The final major of 2025 will take place at Royal Portrush between the 17th and 20th of July. Rory McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters at the start of the major campaign, with Scottie Scheffler confirming his position as world number one by winning the US PGA Championship. We then had a rather more surprising winner at the US Open, as JJ Spaun was the only man to finish under par. But who will triumph in Northern Ireland?
Photo credit: Allan LEONARD, flickr.
Rory Misses out in Scotland but Shows Form Looking Good
The Scottish Open typically takes place the week before the Open itself and is a key warm-up tournament. Whilst it is a prestigious and valuable event in its own right, it gives players a rare chance to play competitive golf on a links course. Many of the world’s top golfers very seldom get the opportunity to play links golf and so the Scottish Open is a great opportunity to reaccustom themselves to the unique challenge these courses present.
McIlroy happy despite Scottish Open near miss https://t.co/bYUADnWdHl
— BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) July 14, 2025
Phil Mickelson is the only player to have completed the double in the same year, winning the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart in 2013 before landing the Open at Muirfield a week later. However, over the years, many players have won both tournaments, whilst lots have won one and gone close in the other in the same year.
Doing well in the Scottish Open obviously indicates that a player is in good nick and, moreover, that their links game is in good shape too. All of which is good news for a man who many are sure to back for glory in his home nation, Rory McIlroy.
Gotterup Holds Nerve to Secure Scottish Open Win
| Position | Player | Score | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gotterup | -15 (265) | $1.575m |
| =2 | Rory McIlroy | -13 (267) | $788k |
| =2 | Marco Penge | -13 (267) | $788k |
| =4 | Matt Fitzpatrick | -12 (268) | $407k |
| =4 | Nicolai Højgaard | -12 (268) | $407k |
| 6 | Justin Rose | -11 (269) | $322k |
| 7 | Sepp Straka | -10 (270) | $288k |
| =8 | Ludvig Åberg | -9 (271) | $233k |
| =8 | Xander Schauffele | -9 (271) | $233k |
| =8 | Scottie Scheffler | -9 (271) | $233k |
Not too many casual golf fans will have heard of 25-year-old US player Chris Gotterup before his success at the Scottish Open. It was the third win of his career after success at the 2019 New Jersey State Open when a callow amateur, and the more impressive six-shot victory at the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic.
A hugely impressive college golfer, he won the Hoskins Award for the most impressive collegiate player in 2022. Russell Henley, Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas won in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively, whilst Ludvig Åberg won the year after Gotterup, so the Scottish Open champ could well be set for a bright future.
Anyone who fancies the Maryland native to repeat Mickelson’s 2013 double might be further tempted when they learn that his 26th birthday falls on the final day of the 2025 Open. Gotterup is an 80/1 shot, so could be worth an each way bet after four excellent rounds at the Renaissance Club, where he came into the tournament outside the world’s top 150.
His win moved him up to a career high of 49th in the world and the way he handled the pressure on the final day further indicates his potential. He won a cool $1.575m in prize money and also secured himself a place in the field at Portrush. This will be his first attempt at the Open, and having tied for 23rd at the US Open earlier in the year, he is unlikely to be overawed.
It was his second-round 61 that really stood out at the par-70 Renaissance but perhaps more impressive was his closing round of 66. Playing alongside Rory on the final day, he could easily have collapsed but he stood up to the challenge. In his own words, he “hung in there tight and tried to keep it together” – and what an impressive job he did.
However, whilst McIlroy will never be happy with second place (he ended up in a tie for second with Englishman Marco Penge, two behind Gotterup), he noted that it had been “a great week”. He won this event in 2023 but failed to make a birdie during his final 10 holes. He commented that he “gave myself plenty of chances coming down the stretch” but was generous in defeat, adding that “Chris played a great round of golf. He was so solid.”
More positively, he concluded by saying “It’s been a great week. I’m really happy with where my game is. No frustration, really.” Rory will travel back to his Northern Irish homeland with a spring in his step and must be happy with his form, having shot four rounds of 68 or better.
Scheffler Remains Favourite
Whilst Rory was competing, his biggest rival, Scheffler, quietly put together four very solid rounds. The American, who remains miles clear at the top of the world rankings, also shot four rounds in the 60s and finished in a tie for eighth, six behind the champion and four adrift of Rory.
Scheffler’s best finish in an Open came last year when he tied for seventh but he is the favourite to triumph in Northern Ireland. Priced at 5/1 with many firms, those that shop around can get 6/1, with Rory priced between 6/1 and 8/1. Neutrals would love to see those two involved in a head-to-head battle on the final day and it is certainly a possibility. The crowds at Royal Portrush will be firmly on Rory’s side and he knows the course well, so clearly has a chance of claiming his second Open after glory way back in 2014.
It would be wrong to earmark this as a two-horse race, of course, though Jon Rahm is the third favourite, back at 11/1. Tommy Fleetwood would be a hugely popular winner but he, plus the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele, are all 20/1 or more. Fleetwood is a proven links player with three top-10 finishes in the Open, including in 2019 when he was second.
Of course, in a major there are so many players who are more than capable of winning. We should be in for a brilliant four days of golf and it will be a magical tournament if McIlroy can send the local fans home happy.