The British Open returns to Royal Portrush Golf Club for the final major of the season, with the world’s best playing on a historic course for the Claret Jug.
As men’s professional golf has become increasingly specialized, far too often rewarding one standard skill set, the Open remains arguably the most intriguing test of real golf on the calendar. That’s why it’s not surprising to see some older or even unknown players flirt with contention.
And that’s before even considering the weather.
Onto to the British Open power rankings for 2025 at Royal Portrush.
British Open Power Rankings: Who Wins the Claret Jug?
(Odds via FanDuel)
10. Bryson DeChambeau (20-1)
DeChambeau obviously could win. He’s ridiculously talented. But for as humorous as his pre-tournament diatribe might have been, it did spotlight how his obsessively analytical approach doesn’t really fit the Open Championship’s whole thing — especially if the weather kicks up.
9. Shane Lowry (35-1)
On the flip side, Lowry’s form leaves plenty to be desired. He’s on the list largely because he won here in 2019. He has, however, turned himself into a high-level Open player, finishing no worse than 12th three times in the last five Opens.
8. Tommy Fleetwood (26-1)
Gulp. As always, he’s probably better as a DFS play given his inability to close, but this is one Fleetwood’s most impressive seasons so far. He has five top-seven finishes since February. Before missing the cut at Royal Troon last year, he had finished in the top 12 four of the previous five years. There’s not really a golf course on the planet he’s not at least a decent fit, it seems.
7. Collin Morikawa (33-1)
One of the most talented players on Tour, Morikawa is certainly in the midst of a down year. But he also has the skillset to flourish at the Open, as evidenced by his win in 2021. He hasn’t really handled the elements well, but the forecast looks manageable, and Royal Portrush should allow players to flight the ball more than other Open courses. If that’s the case, Morikawa — with new caddie Billy Foster on the bag — could and maybe should find himself in the hunt.
6. Xander Schauffele (25-1)
No one has been more critical of Schauffele’s game than the two-time major and defending champion himself. It just hasn’t been the year he expected. However, he had a brilliant iron performance last week at the Scottish where he finished tied for eighth. The putter just hasn’t been very good. If he gets the flatstick going, though, he’s probably going to be back.
5. Tyrrell Hatton (35-1)
Hatton’s kind of strange. He’s been really quite good at majors recently, with the Open kind of being an exception. He missed the cut last year and 2021. It will all come down to the driver. In tournaments he’s gained on the field off the tee this year, he’s finished fifth, fourth, fifth and 14th — a run of performances that includes the Masters and the U.S. Open.
4. Viktor Hovland (30-1)
Kind of the same old story with Hovland, who has gained on approach in every single tournament since February but has lost around the greens in all but four. The short game has gotten a bit better, though, and it’s typically less of a factor at major championships where everyone seems to struggle (he was a short-game wizard in Oakmont’s treacherous rough). Few have his ceiling.
Rory, Scottie Once Best of the Best at British Open
3. Rory McIlroy (7-1)
He’s Rory McIlroy, for starters. And for all the talk about motivation, McIlroy has four top-12 finishes in seven starts since finishing the career grand slam. He says he’s in a good head space, he embraces this challenge and his performance at the Scottish seems to back that up. The question is whether he’ll put too much pressure on himself to win in his return home. It didn’t go so well in 2019.
2. Jon Rahm (12-1)
Rahm’s LIV performance is hard to gauge, but he’s also finished no worse than 14th sin the majors. He’s playing brilliant golf right now, regardless of Tour. He’s motivated — he says the Claret Jug is his most sought-after trophy — and he just needs to avoid the major blow-up round. He has three top-seven finishes in the last four Opens.
1. Scottie Scheffler (+450)
At some point, Scheffler will figure out links golf and pull a 2000 Tiger Woods at the Old Course. He isn’t there, though … yet. Scheffler seems like he resents the fact that he can hit a great shot on links courses and not be rewarded. If he gets over that, look out. Even if he doesn’t, he’s the best player in the world, and he very well could be in position to win Sunday on that alone.
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