3.

The Open allows former champions to enter, up to the age of 55 so expect a few veterans to be in attendance. Padraig & Lefty will be there though the cold weather on those bones might not be ideal.



For an in-depth analysis of the top candidates from CBS GOLF and GOLF MONTHLY.

The Course and Surrounds
Royal Portrush, is a supreme test, like every major, but is unique in its greens being so undulating and of course, its layout not being a classic out then in, rather a weave of to and fro.

Its a great Links layout with terrific mounds protecting greens, extremely undulating putting surfaces and totally exposed to a very tempestuous sea.
Its most famous hole, the 16th, is known as Calamity Corner. Its a brute of a par 3, where panic will be the only constant, though the 5th also stands out (top of image), with the green inches from the out of bounds stakes that lead to a cliff and the ocean below.



Potential Favourites:
Scottie
The world # 1, a major winner in 2025 at The PGA will be looking at a cold putter and going if only. The good news is that Royal Portrush is known to favour ball striking over putting prowess. This might be his major with weather expected to be brutal just like he experienced at both Liverpool and Troon.
BDC
Loves major golf but has a miserable record at The Open and we just can’t see that changing looking at the conditions, the golf course and the weather. Zero links tune up either.
Rory
Already had a stellar year, with notable wins plus The Masters of course. He is a 2nd major win away from a monumental season. Found some renewed form at The Scottish Open, despite coming up short which won’t hurt him in the slightest. He will be full of fire come Thursday. Don’t forget he once posted a 61 here as an amateur.



The Others:
The list of possible first timers at an Open is always long, especially with turbulent weather predicted. There are many top contenders via DATA GOLF RANKINGS having never won a major.

aBerg: has blown hot and cold this year, but managed to sneak some form at the form Scottish Open last week.
Rahmbo: Definitely turned the major corner this year and re-found his competitive spirit in a big 4 round tournament. Holder of 2 majors, why not add a 3rd?
MadHatter: he has a better record in majors of late, without really competing. is he ready to finally stake a real claim for a major win? Time will tell!



Reminder of the majorpunter rules, with a no-subs option, but having 6 picks including 2 wildcards. See the RULES on the site, which also include a no-sympathy approach to players withdrawing once the first tee shot has gone off.