Shane Lowry lifted the Claret Jug the last time The Open came to Royal Portrush
The Open Championship—also known as the British Open and the final major on the men’s golf calendar—is back for its 153rd edition, set to be played from July 17–20 at the historic Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
This marks the tournament’s return to Royal Portrush for the first time since 2019, when Ireland’s Shane Lowry claimed an emotional victory. The venue, steeped in golfing tradition, will now host The Open for only the third time, following previous editions in 1951 and 2019.
The R&A also announced a prize fund of US$ 17 million for the major (same as 2024), with the winner taking a share of US$ 3.1 million.
Favourites
Local hero Rory McIlroy enters with both the home crowd advantage and a fresh wave of confidence. In April, he became just the sixth golfer in history to complete a career Grand Slam with a win at The Masters. McIlroy will be chasing his second Open title, his first coming at Royal Liverpool in 2014. He was a fan favourite in 2019 at Portrush but heartbreakingly missed the cut by one shot after rounds of 79-65.
Shane Lowry, who famously triumphed at Portrush in 2019, will also be one to watch. The Irishman knows the course intimately, and that past success could give him an edge.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is nearly impossible to overlook. With three wins in his last six starts, including the PGA Championship, Scheffler enters with serious momentum.
Among the LIV Golf contingent, Joaquin Niemann, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau—the current top three on the LIV standings—are all contenders. Add Brooks Koepka to that list, a proven performer who often raises his game at majors.
Indian Origin Representation
The field will feature three Indian-origin players: Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia, both PGA Tour winners from the U.S., and Aaron Rai, a British-born pro of Indian descent. All three will carry forward the representation of Indian heritage on golf’s biggest stage.
No Indians in the Major Field
India’s leading pros, Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri, attempted to qualify via Final Qualifying at Burnham & Berrow and West Lancashire, respectively, but narrowly missed out.
Shubhankar had automatically qualified for the 2024 edition after a T-8 finish in 2023 at Royal Liverpool, followed by a T-19 at Royal Troon. However, he was not exempt this year and tried to earn his spot through qualifying.
Lahiri, who last played a major at the 2023 PGA Championship (where he missed the cut), also fell short in his qualifying bid.
Where to watch The Open Championship?
Indian viewers can watch the final golf major of the season live on Eurosport and FanCode.
Viewing schedule on Eurosport –
Viewing schedule on Fancode –
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Day 1 - July 17 | Broadcast starts at 11AM |
| Day 2 - July 18 | Broadcast starts at 11AM |
| Day 3 - July 19 | Broadcast starts at 2.30PM |
| Day 4 - July 20 | Broadcast starts at 1.30PM |