The golfing world converges once more on the rugged, windswept coast of Northern Ireland as Royal Portrush prepares to host the 2025 Open Championship, the final major of the season. The Dunluce Links, a revered test of skill and strategy, awaits the game`s elite, ready to crown the `Champion Golfer of the Year`. Six years after Shane Lowry`s triumphant homecoming, Portrush is poised again to provide a dramatic canvas for golf`s oldest major.
The 2025 major season has already delivered compelling narratives. Scottie Scheffler continued his dominant run with a PGA Championship victory, while Rory McIlroy finally completed the career Grand Slam at the Masters. The U.S. Open at Oakmont saw an unexpected victor in J.J. Spaun, adding another layer of intrigue to the season`s climax.
Now, the focus shifts to the unique challenge of links golf. The firm turf, unpredictable bounces, strategically placed pot bunkers, and the ever-present threat of challenging weather demand a different approach – one that prioritizes control, creativity, and patience over raw power. It`s a test that separates the truly adaptable from those who rely solely on their standard game.
The Familiar and the Favored
Naturally, the conversation begins with the players who have defined the season. Scottie Scheffler, the world`s top-ranked player, arrives as the de facto favorite in any event he enters. His consistency is staggering. However, the Open Championship has historically been his least dominant major. While he has recorded solid finishes, including a tie for seventh and a tie for eighth in past Opens, he`s also missed cuts or finished outside the top 20. Portrush presents an opportunity for Scheffler to solidify his global supremacy by conquering links golf in a way he hasn`t quite yet. His recent tie for eighth at the Scottish Open suggests his game isn`t far off, but links golf asks unique questions.
Spain`s Jon Rahm appears to be building momentum throughout 2025. Beyond his success on the LIV circuit, he has demonstrated strong performances in the year`s biggest events, including contention at the PGA Championship and a tie for seventh at the U.S. Open. Rahm`s fiery competitiveness seems tailor-made for the grind of an Open, and his tie for seventh at last year`s event hints that his game is rounding into form for this challenge. Given his stature in European golf, adding a Claret Jug to his résumé feels like a natural progression.
Then there is the narrative that sits closest to the heart of this championship: Rory McIlroy returning to the site of his famous 2019 missed cut. That week was an unexpected anticlimax. Fast forward to 2025, McIlroy has achieved the career Grand Slam but has spoken candidly about finding consistent motivation since that landmark Masters win. Yet, the pull of playing an Open on home soil, specifically at Portrush, is undeniable. A recent tie for second at the Scottish Open suggests the spark may have reignited at precisely the right time. The emotional weight is immense; whether it fuels or hinders him remains the week`s most captivating storyline.
Links Specialists and Intriguing Prospects
Some players inherently seem suited to the demands of links golf. Ireland`s own Shane Lowry, the champion here in 2019, understands the emotional energy and the specific demands of Portrush better than anyone in the field. His victory was commanding, fueled by the roars of the home crowd. While his major form this year has been inconsistent, discounting him at a venue where he has already achieved immortality would be foolish. The home advantage is real.
Collin Morikawa, a winner of the Open in 2021 at Royal St. George`s, possesses one of the game`s most elite iron games – a crucial asset on a links course requiring precise approaches. His ballstriking is arguably better now than when he won. However, putting continues to be an area of inconsistency. If he can find his stroke on the Portrush greens, his ability to hit fairways and greens will position him well. His major results this year have trended backward, but a return to links might be the catalyst he needs.
The unconventional might find a way, or might crash and burn. Bryson DeChambeau always brings intrigue, particularly on a links course. His approach to golf is analytical and powerful, but links demands finesse and adaptation. His Open record is mixed, ranging from a top-10 to missed cuts. Watching how he attempts to “crack the code” of Portrush will be fascinating, perhaps even darkly comical if the conditions turn sour and his driver misbehaves.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele arrives having had a quieter year compared to his two-major haul in 2024, partly due to injury. His strength has often been his steady, all-around game, which allowed him to come from behind last year. He`ll need that resilience at Portrush. Similarly, players like Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre possess games that feel well-suited to links golf, emphasizing control and strategic ball flight. Fleetwood has come close to a major and a win many times, and an Open feels like his best chance. MacIntyre showed impressive grit at the U.S. Open and is comfortable in the local conditions, despite a recent missed cut at the Scottish.
The Inconsistent, The Resurgent, and The Newcomers
Links golf can either expose inconsistency or be conquered by a player finding form at the right moment. Viktor Hovland embodies inconsistency; he can look lost one week and contend the next, as seen by his recent win following missed cuts, and a strong showing at the U.S. Open. His high ceiling is undeniable, but his low floor is equally present. Which version of Hovland will Portrush get?
Veterans like Justin Rose, who finished runner-up last year, prove that experience and current form can align for a major push, even at 44. Rose has had a roller-coaster year, but his performance at Troon demonstrates his capacity for links contention. Justin Thomas, surprisingly, has a poor Open record overall, but his best finish came at Portrush in 2019. Perhaps a return sparks something.
The influx of LIV players adds another layer of intrigue. Joaquín Niemann has been a consistent winner on LIV but has struggled to translate that dominance to the majors, missing the cut at Oakmont after a breakthrough top-10 at the PGA. Brooks Koepka`s form is currently a mystery after a withdrawal, though his major pedigree in tough conditions is unquestioned. Will he find his major gear at Portrush?
The newcomers to the Open spotlight, or those playing at a new level, are always worth watching. U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun faces the daunting task of backing up a shocking maiden major win with his first ever Open start. Ben Griffin has had a spectacular season on the PGA Tour with multiple wins, but has yet to make a cut in his limited Open appearances – this year feels different given his form. Corey Conners and Russell Henley, both elite ballstrikers, fit the mold of unexpected Open contenders who rely on accuracy, much like Brian Harman in 2022.
Anticipation Builds
Royal Portrush is ready. The contenders, a mix of proven champions, hopefuls, and intriguing wildcards, are ready. The stage is set for the final major of 2025. Links golf is notoriously unpredictable, often rewarding patience and creativity in equal measure. While rankings and recent form offer guidance, the unique challenge of the Open means the Champion Golfer of the Year could emerge from the top of any list, or perhaps from slightly further down, navigating the bounces and the breezes better than anyone else. The anticipation is palpable for what promises to be an epic conclusion to the major season.
Jasper Hawthorne