Royal Portrush Golf Club will play host to this year’s Open Championship, a strong test of links golf for 150 professionals to tackle.
Tucked away near the northernmost point of Ireland, looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean, is a golf course like no other. Royal Portrush Golf Club is considered one of the oldest links-style golf courses in Ireland and is also among the most challenging. Rolling hills, tricky pot bunkers, and undulating greens are only a few reasons why Royal Portrush is perfect for a Major Championship venue. The Open Championship begins on July 17, 2025, where 150 of the best golfers in the world will play to be crowned “Champion Golfer of the Year.”
Royal Portrush held its first Open Championship in 1951, then not again until 2019 for the 148th Open. In the 2019 Open, Irishman Shane Lowry became the first Irishman to win the Open since Rory McIlroy in 2014. In last year’s Open at Royal Troon, Xander Schauffele took the Claret Jug with him as his second Major Victory in 2024.
New course, new year, but for Rory McIlroy, Royal Portrush is not quite a new course. Growing up in Northern Ireland, McIlroy frequented Portrush as an amateur golfer. Will this be enough of an advantage for McIlroy, or will another professional become Champion Golfer of the Year?
Land and Sea
In 1888, “The Country Club” opened in Portrush for all people to enjoy leisure activities. Shortly after the Duke of York became a patron, “The Country Club” added “Royal” to its title in 1892. 1895 is the year that the Prince of Wales inspired the adoption of the prestigious name, Royal Portrush Golf Club.
Along the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland, Royal Portrush offers some of the most scenic views. In every direction, there are sights to see, including sandhills, isles, and causeways, which give the course character. On the property, patrons can witness the ruins of the 13th-century Dunluce Castle. While the course may be breathtaking, it is anything but easy, offering a true challenge to all golfers.
The grass on the fairways and greens is in pristine condition, but other factors play in determining the difficulty of the course. Being on the coast, the winds can critically affect ball flight and distance, making some holes more difficult. On top of that, the rain affects the players’ abilities to make good swings. The amount of trouble that comes into play on each hole adds strokes to many cards at The Open.
Tall grass in the rough, winding, undulating greens, and the dreadful bunkers are three factors to watch during the playing of The Open. Off the fairway far enough is fescue where players can easily mishit the ball or lose it. The greens at Portrush have shown to be deceiving, with small and unrecognizable breaks. Bunkers will be strategically avoided this week, as some of them are dug a few feet deep. The deciding factor will show itself when the Champion Golfer of the Year is crowned on July 20.
Flashback
It had been 68 years since Royal Portrush had hosted an Open Championship, and the field was loaded. The reigning champion from 2018, Francesco Molinari, looked to defend his title in Northern Ireland. The first two days of play saw many rounds in the 60s, with fair weather that remained consistent throughout the day. On Saturday at Portrush, Shane Lowry shot a 63 to take the solo lead heading into Sunday’s final round. Wind gusts were expected to get up to 40 miles per hour, and the threat of rain pushed back some of the morning tee times.
Before teeing off on Sunday, Lowry held a four-shot advantage on Englishman Tommy Fleetwood. Lowry ended the day with a six-shot victory over Fleetwood with a final round 72, one over par (+1). Since Rory McIlroy won the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, no Irishman had won the Open, especially in their home country.
One year ago, Royal Troon hosted the 152nd Open Championship in South Ayrshire, Scotland. As dominant a year as Scottie Scheffler had, Xander Schauffele was right beside him in the running. Schauffele played four impeccable rounds of golf, including a final round 65 to win the Open. His final round of 65 was also bogey-free, making him the second golfer ever to shoot 65 in the final round on his way to winning two major championships.
Royal Troon gave fans more than they asked for in terms of the weather. The heavy rain and sideways wind gusts took many players out of contention on Friday and Saturday. Players’ golf balls were not going far forward after landing, leaving them with longer, more difficult shots into the greens. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler explained the back nine on Saturday as, “the hardest nine holes that I’ll ever play.”
Hometown Hero(es)
For two former Champion Golfers of the Year, the recent performances from Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have been disappointing. Since his win in 2014, McIlroy has gotten as close as second place, while missing the cut in 2019 and 2024. Since Lowry held the Claret Jug in 2019, he has placed as high as sixth, while missing the cut in 2023.
Rory McIlroy broke the course record at Royal Portrush at 16 years old with a round of 61. Since becoming a member after turning pro, it is a place he holds near and dear to his heart. He attributes his struggles in 2019 to the immense pressure he felt from the hometown fans for him to win. McIlroy achieved his greatest feat in April when he career grand slam by conquering the Masters; However, changing his mindset will be the reason he comes out on top if he lifts the Claret Jug again. “After you do something like that, you’ve got to make your way back down, and you’ve got to look for another mountain to climb,” said McIlroy, describing his win at the Masters and how he is preparing for the Open.
The 2019 Open Championship victory for Shane Lowry meant a lot more to him than any other tournament. To win in your home country in front of a crowd of people mostly rooting for you is an experience that not many professionals get.
The celebration for the hometown hero went on for days in Ireland, as many cheered for Lowry to show the world that Ireland produces some of the best golfers. Winning the Open had been a lifelong dream for Lowry, and he completed it in style. Just his third victory as a professional, Lowry cherished the moment to the fullest.
Champion golfer of the year
As it stands, World No.1 Scottie Scheffler remains the top favorite to take home the Claret Jug. Behind him, in order, are Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Xander Schauffele. The 11th favorite to win the Open at Portrush and defend his title on the Dunluce course is no other than Shane Lowry.
In last week’s event, the Scottish Open, American Chris Gotterup beat out McIlroy in the final group on Sunday. His odds stand at +9000 to win at Portrush, which makes him a large underdog to win. Gotterup could become the first golfer since Phil Mickelson in 2013 to win the Scottish and British Open in the same year.
The great thing about majors is the expanded field and the uncertainty. Sometimes it’s the players you least expect that make a run at the championship. Scheffler may be the favorite, but his history in the Open would say that links golf is not for him. With that in mind, will Rory McIlroy ride the energy of the home crowd and win? Will Shane Lowry repeat at the course that changed his life? Will Xander Schauffele win back-to-back Claret Jugs for the first time since Tiger Woods in 2005-2006? Or will an underdog take down the best in the world to become the Champion Golfer of the Year?
The forecast for Portrush, Northern Ireland, shows that it could rain for all four days of the Open. The wind may not be as strong for tournament week, but the strongest days will be Thursday and Sunday, with gusts up to 30mph.
