PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – The golfing world descends upon the historic links of Royal Portrush for the final major championship of 2025. Following a dramatic season that has already seen compelling major victories, the stage is set for another epic four rounds on the rugged Northern Irish coast to crown the Champion Golfer of the Year.
This year`s major season has been anything but predictable. Rory McIlroy completed a career grand slam at the Masters, while Scottie Scheffler, the undisputed world No. 1, added another major title at the PGA Championship. In a surprise turn, J.J. Spaun emerged victorious at the U.S. Open at Oakmont. Now, these champions and the rest of the global elite gather at Portrush, a venue that delivered memorable drama when it last hosted in 2019.
As players navigate the unique challenges of links golf – the unpredictable bounces, the ever-present wind, the strategic bunkering – the conversation inevitably turns to who is best equipped to hoist the coveted Claret Jug on Sunday. Based on recent form, major pedigree, and suitability for this demanding test, a group of players stands out as the most likely contenders.
The Top Tier: Favorites and Local Heroes
Leading the discussion is often **Scottie Scheffler**, the world`s top-ranked player. His sheer dominance over the past few seasons makes him a threat anywhere he plays. However, links golf presents a different puzzle compared to the courses where he typically excels. While his record at the Open is perhaps his `weakest` among the majors (with best finishes just inside the top 10), it`s a testament to his consistent excellence that even these results are considered less than his standard. He finished tied for eighth at the recent Scottish Open, suggesting his game is adapting, but the Open remains a unique challenge for his powerful style.
**Jon Rahm** arrives in Northern Ireland trending firmly upwards. His results in LIV Golf events have been consistently strong, but more tellingly, he`s contended in the year`s biggest tournaments. Since last year`s Open, he`s improved his major performances, battling deep into the weekends at both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. Rahm`s competitive fire and ability to grind make him a formidable opponent, and many believe a Claret Jug is a natural fit for his esteemed European career.
For **Rory McIlroy**, this week carries immense significance. The Open`s return to his home country evokes memories of 2019, where expectations weighed heavily. That week ended prematurely with a missed cut, a stark reminder of the pressures involved. Fast forward to 2025, and McIlroy is a career grand slam winner, adding a green jacket to his collection. Despite acknowledging struggles with motivation post-Masters, his performance at the Scottish Open – a runner-up finish – indicates a potential resurgence fueled by the homecoming narrative. The emotional factor could be a powerful force for the Northern Irishman.
The last time the Open was held here, **Shane Lowry** rode a wave of local support to a commanding six-shot victory. The energy he drew from the home crowd was palpable. While his major form in 2025 has been inconsistent, Lowry possesses the game and the emotional connection to Portrush that makes him a captivating figure this week. Don`t discount the value of playing on familiar, adoring ground.
Links Puzzles and Resurgent Forms
**Bryson DeChambeau** remains one of golf`s most fascinating figures, not least for how his analytical, power-focused game translates to links golf. His Open record is mixed, including missed cuts and just one top-10 finish. Watching him attempt to decipher the strategic intricacies and bounce of a links course like Portrush is, frankly, worth the price of admission. Anything from a dominant performance to an early exit feels plausible.
Defending champion **Xander Schauffele** enters Portrush having had a relatively quiet year since his two major wins in 2024. An early-season injury slowed his momentum, and while his ballstriking remains elite, other parts of his game haven`t consistently fired. However, Schauffele`s greatest asset is his steady temperament and ability to grind, qualities that were crucial in his victory last year and will undoubtedly be needed again on the testing Dunluce course.
**Collin Morikawa**, a past Open champion (2021), possesses an elite ballstriking game theoretically suited for links golf`s emphasis on accuracy. Despite hitting the ball superbly this season, he hasn`t found the winner`s circle since late 2023. His major results this year have regressed slightly since a strong showing at Augusta. For Morikawa, success at Portrush likely hinges on his putting, an area that has sometimes held him back.
**Viktor Hovland** is golf`s enigma. He might talk about swing woes, then contend fiercely, as seen at the U.S. Open where he had a legitimate chance to win. His form can be volatile, oscillating between missed cuts and victories (like his Valspar win this year). Like DeChambeau, his high ceiling makes him a potential champion, but the gap between his best and worst is wide, adding an element of unpredictability.
Rising Stars and Consistent Performers
**Ludvig Åberg** burst onto the scene but has experienced a slight dip in form since an early-season win, including missed cuts in two majors. Yet, he showed promising signs with a top-10 at the Masters and a tied-for-eighth finish at the Scottish Open. The young Swede has the talent to compete at the highest level and could easily find himself in the mix come Sunday.
**Tommy Fleetwood** consistently finds himself near the top of leaderboards, particularly at the Open, where his ballstriking is a significant asset. Despite numerous close calls, a major victory has remained elusive. His game seems tailor-made for a links test, and Portrush could finally be the venue where he breaks through for that coveted first major title.
Other players with strong potential include Scotland`s **Robert MacIntyre**, who impressed at the U.S. Open and is comfortable on links terrain, and **Russell Henley**, whose accuracy off the tee and strong approach play make him a danger on courses that reward precision over raw power. Players like **Ben Griffin**, with two wins and multiple top-10s this season, and **Keegan Bradley**, enjoying a resurgent year with a win and strong major finishes, also possess the form to contend, though major championship pedigree varies.
Even players like **Brooks Koepka**, whose form has been harder to gauge recently, or **Justin Thomas**, who historically hasn`t thrived at the Open despite flashes of brilliance (including his best Open finish coming at Portrush in 2019), could factor if conditions favor their particular strengths or if they find their rhythm on the links.
The Open Championship at Royal Portrush promises a captivating week of golf. The unique demands of the links course, coupled with the quality of the field, mean that while the favorites are clear, the door is always open for a specialist, a player in peak form, or even a Cinderella story to emerge and etch their name onto the Claret Jug. The battle begins now.
Murray Blackwood 
Gareth Pendleton