The final major of the PGA Tour season is upon us, at long last. The Open Championship is set to tee off this week with a stacked field featuring the sport’s biggest names, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, hometown favorite Rory McIlroy, and reigning champion Xander Schauffele.

If you’re betting on golf this week, The Open is your chance to grab value on a links-style test unlike anything else in professional golf. Be sure to check out our Golf Picks This Week and the latest Golf Results before placing any wagers.

Where Is The Open?

The 2025 Open Championship will be played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, marking the tournament’s return there for the first time since 2019. This is just the second Open to take place at this venue in more than 70 years.

The Dunluce Links course is one of the most iconic and scenic tests in the game, with unpredictable weather and treacherous bunkering that demands accuracy. Creativity is also a plus.

How To Watch The Open?

Coverage of The Open will air on NBC, USA, and The Golf Channel in the U.S., with streaming available via Peacock. International viewers can stream the event through Sky Sports and other local providers.

Who Won The Open 2024?

As mentioned, Xander Schauffele took home the Claret Jug last summer. It was Schauffele’s second career major, and he’s still looking to add a third to his resume. The American finished at 9-under, which put him a couple of shots ahead of challengers Billy Horschel and Justin Rose. Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm were among the big names challenging on Sunday, and both former major winners tied for 7th at 1-under par.

The Open Odds

Check out the latest Open odds ahead of the 2025 edition.

As is the case in every event in which he plays, Scheffler enters as the clear favorite. He’s listed at +450, with McIlroy close behind at +750. Notably, Bryson DeChambeau has seen major betting support following a strong run of form, while Viktor Hovland looks like an interesting longer shot at +3000.

There are also intriguing sleepers like Sepp Straka and Shane Lowry lurking deeper down the board. As always, our best handicappers will help guide you through the chaos.

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The Open Favorites

The following golfers are considered the odds-on favorites to win The Open, according to the top sports betting sites:

Scottie Scheffler (+450)

Scottie Scheffler is still searching for his first Claret Jug, but if recent form is any indication, this could finally be the year. He’s finished top 10 in 10 of his last 11 starts, including wins at The Memorial, PGA Championship, and CJ Cup Byron Nelson. While The Open remains one of just two majors he hasn’t yet conquered, Scheffler’s results show steady improvement, most recently a T-7 finish in 2024 at Royal Troon. At Royal Portrush, where this year’s Open is staged, he placed T-8 in 2021, which shows he’s comfortable with the venue.

His consistency is backed by elite metrics. Scheffler leads the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (0.708 overall) and Approach the Green (1.298 overall), and ranks first in Total SG. Over his last five starts, he’s averaging a massive 3.095 strokes gained total per round, which speaks to how locked in he’s been across all facets of the game. He also ranks first in FedExCup points and is No. 1 in Bogey Avoidance, a vital stat when navigating the chaos of links golf. What more could you ask for?

Even his putting – once his primary weakness – has leveled out. Scheffler ranks 22nd in SG: Putting and sits 15th in Putts Per Round with an average of 28.22. Perhaps more importantly, he ranks third on Tour in break rate (25.56%), giving him a serious edge on Royal Portrush’s unpredictable greens. That kind of performance with the flatstick, paired with his elite tee-to-green game, makes him arguably the most well-rounded contender in the field.

At +450, Scheffler is the betting favorite, and it’s hard to argue with the number. He’s finished T-8 or better in three of his last four Open appearances, and the numbers are elite across the board. With only the Open and PGA Championship missing from his major resume, and Portrush offering a familiar setting, this feels like the perfect storm for Scheffler to finally lift the Claret Jug.

Rory McIlroy (+750)

Rory McIlroy returns home to Northern Ireland for The Open Championship looking to bounce back from a missed cut at last year’s tournament. The stakes are high. Not only because Portrush is essentially a hometown course, but because McIlroy enters with serious momentum. In April, he won the Masters, finally completing the career Grand Slam. He followed that up with a T-5 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, another top-10 at the Travelers, and a T-2 last week at the Scottish Open, where he closed with a final-round 68.

While McIlroy’s Open history has been up and down, he’s shown he can dominate this event when locked in. His best finish in the last four years came in 2022, when he finished third at 18-under-par, and he also cracked the top 10 in 2023. His 2021 showing at Portrush resulted in a decent T-46, and this week he’ll be looking to build on that with a roaring crowd behind him. After missing the cut in 2024 with rounds of 78-75, Rory has clear motivation to right the ship on home soil.

Statistically, McIlroy remains one of the most complete players in the field. He ranks second on Tour in total strokes gained, averaging 1.750 overall, with a strong recent average of 0.858 over his last five starts. His putting has been a major asset: He’s fourth on Tour in SG: Putting (0.754) and ranks 10th in break percentage (24.52%). That improved touch on the greens could be decisive at Portrush, where scoring often hinges on navigating subtle slopes and gusty winds.

Off the tee, McIlroy still pounds it – averaging 322.2 yards – and ranks fifth in SG: Off-the-Tee this season. Though his iron play has dipped slightly (68th in SG: Approach), his all-around game, recent form, and elite putting give him a serious chance to win in front of a raucous home crowd. With the Masters finally secured and the pressure of the Grand Slam lifted, this may be the most dangerous version of Rory McIlroy we’ve seen in years.

Bryson DeChambeau (+2000)

Bryson DeChambeau arrives at Royal Portrush looking to rebound from a missed cut at last year’s Open, but don’t let that fool you. DeChambeau has quietly put together one of the more impressive major résumés in recent memory. He finished T-2 at the PGA Championship earlier this year and has landed in the top five four times in his last ten appearances. His best Open finish came in 2022, when he posted a T-8 at 12-under. That proved he’s capable of contending in a links setting when his game is dialed in.

Statistically, DeChambeau remains a force, especially off the tee. He’s posted an outrageous 1.560 SG: Off-the-Tee average this season and has averaged 0.856 SG: OTT over his last five starts. His driving distance (322.5 yards) remains elite, and while that raw power isn’t always rewarded on Open layouts, it gives him the ability to take aggressive lines and shorten tough holes, particularly at Portrush, which features several long par-4s and exposed tee shots.

His recent iron play and putting have also shown signs of life. Over his last five tournaments, he’s averaging 0.274 SG: Approach and 0.299 SG: Putting. That’s not quite elite, but respectable enough when paired with his dominant driving. His SG: Total over the last five (1.775) suggests a complete game trending upward, and his GIR rate of 60.65% supports the idea that he’s giving himself scoring chances. DeChambeau also ranks well in Bogey Avoidance, keeping mistakes to a minimum, which is a trait that often decides the Open more than birdie bursts.

At +2000, Bryson offers sneaky value for a player who consistently shows up in majors. If he can find fairways and maintain solid putting – which is something he’s done with a 28.10 putts per round average and a 23.89% break rate – he has the raw tools and recent form to make a serious run at the Claret Jug. With the weather expected to play a factor, his ability to overpower the course and grind in tough conditions could separate him from the pack.

The Best Open Betting Value

The following golfers offer betting value for this year’s The Open based on their previous success at this course and their season to date:

Xander Schauffele (+2500)

Xander Schauffele returns to The Open as the defending champion, having won last year’s edition with a brilliant final-round 65 to finish at 9-under-par. His track record at this tournament has been solid even before that win, with finishes of T-15 in 2022 and T-17 in 2023. This year, he’ll look to go back-to-back at Royal Portrush, which is a feat that would cement his status as one of the elite major performers of his generation.

While Schauffele hasn’t had a dominant stretch lately, he’s quietly maintained a competitive edge. He’s recorded six top-20 finishes in his last 10 starts and posted a T-8 at the Genesis Scottish Open just last week, shooting 66 in the final round. Despite middling results at the U.S. Open and Memorial, his recent metrics suggest he’s rounding into form just in time for another deep run in a major.

Statistically, his iron game is still among the best on Tour, ranking 7th in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (0.681 overall). That’s key for links-style setups like Portrush, where precise ball-striking into firm greens often determines success. His putting has been a liability on paper – he ranks 138th in SG: Putting this season – but over his last five tournaments, he’s improved to +0.183 SG: Putting, a sign that he may be trending upward where it counts most.

Though Schauffele ranks just 112th in SG: Off-the-Tee and 53rd in FedExCup points this year, his recent short-term gains in total strokes (0.782) show he’s capable of turning it on in big spots. His average driving distance of 310.9 yards gives him enough pop to hang with longer hitters, and his Open win last year proves he can manage the unique demands of links golf. At +2500, he’s a strong value bet to repeat.

Collin Morikawa (+3500)

Collin Morikawa returns to The Open looking to recapture the form that earned him the Claret Jug in 2021, when he fired four rounds in the 60s to finish 15-under-par. While his last three Open appearances haven’t gone as smoothly – including two missed cuts and a T-16 last year – Morikawa has proven he can win this major when everything clicks. Royal Portrush presents a second chance to get back on track at a venue that rewards good ball-striking, which has always been a strength of Morikawa’s game.

His recent form has been a mixed bag, with four top-20 finishes in his last 10 starts. Most notably, he finished T-8 at the Rocket Classic just two weeks ago, where he shot a scorching 19-under-par. While his recent missed cut at the Genesis Scottish Open is less encouraging, his overall stats paint the picture of a player who’s been trending up with his tee-to-green performance. Over his last five events, Morikawa has averaged 1.015 Strokes Gained: Total, and he’s gained over 0.6 strokes both off the tee and on approach. Impressive numbers.

Morikawa ranks 6th in SG: Approach the Green (0.760) and 11th in SG: Off-the-Tee (0.529) this season. Those are both important metrics for success at a demanding links course like Portrush. His 69.86% Greens in Regulation rate ranks 19th on Tour, and he’s among the best at creating birdie chances when conditions get tough. His short game is still shaky – he ranks 134th in SG: Putting this season and is losing nearly half a stroke per round on the greens – but the rest of his profile is solid enough to keep him in the hunt.

If he can avoid a cold putter, Morikawa has every tool to contend. He ranks 7th in SG: Total for the season and has accumulated 1,427 FedExCup points, which puts him 16th overall. With a past Open win already under his belt and elite ball-striking numbers backing him, Morikawa offers solid value for bettors looking to back a proven links specialist flying a bit under the radar.

The Best Open Longshot

Brooks Koepka (+5500) isn’t the name most bettors are circling heading into Royal Portrush, but at +5500, he offers legitimate longshot value. While his recent form in majors has been shaky – including missed cuts at both the Masters and PGA Championship this season – Koepka did post a T-12 at the U.S. Open, which showed he still has the ability to show up in golf’s biggest moments. The Open has historically been his weakest major, but he did finish T-6 in 2021 at this event.

Looking under the hood, Koepka’s game isn’t as far off as the odds suggest. Over his last five starts, he’s averaging 0.538 SG: Total, with a +0.439 SG: Off-the-Tee mark and 0.397 SG: Around-the-Green. While his iron play and putting are issues – he’s losing strokes in both categories – the rest of his game is trending better than most 55-1 shots in a major. His average driving distance is still elite at 306.0 yards, which gives him a leg up on a course like Portrush that rewards length off the tee.

The main red flag is the putter. Koepka ranks at the bottom in SG: Putting (-0.436 overall), with a rough Putts Per Round average of 30.50 and a break percentage under 19%. Still, his Bogey Avoidance rate of 29.86% is solid, suggesting he’s limiting damage even when the flatstick isn’t cooperating. That kind of grind-it-out game can go a long way on a firm, blustery links course where avoiding doubles is more important than racking up birdies.

Koepka is clearly boom or bust right now, but that’s the point of a longshot play. With five major titles already to his name and a history of spiking at big events, he’s not the kind of player you want to overlook when he’s healthy and overlooked. At +6500, Koepka is exactly the kind of volatile, proven talent who could sneak into contention while the favorites falter.

The Open Predictions

My favorite Golf pick to win the 2025 Open Championship is Rory McIlroy at +750. He enters the week a couple of months removed from a career-defining win at the Masters, and now returns home to Royal Portrush with some momentum. McIlroy has four top-10 finishes in his last seven starts, including a runner-up finish at the Scottish Open just last week.

Portrush is more than just another Open site for Rory, it’s his home turf. The last time The Open was played here in 2019, McIlroy missed the cut under immense pressure. This year, the dynamic is different. With the Masters monkey off his back and elite form heading in, he’s free to just play golf.

He ranks top five in Off-the-Tee and Putting metrics, and his 322.2-yard average driving distance gives him the tools to attack Portrush’s toughest holes. If he handles the emotional weight, McIlroy has the form, stats, and storybook setup to lift the Claret Jug again.

Bet: Rory McIlroy (+750)

The Open Winners

The following is a list of the most recent The Open winners: