The Open 2025 Betting Guide – Where to Bet, What to Know, and Who to Back
The 2025 Open Championship will commence on July 17th at the prestigious Royal Portrush in County Antrim. Shane Lowry, who won the tournament during its last visit to Portrush, was a hugely popular champion. This year, the question remains: who will take home the trophy? Will it be a favourite like Rory McIlroy or Scottie Scheffler, or could we see an unexpected victor like J.J. Spaun's surprising win at the U.S. Open?
In this guide to the 153rd staging of golf's oldest tournament, we'll provide expert British Open betting tips and insights. We will also give the latest golf betting odds as we look ahead to one of golf's most prestigious tournaments returning to the North Antrim coast.
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🎲 British Open Golf Betting Odds
As anticipation builds for this year's event, set to tee off on July 17th, many fans and punters are eagerly reviewing the latest betting markets. Below, we have compiled the current British Open betting odds offered by leading Irish bookmakers.
💡 British Open Betting Tips
The Open 2025 promises to be an exciting and competitive battle around one of the world's best golf courses, Royal Portrush in County Antrim. To help break down the likely winners of this year's event, we have provided some British Open betting tips that will hopefully point golf fans in the right direction ahead of the world's best players teeing off on July 17th.
- Tommy Fleetwood to finish in the Top 5
The Englishman has a record that most players would be proud of. The 34-year-old has had 3 top-10 finishes in his last 6 Opens and finished 2nd behind Shane Lowry when the Open Championships were last held in Portrush. Winning has been an issue for the Southport man recently. His last win came in January 2024, but he has had four top-5 finishes on the PGA Tour this season and has shown his liking for Portrush in the past.
- Bet on Shane Lowry each-way:
The Offaly man was victorious the last time the Open Championship visited Irish shores in 2019 and will be keen to do a decent job of having another crack at the Claret Jug once more. His record in majors this year is not what the 38-year-old would want, with two missed cuts at the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship and a tied 42nd at this year's Masters. His overall form has been steady, however, with 4 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, including two runner-up spots. His knowledge and history of the course should help him, and with most betting sites paying at least 5 places, it might be worth having a look at Shane Lowry during this year's Open.
- Scottie Scheffler to Win
Since the start of 2021, Scheffler has had an incredible 14 top-10 finishes out of the 19 major championships he has played. That incredible record includes his 3 major wins at the 2022 and 2024 Masters, as well as his 2025 PGA Championship win. Although his record at the Open Championships is his worst at any of the majors, Scheffler has had 2 top-10 finishes in 2021 at Royal St. George's and in 2024 at Troon. He has also had 2 other tour wins this year at the Memorial and the Byron Nelson, so it would be no surprise to see him contend at Portrush.
⛳ British Open Betting Insights
We have already given some betting tips that will hopefully prove useful for fans looking to bet on the tournament. In this section, we will highlight some of the other main contenders you should watch at this year's Open Championship.
Key Players to Watch
- Rory McIlroy
Rory finally ended his Masters hoodoo and became a Grand Slam champion when he took home that prized green jacket back in April. He has also had two other PGA Tour wins in 2025 but has not contended in the 6 events since his win at Augusta. He returns home to Northern Ireland looking to fare better at Portrush than he did in 2019 when he missed the cut. Perhaps this year's Open might just be the place where McIlroy gives the home fans something to cheer about.
- Jon Rahm
Rahm is playing on the LIV Tour these days, but the 30-year-old is always a must-watch when he arrives at any of golf's major championships. The two-time major winner has had two top-10 finishes in the majors this year and has had two top-5s at his last four Opens. He finished T-11th at Portrush in 2019, so he has proven he knows his way around the Antrim course.
- Xander Schauffele
The defending Champion Golfer of the Year after his two-shot win at Troon in 2024, Schauffele has had a rocky 2025 with only one top-10 finish at the Masters. He did have an injury to contend with at the beginning of the season, and some of his better performances this year have come at the majors. This suggests that he can't be completely ruled out from making a bold bid to become the first player since Padraig Harrington back in 2008 to successfully defend his Open Championship.
- Bryson DeChambeau
Another of golf's stars to be playing his trade on LIV, DeChambeau won on the LIV Tour in May. He has also looked good in the majors this year with a T-5 and a T-2 at the Masters and the PGA Championship. He has only one top-10 placing to his name in the Open, though, and missed the cut at Royal Portrush back in 2019.
- Tyrrell Hatton
The fiery Englishman had his best major finish at the recent US Open, finishing in a tie for 4th. He also finished T-6 at the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush, so he has a solid history at the course. He made the move to LIV in 2024 and has had 1 win on the tour.
⛳ British Open Predictions
⛳ Royal Portrush Golf Club: What Punters Need to Know
Established in 1883, Royal Portrush is located on the North Antrim Causeway coast in Northern Ireland. The 36-hole club has two links courses: the Dunluce Links course, which is the championship course, and the Valley Links. The course first hosted the Open Championship in 1951 and did so again in 2019. The course is overlooked by the ruins of Dunluce Castle, which gives its name to the Dunluce course. The course measures 7,337 yards with a par score of 71, and the championship course also has 62 bunkers.
The famous Par 4, 5th hole, is a classic risk-and-reward hole on the course. This short par 4, measuring 372 yards, can be driven by longer hitters and yielded 4 eagles and 111 birdies back in 2019. It does contain danger, however, with an out-of-bounds area directly behind the green. This drew 13 double bogeys or worse in 2019, so expect another range of scoring at the 5th this year.
The Par 3 16th is another renowned hole among the many at the world-famous course. Portrush's signature is named Calamity Corner, and for good reason. It is an extremely difficult hole where fans can expect to see players miss the green long and left, given that anything right and short can fly 40-50 feet past the green into the rough. Make the green, and players will still have difficulty, given the elevated nature of the green, which is completely exposed to the elements along the Antrim coast. The hole yielded just 24 birdies in 2019, the fewest of any hole on the course.
⚡Best British Betting Sites
When it comes to betting on the 2025 Open, some bookmakers stand out. Let's go over the top 3 British Open betting sites you can use to bet on this year's tournament. You can also check out our bookmaker reviews page to learn more about these sites and any free bets you can take advantage of when betting on golf.
DirectionBet
DirectionBet covers all four of golf's major championships, including the Open. With this site, you can access highly competitive odds before and during the tournament. Plus, you will always find an odds boost for most in-play markets throughout the Open week. They also offer a full cash-out option, which can help minimise your losses during the event. New customers can claim a 100% first deposit match up to the value of €100 at DirectionBet.
To find out more about what DirectionBet can offer golf fans ahead of the Open, check out our DirectionBet review page.
Betovo
Betovo is another betting site that British Open punters can look forward to using before and during the tournament. They offer comparable odds to their rivals when it comes to their Open Championship betting markets and offer bettors a practical choice when it comes to golf betting. The outstanding feature about Betovo is its full and partial cash-out options available for in-play betting markets across several golf tournaments, including the Open.
They also offer new and existing customers several enticing promotions. These include new customers receiving a matched first deposit of up to €250 with a €10 minimum deposit.
You can find out even more about the site by visiting our Betovo review page.
NetBet
If you're looking to place an each-way bet on the Open, NetBet is the right choice. They have enhanced terms for any each-way bet you place. For example, NetBet pays out for the fifth, eighth, and tenth places, so if your selected golfer finishes in one of these positions, the place part of your bet will pay out at odds of 1.2.
The site also offers several markets you can bet on for the Open Championship and other golf majors, including the top 5 and top 10 finish. Apart from offering several promotions for existing punters, new customers can claim a €20 free bet as a welcome bonus. Check out our NetBet review to find out even more about the British Open betting markets and promotions available on the site.
💵 British Open Golf Betting Markets
When betting on the 2025 Open, it is a smart idea to look at the vast array of Open betting markets that are available with the top betting sites. Below, we will take you through some of the most popular markets ahead of the 2025 Open Championship.
Outright Winner
Outright betting involves betting on the player you think will win the 2025 Open. Betting on this market early can generally unlock the best and most competitive British Open betting odds available. This bet is generally the most popular for golf punters. Regarding the 2025 Open, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are the current favourites ahead of the tournament on July 17th.
Top 5/10/20 Finish
The top Open Championship betting sites will also allow you to bet on players you think will finish in the top 5, 10, and 20. Odds on this market will depend on the player's form and experience at major tournaments. When you back a player to finish in the top 10, you will also receive a payout if they win the title, so it can be an effective way of maximising your chances of banking a return. Given his history at Portrush, Shane Lowry might be someone to look at finishing in the top 5 or 10.
Each-Way Betting
Each-way wagers consist of 2 bets, namely a win bet and a place bet. This increases your chances of banking some cash, as the sportsbook will pay out if your selection wins or places in what can often be the top 7 or 8. For example, a €10 each-way bet on Jon Rahm in the Open will cost €20.
First Round Leader
Most betting sites on the Open will also allow punters to bet on the player they think will lead the tournament after the first round of play. Players with a history of fast starts and decent experience of doing well on the course may be the best players to look out for in this market. The last time the Open was held in Portrush, Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, and Brooks Koepka made fast starts, shooting -4 and -3 rounds, respectively. Shane Lowry went on to win the Championship, while Fleetwood and Koepka recorded top-5 finishes.
Winning Margin
When it comes to betting on the Open, you can also bet on the winning margin you think the eventual winner will triumph by. Last year, Xander Schauffele won by 2 shots on -9, while the last time it was held in Portrush, Shane Lowry won by 6 shots with a score of 15 under par.
Nationality Betting
In this bet, punters are betting on what country they think the champion will come from. The US has had 3 of the last 4 winners of the Open, while Ireland and Northern Ireland have had a combined 5 winners since 2007.
📊 British Open Key Facts
Top golfers like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and J.J. Spaun will be teeing off at the 153rd British Open Championship. Let's look at some key facts you should know before placing your first bet on this year's tournament.
- Henrik Stenson in 2016 and Cameron Smith in 2022 jointly hold the record for the lowest final score after 72 holes in relation to par in Open Championship history. Both men shot -20 on their way to winning the title.
- America has contributed the highest number of winners in Open history, with 47 wins coming from 32 different winners. Next on the list is Scotland with 41 from 22 different players, and England with 22 wins from 13 players.
- Branden Grace became the first man to shoot 62 in a major championship when he shot the score during the 3rd round of the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale. That score has subsequently been matched by Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele in the first round of the 2023 US Open, Schauffele again during the 2024 PGA Championship, and Shane Lowry in his 3rd round at the 2024 PGA Championship.
- Harry Vardon has won the most Open Championships. Vardon won his 6 titles in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, and 1914. Jack Nicklaus has the highest number of runner-up placings, with 7 throughout his illustrious career. Nicklaus did lift the Claret Jug on 3 occasions as well.
🏆The Open Winners
As well as providing tips and insights into the 2025 Open, below are the last 10 winners of the historic tournament.
🎭 History of the tournament
The Open Championship is the oldest golf tournament in the world and one of the most prestigious. The tournament was founded in 1860 and was held every year at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. The competition was originally contested by professional golfers, with players from five golf clubs: Blackheath in England and Perth, Bruntsfield, Musselburgh, and St. Andrews in Scotland, all invited to take part.
The prize on offer for the first-ever Open was to be named Champion Golfer of the Year, as well as the Challenge Belt. This belt was made from red leather and was worth £25. Willie Park Sr. was the first-ever Champion Golfer of the Year.
In 1872, the Claret Jug was introduced as the winning trophy presented to tournament winners, while the hosting of the tournament was to be rotated between a select group of coastal links golf courses in the United Kingdom. It is called the Open because, in theory, the tournament is open to both professionals and amateurs, but in practice, it is a professional competition where a select few of the world's best amateurs also play, either by invitation or by qualification.
Since 2019, when the PGA Championship was moved to May, the Open has become the fourth and final major of the golf season. It is usually held in mid-July. This year's tournament takes place at Royal Portrush, with American Xander Schauffele as the defending champion.
🎯 BetInIreland's Wrap-Up
The first 3 majors of the year have thrown up some fascinating and historic storylines. Rory finally completed his Grand Slam at the Masters, and Scottie Scheffler won his 3rd major at the PGA Championship, while the US Open threw up a surprise winner in J.J. Spaun. What this year's Open throws up is anyone's guess, with the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Shane Lowry, and Jon Rahm all amongst the favourites to lift one of the most famous prizes in sport, the Claret Jug.
The Open is played predominantly on links courses, with the wind and natural undulations meaning golfers must adapt their game, which can lead to unpredictable results. With our golf betting guide, however, we can help you make the most informed decisions possible ahead of this year's 153rd edition of the Open.
❓ BRITISH OPEN BETTING FAQS
Who is the favourite to win the 2025 British Open?
American star Scottie Scheffler is the current favourite to lift his first Open title at Royal Portrush.
What are the best bookmakers for betting on the British Open?
Our picks as the best betting sites to have a bet on this year’s Open are DirectionBet, Betovo, and NetBet. These sites offer some of the most competitive odds on the market as well as some of the best welcome bonuses and free bets for new customers.
What is the total British Open prize money?
This year’s Open has a total prize fund of £12.52 million, like last year’s event. Last year, the winner, Xander Schauffele, walked away with a cool £2.28 million.
Where can I watch the British Open live in Ireland?
For golf fans in Ireland, subscribing to Sky Sports is the best way to catch all the live action over the four days of play.
Liam Lacey
Liam is a sportswriter from County Laois in Ireland who specializes in delivering content on GAA and Football matters (though he does see himself as somewhat of a tennis aficionado also!). Liam has written about All Ireland Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships, Premier League, Champions League and International Football offering expert opinion and match previews and predictions. Occasionally even getting some right!