The Open 2025: 10 names to watch at Royal Portrush as Tiger Woods repeat eyed

From home favourites to the usual Stateside suspects, there are no shortage of big names with their eyes on the Claret Jugprize.

There are a number of intriguing plot lines ahead of the final major of the year at Royal Portrush - the venue where Rory McIlroy famously shot a course-record 61 as a 16-year-old, and where six years ago Shane Lowry claimed his only major triumph.

Scottie Scheffler arrives as World No.1, but Tiger Woods is the only man to hold that accolade and win The Open this century while Spaniard Jon Rahm is hoping his consistency - three top eights in his last four majors - finally leads him to a major triumph.

Here is a look at 10 who will be particularly prominent at Portrush...

RORY MCILROY

Rory McIlroy has a score to settle at Royal Portrush.

The home hero was welcomed like a rock star when we walked onto the first tee here six years ago, before hooking his drive so badly left it went out of bounds. He never recovered and missed the cut. At that point, McIlroy’s major drought was a scarcely-believable five years and, though that grew to 11, he finally conquered his demons at the Masters in April.

The consensus was that win would unleash him and he would dominate golf like Tiger Woods once did, but since then he’s admitted to lacking motivation amid a mid-season slump.

Still, outside of the Masters, this is the one wants the most. If he goes well, Royal Portrush will light up.

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SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

That collection of three major titles feels a little low just underlines how dominant Scottie Scheffler has been for the past three seasons.

The Texan is a metronome. Solid from the tee, his iron play that stands out and if he’s shooting from the fairway he rarely fails to get inside 20 feet of the pin. Scheffler’s one weakness is putting – as demonstrated at June’s US Open, where he could have vaulted into contention but ended up seventh – but if he is even average with the flatstick, he will surely be the man to beat.

His Open record is solid but not spectacular, with a best of seventh at Royal Troon last year, though says he loves links golf and has been steadily improving. Looks a solid bet to win this one day, and match McIlroy by winning the career Grand Slam.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU

Like so many big-hitting Americans, Bryson DeChambeau’s game has struggled to transfer to the subtleties of links golf – but that’s curious because he has all the tools to win.

With such a high ball-flight, DeChambeau is more susceptible to blustery conditions but his short game is mightily impressive and if he can keep his aggression in check and prioritise accuracy over distance from the tee, he will surely contend.

The 31-year-old shrivelled under the spotlight at the Masters, unable to cope with the pressure of taking on McIlroy, but still finished a creditable tied fifth, before a runners-up spot at the PGA Championship. After missing the cut at the US Open, he will be desperate to contend here and improve a best result of tied eighth three years ago.

SHANE LOWRY

Tiger Woods was the last player to win The Open twice at the same venue, as he ruled supreme at St Andrews in both 2000 and 2005 – and Lowry is a strong contender to follow in those fabled footsteps.

His win here remains one of the most magical stories in this championship’s illustrious history and, though he was perhaps a left-field winner at the time, he has become one of the most consistent players in the game since.

Having said that, his major record this season is underwhelming, with two missed cuts and a T42 at the Masters, but has two runners-up finishes on the PGA Tour and has built his season around peaking this week.

JON RAHM

Now hidden away on the LIV Tour with Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Cam Smith (remember him?), Rahm is easy to overlook.

But at the majors, he has been a serious player this season and was well in the PGA Championship before tailing off in the final few holes to finish tied eighth.

His best Open finish is tied-second from two years ago, while he also has a tied-third and tied-seventh on his CV, suggesting he should be a serious contender this week.Rahm has spoken about his desire to emulate his countryman, the great Seve Ballesteros, and it was this tournament where three-time winner Seve made his name.

Rahm already has two majors and 22 titles, but win this week and it will undoubtedly top the lot.

JUSTIN ROSE

The English veteran is adamant he has at least one more major left in him, and if he could choose, then The Open would be it.

At 44, time is not on his side but after going so close last year – where he was second to Schauffele – and then taking McIlroy to a play-off in the Masters, he remains a classy player. Rose boasts all the nous needed to deal with the variables of link golf, has a solid all-round game and a knack for playing his best under pressure, making him a popular bet this week.

28 years on from his debut, when he finished fourth as an amateur, victory in 2025 would be all-time great story.

COLLIN MORIKAWA

The American won this tournament four years ago and was so imperious while doing so that it is surprising he has not added another major to his CV since.

Indeed, he has won just one tournament since then amid fluctuating form and has largely been overtaken by the emergence of Scheffler and Schauffele. Still, Morikawa is a world-class player and his form has been solid this year, even if he arrives with uncertainly surrounding who his caddie will be after dispending with his last.

At 28, it feels like a matter of time before he re-discovers his brilliant best and joins Scheffler and McIlroy at the top of his game. He’s that good.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD

Don’t let the eyes roll just yet.

Tommy Fleetwood might be the nearly-man of golf but surely it is a matter of time before he wins one of the big ones. The Southport star has repeatedly proven himself in the game’s biggest events, with seven top-five finishes in majors and an Olympic silver medal.

Came second to Shane Lowry here six years ago and is in form, with a narrow – yet heart-breaking – runners-up finish at the Travellers, where he led by one on the final hole and lost by one at the end. His major record has been average for some time but must be among the favourites here.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE

A year ago, Xander Schauffele was the best player in the world and won two majors in the same season – the first player to do so since Brooks Koepka six years prior.

Since then, injuries and scratchy form have derailed things but his major record remains incredible and he cannot be ruled out here. Schauffele has 16 top-10 major finishes, and has not missed a cut in 14, but defending The Open is hard and no returning champ has finished in the top 10 for seven years.

He has the temperament to break that streak.

LUDVIG ABERG

Missed the cut on his Open debut a year ago, but has taken the sport by storm since he broke through as an amateur in 2023 and made the Ryder Cup team.

Finished second on his Masters debut and was in strong contention this year before caving in on the final three holes. Has missed the cut in the two majors since but has the creativity to thrive in links golf and, as a Swede will be used to battling with the elements, should they emerge this week.

Surely a major winner in waiting.