The last major of golf's calendar year, The Open Championship, gets going from Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland on Thursday. It should be an unforgettable weekend of golf, with the best in the world trying to conquer one of the more challenging links courses in Europe.
Royal Portrush became the first course outside Great Britain to host an Open Championship back in 1951. Now, after also hosting in 2019, it will become the first course non-British venue to host three different Opens.
Portrush will certainly play a starring role in the tournament. Sitting off the coast of Northern Ireland, it features stunning scenery but can also get wet and windy. The course itself has some dramatic elevation changes, difficult terrain, bold green complexes, and deep bunkers. It's not an easy test, by any measure.
Of course, veteran pro Shane Lowry made it look easy six years ago. The Ireland native won the 2019 Open at -15 — clearing the runner-up, Tommy Fleetwood, by six strokes — to win his first major title. Can the Irishman take down a second one in 2025? Or, will his mate Rory McIlroy step up like he did at the Masters?
Scottie Scheffler opens the tournament as the odds-on favourite, which at this point is like saying "water is wet." The world No. 1 and McIlroy (No. 2) are joined by LIV Golfers Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau — regular contenders at every major — atop the odds board. World No. 3 Xander Schauffele rounds out the top five, just above Fleetwood.
While preparing a betting slip for The Open, consider targeting players who drive the ball accurately, excel on approach shots, and scramble well. It's easy to fall off one's game at Royal Portrush, but the consistent fairway and greens-in-regulation snipers can really make some noise.
Let's take a look at the complete pre-tournament odds board for the 2025 Open Championship, then reveal our best bets, top value wagers and favourite long-shot pick to win the 153rd edition of the major, courtesy of our betting expert Sloan Piva.
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Open Championship 2025 betting tips, predictions and pre-tournament odds
All pre-tournament outright odds courtesy of Bet365 unless otherwise stated and correct at start of tournament. Displaying odds 70/1 or shorter.
| Golfer | Odds |
| Scottie Scheffler | 17/4 |
| Rory McIlroy | 15/2 |
| Jon Rahm | 12/1 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 25/1 |
| Xander Schauffele | 25/1 |
| Tyrell Hatton | 30/1 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 30/1 |
| Ludvig Aberg | 30/1 |
| Shane Lowry | 33/1 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | 33/1 |
| Viktor Hovland | 35/1 |
| Patrick Cantlay | 40/1 |
| Robert MacIntyre | 45/1 |
| Justin Rose | 50/1 |
| Russell Henley | 50/1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 50/1 |
| Sam Burns | 50/1 |
| Colin Morikawa | 50/1 |
| Justin Thomas | 55/1 |
| Jaoquinn Niemann | 55/1 |
| Sepp Straka | 60/1 |
| Nicolai Hojgaard | 60/1 |
| Adam Scott | 66/1 |
| Corey Connors | 66/1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 70/1 |
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Odds correct at start of tournament, click links below to bet.
Rory McIlroy (7/1, Paddy Power)
McIlroy experienced a rollercoaster of emotions during the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush, the first major in his native Northern Ireland since 1951. He opened the tournament with an 8 on hole No. 1 and finished Round 1 with a disastrous 79, but battled back with a 65 on Friday and very nearly made the cut.
Expect a performance closer to the 65 than the 79 this time around, as McIlroy is in strong form and his nerves won't be quite as high in his second go at Royal Portrush. He already has a major this year — his first Masters win — and it wouldn't be surprising in the least if he took down his second Open Championship next (his last Open win was 2014 at Royal Liverpool).
McIlroy doesn't drive the ball as accurately as many in this field, but he more than makes up for it with his elite off-the-tee power, his strong approach game and scrambling ability, and his masterful putting. We're putting at least a small wager on the Northern Irishman to emerge victorious in his home country.
And McIlroy is also the subject of a huge 40/1 boosted offer from Paddy Power, which offers punters amazing value on him just making the cut!
The Irish firm are offering that special price as part of an Open Championship promo. You can find all the details on that below.
How to claim Paddy Power 40/1 offer on Rory McIlroy to make the cut at the 2025 Open Championship
- CLICK HERE to open a new account with code YSACKX
- Deposit a minimum of £5 via card or Apple Pay.
- Place a max £1 bet on Rory McIlroy to make the cut at the Open Championship 2025 before 7 p.m. on July 18.
- Any winnings will be paid in cash at normal odds, topped up to an enhanced price in free bets valid for 7 days.
- The offer excludes the following bet types: Canadian, Goliath, Heinz, Lucky 15, Lucky 31, Lucky 63, Patent, Super Heinz, Trixie & Yankee
- Cashed Out, Partially Cashed Out and Power Price bets will not count towards the promotion. If you place a qualifying bet and subsequently use Cash Out on the bet, you will no longer be eligible for the promotion.
- Check the link above for full terms and conditions.
Open Championship 2025 best value bets
Shane Lowry (33/1, AK Bets)
If you have a few moments today, do yourself a favor and check Lowry's highlights from his 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush. The Irishman put on a masterclass through the first three rounds, highlighted by an astonishing 63 on Saturday, paving the way to a cruise-controlled path to victory on Sunday.
How can we possibly avoid Lowry at these odds? Even if you don't want to bite at 33/1 outright, you should at least consider betting him 20/1 to finish in the top 10. Nobody in this field will begin this tournament with more confidence than Lowry, the 18th-ranked player in the world.
Tommy Fleetwood (25/1, Betfair)
Fleetwood has been playing stellar golf of late, and he has established himself as one of the more well-rounded players in the world. He also finished runner-up to Lowry in 2019, so he clearly won't be intimidated by Royal Portrush. It will be fun to root for Fleetwood to bag his first career major championship, just like Lowry did six years ago.
MORE: Weather updates for Open weekend
Open Championship 2025 top long-shot bets
Sepp Straka (50/1, Betfair)
Straka has two wins this season, but he's yielding long odds because he has missed the cut in all three major championships. That poor run should end this weekend, as he has a skill set that blends well with Royal Portrush. He's coming off a solo 7th finish at the Scottish Open, and he has traditionally performed well at the Open. He's elite on approach and with the putter, and 17th on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy. Put a small wager on Straka to win or finish top 20.
Ryan Fox (275/1, Paddy Power)
Another golfer who already has two wins in 2025, Fox flies under the radar a bit. Just look at the form he's in, though! He won Myrtle Beach just over two months ago and the Canadian Open last month, and he has top-20 finishes in five of his past seven tournaments. His approach game and putter alone could put him in the conversation of Claret Jug contenders. Even if you don't like him to win, consider him to finish in the top 20 or 30.
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