The quest for the Claret Jug is taking the world’s best golfers back to Northern Ireland – expect a repeat of 2019’s festival of fun.
The Open 2025 odds
- Scottie Scheffler 5/1
- Rory McIlroy 11/2
- Jon Rahm 12/1
- Bryson DeChambeau 18/1
- Ludvig Åberg 20/1
- Tommy Fleetwood 20/1
- Xander Schauffele 20/1
- Shane Lowry 22/1
- Robert MacIntyre 25/1
- Tyrrell Hatton 25/1
Odds provided by bet365 are subject to change.
Quick tips for The Open Championship
- Ludvig Åberg each way – 25/1 with bet365
- Viktor Hovland each way – 30/1 with BetMGM
- Ryan Fox each way – 80/1 with Spreadex
- Tom McKibbin to finish in the Top 20 – 4/1 with Betfred
Best betting offers for The Open 2025
Find our list of the highest-rated golf betting sites in the UK.
The Open betting preview
Hopes were high back in 2019 when the Open returned to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951 and Northern Ireland delivered in style.
It was a week when the town of Portrush was bouncing. A week when the galleries raced across the dunes. A week when Shane Lowry thrilled everyone with a sensational victory.
And it wasn’t even very nice weather! But everyone was oblivious to the rain, the wind and the cold because the cheers rolled across the dunes and the Guinness flowed at the Harbour Bar.
Returning was a no-brainer and the fact that Rory McIlroy will make the journey to the course with a brand new green jacket should only ensure even more excitement.
But he will be wary of last time because 2019 didn’t exactly work out for him.
Once again, his hopes were high and yet he pulled his opening tee shot out of bounds before four-putting the 16th green on his way to a terrible first round of 79.
On Friday, he needed a low score just to make the cut and amid astonishing scenes he very nearly did it.
A round that started with ironic cheers when he found the fairway at the first ended with him needing to chip in at 18 to play at the weekend.
He didn’t find the bottom of the hole, but afterwards the galleries sang his name in honour of a proud and exhilarating day of sport.
Who are the best bets to emulate Lowry this week? Let’s find out.
The Open betting tips
Ludvig Åberg Each Way
Take a big hint from Shane Lowry’s victory.
The Irishman plays the West Course at Wentworth exceptionally well. In fact, he has 12 top 20s there in just 15 starts including victory in 2022.
And it makes a lot of sense because Wentworth, like Portrush, was designed by Harry Colt.
The Swede Ludvig Åberg was the 54-hole leader when T10 on his Wentworth debut in 2023 and a winner at Colt’s Sea Island.
He played good golf last week when T11 in the Scottish Open and his class has been on show with second and seventh in the last two Masters.
Back Ludvig Åberg each way at 25/1 with bet365
Viktor Hovland Each Way
Add another Scandinavian, but this time the Norwegian Viktor Hovland.
He was T12 on Open debut at Royal St George’s, fourth at St Andrews and T13 at Royal Liverpool.
He’s another with good Colt form (his last two Wentworth visits reaped fifth place) and he’s in good form this summer with third place in the US Open and T11 last week in Scotland.
He’s top price 30/1 with BetMGM.
Tip Viktor Hovland in an each-way bet at 30/1 with BetMGM
Ryan Fox Each Way
The Kiwi Ryan Fox won at Wentworth in 2023 and he has good linksland form, too.
He won the Dunhill Links Championship in 2022 and was second when he defended the title.
He also has top four finishes on Irish linksland at Ballyliffin and Portstewart – and his best major championship finish came at Portrush in 2019.
A two-time PGA Tour winner this year he’s a lovely each way option at 80/1 with Spreadex.
Pick Ryan Fox in an each-way bet at 80/1 with Spreadex
Tom McKibbin Top 20
Rory McIlroy is not the only man from Belfast’s Holywood GC in this week’s field – young Tom is too.
He’s finished fourth and fifth in his last two LIV starts fo he’s bang in form.
He’s also a big fan of Royal Portrush. In fact, he says he has played it “hundreds of time”.
You don’t play a course that often if you don’t like it.
He even finished top 10 at Wentworth last year.
He’s 4/1 for a Top 20 with Betfred.
Back Tom McKibbin to finish in the Top 20 at 4/1 with Betfred
How to watch the Open Championship 2025
- Venue – Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland
- Date – Thursday 17th July – Sunday 19th July
- Broadcast – Full coverage on Sky Sports Golf: Thursday & Friday from 6.30 am, Saturday from 9 am & Sunday from 8 pm.
About the author
Matt Cooper
Matt Cooper has been a golf journalist for 15 years. He’s worked for, among others, Golf365, SkySports, ESPN, NBC, Sporting Life, Open.com and the Guardian. He specialises in feature writing, reporting and tournament analysis. He’s covered numerous Opens, Ryder Cups and Solheim Cups, and travelled to golfing destinations as varied as Kazakhstan, South Korea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.