The 2025 PGA Tour season is accelerating towards its dramatic conclusion. With three major championships already contested, all eyes are now fixed on the final, historic test: The Open Championship, returning to the hallowed links of Royal Portrush Golf Club from July 17-20. This period isn`t just about major glory; it`s a critical juncture for players vying for position in the FedEx Cup playoffs and, perhaps even more significantly, demonstrating their mettle for coveted spots on the Ryder Cup teams.
Preparation is key. The John Deere Classic in Illinois offers one route, while the Genesis Scottish Open in North Berwick provides a crucial links tune-up. Many of the world`s best are opting for the latter, seeking to acclimate to the unique demands of coastal golf before the ultimate test.
Against this backdrop of anticipation and intense competition, assessing current form becomes paramount. Can the world No. 1 continue his dominant run? Will past major champions find their stride? Who are the dark horses peaking at the right time? Based on performance over the season, recent momentum, and results in the majors contested so far, here is an assessment of the players currently setting the pace on the PGA Tour as they prepare for the ultimate links challenge.
PGA Tour Power Rankings: The Final Major Countdown
1. Scottie Scheffler
The current world No. 1 continues to redefine consistency. Scheffler`s season has been remarkable, featuring three significant victories including a major (PGA Championship) and the Memorial Tournament. His record shows an almost unbelievable streak of finishes inside the top 25 across 14 starts, often landing comfortably within the top 8. As he eyes the career grand slam at Royal Portrush, his form suggests he`s the man to beat. His previous outing on links turf at the Renaissance Club hints at comfort, but The Open is a different beast entirely.
2. Rory McIlroy
After a dominant run earlier in the year, McIlroy has faced a self-described “funk” since the Masters. A period in the UK aims to reset ahead of The Open. His successful defense of the Genesis Scottish Open crown last year demonstrates his links prowess. The narrative is potent: returning to Royal Portrush, the site of a memorable missed cut in 2019. Can he rewrite that history and claim his fifth major and first Claret Jug since 2014?
3. Russell Henley
At 36, Henley appears to be in peak form, evidenced by eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts and a victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. His consistent play nearly netted another win at the Travelers Championship. Notably, his best major performance came at last year`s Open Championship, suggesting a growing comfort with links golf at just the right time.
4. J.J. Spaun
The unexpected champion of the U.S. Open, Spaun proved his mettle under immense pressure, draining a memorable birdie on the 72nd hole. Far from a one-off, he had already banked two runner-up finishes earlier this season. His surge in form and major victory have propelled him high into the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, making him look like a near-certainty for Captain Bradley`s squad. He`s carrying serious momentum.
5. Sepp Straka
Austria`s Sepp Straka boasts two tour victories this season, showcasing high-level ball-striking. However, his major championship record this year is, politely, wanting (three missed cuts). Despite this peculiar dichotomy, his strong results elsewhere and a runner-up finish at last year`s Open suggest he finds links conditions agreeable, keeping him firmly in the European Ryder Cup picture even if he needs a captain`s pick.
6. Justin Thomas
While his 2025 major performances have been below his elite standard, Justin Thomas has otherwise enjoyed a solid comeback season, snapping a long winless streak at the RBC Heritage in a playoff and adding multiple runner-up finishes. His overall body of work makes him a formidable player, and despite the major stumbles, his inclusion on the U.S. Ryder Cup team seems almost guaranteed.
7. Keegan Bradley
The U.S. Ryder Cup Captain finds himself in a curious position: he`s playing so well, he might just force himself onto his own team. Bradley`s recent victory at the Travelers Championship caps a strong run including top-10s in the PGA Championship and Memorial. Currently sitting high in the points list and climbing the Official World Golf Ranking, the question isn`t just if he`s playing well enough, but the slightly awkward reality of whether Captain Bradley gives Player Bradley a call.
8. Ben Griffin
Ben Griffin is arguably the story of the summer, transforming a `heater` into sustained red-hot form. A team win at the Zurich Classic, a solo victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge, a runner-up against a top field, and top-10s in two majors highlight a phenomenal stretch. His ascent in the world rankings and Ryder Cup points feels rapid and well-earned; it would take a significant dip for him to miss out.
9. Collin Morikawa
The two-time major champion has navigated a somewhat inconsistent patch but showed signs of his elite ball-striking returning with a strong finish at the Rocket Classic. While a win has proven elusive this season since October 2023, his resume still includes two runner-up finishes and numerous top-25s. A notable off-course detail: he`s currently navigating a caddie change, adding another variable as he heads to Royal Portrush.
10. Xander Schauffele
The man with the Claret Jug gets something of a pass for a quieter summer, having dealt with a rib injury that cost him about two months. Despite the layoff, he`s posted respectable finishes in the majors since returning. While he hasn`t dominated leaderboards, his consistent presence high up in Ryder Cup points underscores his overall standing. As the defending champion, Royal Portrush offers him the perfect stage to remind everyone of his capabilities.
11. Tommy Fleetwood
Another heart-breaking near miss at the Travelers Championship left the English golfer still searching for his first PGA Tour victory. He has played like one of the best in the world this year with five top-10s and eleven top-25s, positioning himself second in the European Ryder Cup points standings. His advanced statistics, particularly strokes gained: total and approach, paint a picture of consistently excellent play.
12. Harris English
English has played very well this season, especially in the tour`s biggest events. He picked up his fifth PGA Tour victory at the Farmers Insurance Open and tied for second in the PGA Championship. His consistent presence on leaderboards, coupled with a noted putting prowess, keeps him firmly in contention for a U.S. Ryder Cup spot.
13. Viktor Hovland
Hovland`s swing continues to be a work in progress, but he still managed a victory at the Valspar Championship and a solo third at the U.S. Open. A withdrawal from the Travelers Championship due to a neck injury is a recent concern, but his inclusion in the Scottish Open field suggests he`s ready for the links challenge.
14. Maverick McNealy
The 29-year-old former Stanford star is enjoying his best professional season, capturing his first PGA Tour win at the RSM Classic and adding multiple top-five finishes. While major championship results haven`t been stellar this year, a strong performance heading towards the FedEx Cup playoffs could still see him make a case for a Ryder Cup debut.
15. Ludvig Åberg
It has been a surprisingly inconsistent FedEx Cup season for the highly touted Swedish golfer. After winning for the second time on tour at the Genesis Invitational and finishing seventh at the Masters, Åberg hasn`t had a top-10 finish in his past seven starts. While efficient off the tee, his struggles around the green and with the putter have hampered his results recently.
16. Shane Lowry
The Irish golfer probably needed a break after missing the cut at the U.S. Open and a quiet finish at the Travelers Championship. His iron play has been spectacular this season, ranking second in strokes gained: approach. However, his work on the greens? Yeah, not so much, as the statistics confirm. He`s heading back to his happy place, including Royal Portrush Golf Club, where he famously hoisted a Claret Jug in 2019. The memories alone might be worth a few strokes.
17. Andrew Novak
After a sizzling stretch that saw Novak tie for third, fall to Thomas in a playoff, and win the Zurich Classic with Griffin, he cooled off a bit the past couple of months. Recent finishes suggest the game`s still there, but he`ll need to reignite that earlier form to climb higher heading into the season`s final stretch.
18. Corey Conners
Conners was playing very well, including five top-10s, until a wrist injury forced him to withdraw before the final round of the U.S. Open. His subsequent absence from tour events is a concern heading into The Open. His return will be watched closely.
19. Brian Harman
Harman, the 2023 Open Championship winner, could use another hot stretch to crack the top six of the U.S. Ryder Cup points standings – or to at least make Captain Bradley`s captain`s choices more difficult. Currently 12th in points, he won the Valero Texas Open and tied for third at the RBC Heritage. A solo eighth at the Travelers Championship is a sign his form might be trending back upwards as he eyes a repeat at Royal Portrush.
20. Robert MacIntyre
MacIntyre has been heating up again – he was solo second in the U.S. Open and tied for 17th at the Travelers Championship. Now, the Scottish golfer gets to return home for the Scottish Open, where he`s the defending champion and was runner-up in 2023. He tied for sixth in the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush as a 22-year-old. The homecoming narrative is strong here.
21. Sam Burns
Burns` late struggles in difficult conditions on the back nine of the final round of the U.S. Open shouldn`t entirely overshadow his spectacular performance there, or his playoff loss at the RBC Canadian Open just prior. His game had been trending in the right direction for weeks, marked by several top-10s and top-25s. He remains a threat if he can maintain concentration under major pressure.
22. Patrick Cantlay
It`s hard to imagine that Cantlay won`t be on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, but he has to do something – anything – to strengthen his argument for automatic inclusion. Cantlay`s tie for fourth at the Truist Championship was his only top-10 since mid-February. His ball-striking statistics suggest he should be much better, ranking high in approach and tee-to-green metrics. The results just aren`t matching the underlying data.
23. Ryan Fox
After taking his first PGA Tour victory in a playoff at the OneFlight Myrtle Beach Classic, Fox didn`t have to wait long for his second, winning another playoff at the RBC Canadian Open. Two wins in four starts is undeniable form and has rightfully propelled him significantly up the Official World Golf Ranking.
24. Hideki Matsuyama
When the former Masters champion took the season-opening Sentry in Hawai`i in January, it seemed like he was ready for a standout season. Surprisingly, it remains his only top-10 finish in 17 starts on tour this season. His major record this year is uncharacteristically quiet, marked by struggles off the tee and poor driving accuracy statistics. A significant turnaround is needed to contend.
25. Daniel Berger
Berger looked like a serious contender for the Ryder Cup team earlier in the season, but he needs to turn around his form after a sluggish stretch in which he missed two cuts and posted quiet finishes at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship. Currently 18th in the Ryder Cup points standings, time is running short to make a significant move.
Just missed the cut: Sungjae Im, Nick Taylor, Jason Day, Thomas Detry, Aldrich Potgieter, Cameron Young, Michael Kim, Jacob Bridgeman.
This ranking provides a snapshot of the form and momentum within the PGA Tour`s top echelon as they converge on Royal Portrush. With major glory, FedEx Cup positioning, and Ryder Cup berths on the line, the next few weeks promise compelling drama. The Open Championship, with its unique challenges, stands as the ultimate test and a potential springboard for those seeking to cap their season with a defining performance.
Murray Blackwood 
Gareth Pendleton