The 153rd Open returns to the pastoral coast of Northern Ireland, where 156 of the world’s best will chase the Claret Jug across the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush. Shaping shots and solving wind may matter more than carry numbers.
Few venues in golf look like this. Fewer play like it.
How to watch the 2025 Open Championship
- Venue: Royal Portrush Golf Club — County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Dates: July 17-20
Viewing guide
| Day | Time (ET) | TV | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
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Thursday |
4 a.m. |
USA Network |
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Friday |
4 a.m. |
USA Network |
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Saturday |
5 a.m. |
USA Network |
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Saturday |
7 a.m. |
NBC |
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Sunday |
4 a.m. |
USA Network |
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Sunday |
7 a.m. |
NBC |
NBC coverage can also be streamed on Peacock.
Stock swings don’t hold up here. Between pot bunkers, tilted lies and coastal gusts, even good shots can unravel fast. Just ask Rory McIlroy. In 2019, the Holywood native posted a disastrous quadruple-bogey 8 on his way to a first-round 79. He returns now as a Masters champion and, by all accounts, in a clearer frame of mind. He struggled with the driver early at the Scottish Open but gained nearly 14 strokes on the greens across his last two starts.
Scottie Scheffler leads the field. He has 10 straight top-10 finishes and three wins this season, including the PGA Championship. But his putting remains a liability. He finished near the bottom on the greens at the Scottish Open despite gaining over 10 strokes from tee to green.
Xander Schauffele returns as defending Open champion. Shane Lowry, the last player to win at Portrush in 2019, returns to the place where it all came together.
The fairways are narrow and tilted. The fescue is thick. The dunes interfere with depth and trust. Every swing has to be precise. Then comes the weather. Lightning halted Monday’s practice round. Rain and wind gusts up to 20 mph are expected Thursday, and there’s a chance of showers each day throughout the tournament.
The weekend is unsettled. In other words, the Open. There are no easy paths in a lineup this deep.
Round 1 tee times for notable groups (ET)
- Xander Schauffele, J.J. Spaun, Jon Rahm — 4:58 a.m.
- Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler — 5:09 a.m.
- Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, Ethan Fang — 7:09 a.m.
- Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland — 9:59 a.m.
- Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood — 10:10 a.m.
The complete list of tee times can be found here.
The Open Championship picks
Courtesy of The Athletic’s sports betting editor Vik Chokshi:
My outright bets are usually based on a couple of models I follow, and I take into account course history and form. I also love betting on long shots, so you’ll usually see a bunch of golfers in the +2000 or longer range on my card every week.
Here are a couple of guys worth sprinkling pizza money on this week:
Outright winner picks (odds via BetMGM)
Jon Rahm +1200
Tyrrell Hatton +2500
Xander Schauffele +2500
Robert MacIntyre +3500
Matt Fitzpatrick +4000
Jordan Spieth +6000
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(Photo of Scottie Scheffler: Warren Little / Getty Images)