The Open Championship Preview & Betting Picks: July 17-20, 2025
It’s kinda wild that the final men’s major of the golf season is already here! Sure, there’s still some golf left on the calendar, but for 156 players? The Open Championship is their final chance this year to nab a major win.
The British Open is back at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, and it’s a course that spent years waiting to become a stop on the Open Championship rotation.
The tourney tees off tomorrow (July 17) and runs through Sunday, July 20.
The field includes over 150 players, with 15 amateurs and 11 former champions, but only one golfer will leave Ireland with their name etched into the Claret Jug.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy is the hometown fav, and he arrived at Portrush early. The overall favorite is World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, and he’s already cleaned up in 2025.
Weather might be a big factor, as steady rain is forecast and winds are expected to hover around 10–15 mph most of the week. It won’t be brutal, but it will be blustery enough to impact club selection and mess up wayward tee shots. For those with the later tee times? They’ll get the worst of the conditions.
For golf lovers, this is a must-watch event, and we have a ton of betting odds—everything from smart value picks, props, long shots, and our picks for the five best bets! We’ve also got some smart betting strategies so you can decrease your risk.
Where to Watch & Follow Live
How can you watch the Open Championship and follow it live? Look below!
NOTE: Royal Portrush is on British Summer Time, which is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time
U.S. Time: Eastern (EDT): 5:15 pm; Central (CDT): 4:15 pm; Pacific (PDT): 2:15 pm
Streaming & TV Coverage (U.S. times)
| Streaming/TV Coverage | Times |
|---|---|
Peacock: Early streaming and featured groups |
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USA Network: Main coverage block for Rounds 1–2 |
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NBC: Weekend network broadcast |
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Live Leaderboards & Social Coverage
- Official leaderboard:TheOpen.com and PGA Tour site
- Shot-by-shot tracking: Open app + website
- Social updates: Follow @TheOpen on Twitter/X and Instagram
- Pre/post coverage: Golf Central via Peacock & NBC Sports app
Favorites & Their Betting Odds
If you’re betting on this tournament, here are the listed favorites and the latest odds and lines via DraftKings:
- Scottie Scheffler (+450): The current World No. 1, Scheffler, has the shortest Open-winning odds since Tiger Woods in 2009
- Rory McIlroy (+700): Rory has the home course advantage, and has great recent form; he completed a career Grand Slam, and was runner-up at the Scottish Open
- Jon Rahm (+1200): Steady form on LIV, strong history on links setups, and past experience at Portrush make Rahm a serious contender
Other Players at the Top of the Board
- Bryson DeChambeau (+1800–2000)
- Xander Schauffele (+2500)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+2500–2800)
Smart Value Picks — Top 5 / Top 10 Extras
If you don’t want to bet on the outright winner, you have more choices! Below are the players who are sitting right below the favorites; they’re not long shots, and they’re less expensive.
- Tommy Fleetwood (+2500–2800): Fleetwood was a runner-up at Portrush in 2019 and is really strong in links conditions.
- Shane Lowry (+3000–3300): The 2019 Open champion at Royal Portrush.
- Robert MacIntyre (~+3500 / 35‑1): This breakout Scot had a really strong U.S. Open showing and excellent links pedigree.
- Viktor Hovland (+3000–3300 / 30‑1–33‑1): Hovland is back in fighting shape with recent podiums and a strong U.S. Open result.
- Collin Morikawa (+2800–3000 / 40‑1): A former Open champ (2021) returning to links setups in good shape.
High-Upside Long Shots
And then we’ve got the long shots. But they aren’t as bleak as the odds look; they’ve all either played really well at Portrush or won recently, so don’t overlook them!
- Adam Scott (80/1): Scott is really sharp off the tee and usually doesn’t miss cuts
- Tony Finau (175/1): Finished third here in 2019 and knows the course well
- Kristoffer Reitan (300/1): Just won in Scotland and is trending on the DP World Tour
- John Parry (700/1): Parry has local experience and a DP win under his belt
- Justin Rose (+8000): Rose is flying under the radar on LIV but has been scoring really well lately
Props & Matchups
If you’re gonna take a pass on the outrights or the longshots, there’s still a lot of value in the side markets! Look below for first-round leader odds, stat-based props, and a few matchups that look off based on recent play and course history.
Popular Props
- First-Round Leader
- Scottie Scheffler (+1600): When Scottie has an early tee time, he usually finds his momentum when the conditions are stable
- Shane Lowry (+4000): Shane knows this course inside out and opens majors well
- Most Birdies – Round 1
- Scottie Scheffler (+2200): He tops the tour in birdie average and usually posts early numbers when the greens are soft
- GIR Leader (Greens in Regulation)
- Jon Rahm (+1200): Rahm is a super reliable ball-striker, and he stays near the top in approach stats across recent starts
- Corey Conners (+1800): Conners is precise with irons and usually close to the lead in GIR on slower courses
Matchups to Watch
- Adam Scott (–120) vs. Keegan Bradley: Scott has a better track record in majors and is a stronger choice for this course’s setup
- Robert MacIntyre (+105) vs. Tyrrell Hatton: MacIntyre played really well at Portrush in 2019 and is coming off a strong June
- Russell Henley (–105) vs. Joaquin Niemann: Henley’s results in harder courses this year give him a slight advantage
Our Best Bets
Where do we think the most value is? Here are our picks for the five best bets!
| Pick | Confidence |
|---|---|
Scottie Scheffler – Win (+450) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Rory McIlroy – Win (+700) | ⭐⭐ |
Tommy Fleetwood – Top 5 (+2500) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Shane Lowry – Top 10 (+3000) | ⭐⭐ |
Adam Scott – Long shot (+8000) | ⭐ |
Weather Watch & Course Notes
The weather will have a say in who does well here! Rain is forecast for every day of the tournament, and there’ll be winds around 15 mph that could impact the shot choices of every player.
And Royal Portrush itself has its own challenges: there are really tight fairways, compact greens, and the infamous Calamity Corner makes even small mistakes hard to come back from.
- Forecast: Rain is possible all four days; winds around 15 mph
- Course layout: Par‑71, 7,381 yards; small greens, really deep bunkers, and unforgiving angles
- Main stats: Driving accuracy and strokes-gained approach are the biggest separators at Royal Portrush
Reduce Risk – Betting Strategy
Want to cut back on your risk? Put the following betting strategies into play!
- Balance outright bets with top‑10 or top‑20 finishes
- Use each-way bets on long shots instead of full outrights
- Mix in stat-based props to round out your card without overexposing on winners
Final Thoughts & Winning Predictions for The Open 2025
Scottie Scheffler is the best tee-to-green golfer, but the number doesn’t offer a lot of room. McIlroy has the most history with this course, a game that’s built for it, and the advantage of playing at home, but all of that pressure is baked into the price.
Fleetwood and Lowry give you a better return without sacrificing course fit. Both have shown they can manage Portrush and stay in control when conditions are harder. For top-10 or top-5 bets? That’s where the edge is!
And even though Scott and Reitan are further down the board, they still tick the right boxes; both are strong off the tee, capable in crosswinds, and have recent form that matches up with how Portrush plays when it gets wet and slows down.
Because rain is expected and winds will hover around 15 mph, approach play and distance control will take priority over length. Players who flight it low, hold greens, and are patient when scoring slows down are the likeliest to stick around.
Don’t stack your card around a single outcome! Mix in outrights with top finishes and performance props. If the win odds don’t match the profile? Then there’s usually a better number in matchups or stat markets. Once the first day is over, live markets will show who’s adapting to the conditions and who’s not.
Track how the tournament unfolds with live updates! Weather windows, pin positions, and groupings will change scoring patterns throughout the day.
Our Final Prediction
That’s a wrap on our Open Championship picks! We think Rory will take it, but don’t count out Scottie. Or anyone else. Golf is one of the hardest sports to predict, so be ready to react as the leaderboard shuffles.
- Outright Winne – Rory McIlroy (+700): Top-5 in strokes gained tee-to-green over his last four starts; grew up playing Portrush
- Top Value Play – Tommy Fleetwood (Top 5 at +500): T2 here in 2019, ranked top-10 in proximity from 175+ yards
- Best Long Shot – Adam Scott (+8000): Gained over four strokes on approach in three of his last five; hasn’t missed a cut at The Open since 2009
Best Bets Recap
- Scheffler Top 10: ⭐⭐⭐
- Fleetwood Top 5: ⭐⭐⭐
- Rahm Top 10: ⭐⭐
- McIlroy Win: ⭐⭐
- Finau Top 20: ⭐⭐
Be sure to stay up-to-date on the odds as they continue to change. If you’re looking for help understanding what the odds indicate for implied probability for each player, be sure to use our free betting odds calculator to give you a quick breakdown.
