The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush, in Northern Ireland, for the first time in six years.
The tournament will begin on Thursday morning to see who will lift the famous Claret Jug for the 153rd Open. But who are some of the players to keep an eye on for the week? Here are seven of the players (from the field of 156) to keep a close eye on.
Rory McIlroy
2025 has been the year that McIlroy has waited a long time for, regardless of his form since he completed the Grand Slam in April.
He was never in contention for the PGA Championship or the US Open and admitted that he had climbed his 'Everest' by finally winning the Masters and had lacked motivation for the following majors.
But an Open Championship at Royal Portrush is totally different. The course is one that he played at as a youngster, given that he grew up locally to it.
Hence, returning to his native country as a Grand Slam winner is as big as it may ever get for McIlroy in a major, from now, and he is undeniably motivated to do well this week.
A runner-up at last week's Scottish Open, the grand slam winner is dialled in with links golf season, but is looking to win the Claret Jug for the second time.
He failed to make the cut at the 152nd Open, at Royal Troon, and did not make it to the weekend when the Open was last at Portrush, in 2019, but he is not the same golfer as he was then and is a grand slam champion ready to make a statement.
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Scottie Scheffler
In May, the world number one added the PGA Championship to his two Masters titles en route to his personal quest for the Grand Slam.
Only the US Open and the Open stand in his way of achieving that, but the latter is very much his weakest of the four majors. Despite his incredibly impressive resume, Scheffler has a best Open finish of tied-seventh which was achieved last year.
However, Scheffler has never failed to make the cut at the Open Championship and his form looks potentially ominous. At last weekend's Scottish Open, he was the leader in the tee-to-green standings, seventh on approaches but lost out with his short-game.
Scottie Scheffler at Scottish Open:
— Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) July 13, 2025
1st SG: Tee-to-Green
118th SG: Puttingpic.twitter.com/9DyfbGFjHK
Should Scheffler get on top of his putting at Portrush, there is a very real possibility that he wins his second major of 2025.
Xander Schauffele
No player since Padraig Harrington, in 2008, has successfully defend their Open Championship title and this season has not been as kind to the reigning champion golfer of the year as the last was.
Currently outside of the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings after being held back by injury, the American put together a strong week at the Scottish Open with a tie for eighth to demonstrate a return to form.
Retaining the Claret Jug would probably mark Schauffele's greatest career achievement, so that in itself is a reason to keep an eye out for him.
Robert MacIntyre
Like Schauffele, the Scotsman has no wins on tour this year, but ended last month's US Open very strongly to finish solo second to JJ Spaun (even if his day was more so remembered for his respect shown to Spaun's remarkable winning putt).
A classy reaction from Bob MacIntyre as JJ Spaun holed the winning putt at the US Open 🏆👏 pic.twitter.com/It8le2i6AE
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 16, 2025
He was also in strong form when Portrush held the 148th Open, where he wound up in a tie for sixth.
A winner of a links course event, winning last year's Scottish Open, there are signs for the world number 14 to have another competitive week.
Jon Rahm
The Spaniard has returned to his gritty and enthralling demeanour in this year's majors. He shared the lead with Scottie Scheffler during the final round of May's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, before tumbling down the leader board during the back nine.
He also finished alongside Scheffler at the 125th US Open and, like the world number one, will look to complete the third quarter of his grand slam pursuit this week.
With his form at the tournament, there is every reason to believe that he will be towards the top again. A top ten finisher in three of the last four Open Championships (including a tie for second at Royal Liverpool, in 2023), 'Rambo' will look to win end major season on a high, and perhaps make himself un-droppable for September's Ryder Cup.
Patrick Reed
Both on LIV and in the majors, Patrick Reed has caught the attention of many in 2025.
Just a couple of shots off victory during April's Masters, Reed recently won LIV's Dallas event to confirm his strong form.
Also another player who finished inside the top ten at the Open six years back, Reed inarguably has the capability to score well at Portrush.
Shane Lowry
The Irishman earned an emotional home victory, when he triumphed at Portrush during the 2019 Open. A second lift of the Claret Jug would only cement his place further in the championship's decorated history.
With four top ten finishes on tour this year Lowry skipped the Scottish Open, like he did before his greatest week six years back.
But if anyone knows how to excel on this course, it is him.