The Open Championship Picks, Predictions & Odds

• The 153rd Open Championship tees off Thursday, July 17th, from Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland
• Scottie Scheffler is the +450 favorite over 2014 champ Rory McIlroy
• See my 2025 British Open picks, best value bets, and the odds to win the tournament below

The final men’s golf major of 2025 is upon us, and it’s headed back to Royal Portush Golf Club, site of the massively popular victory by Irishman Shane Lowry in 2019. It’s the British Open being contested as the last major of the year, following wins by Rory McIlroy (Masters), Scottie Scheffler (PGA Championship) and J.J. Spaun (U.S. Open).

Xander Schauffele is the defending champion, which marked the third American in the last four years to take home the Claret Jug. This will just be the third time the Open Championship will be at this venue, following the 1951 and 2019 iterations. McIlroy had a tremendous chance to come in with a victory under his belt at the Genesis Scottish Open, but American Chris Gotterup surprised the field to take his second career title, while Rory was runner-up.

British Open Odds 2025

It’s no surprise that Scottie Scheffler is the +450 favorite, as he has three trophies to his name in 2025 and three career major triumphs. He’s coming off a T-8th showing at the Scottish Open. Rory McIlroy, who won this championship in 2014, is the second choice at +700, though he hasn’t contended to win the last two majors, after donning a green jacket in April. Jon Rahm is the third choice at +1200.

Jon Rahm has a pair of major trophies in his closet, having won the 2021 U.S Open and 2023 Masters titles. He’s posted five top-10s in the biggest events since slipping into the green jacket, with a really solid showing at the majors in 2025 – T-14th Masters, T-8th PGA Championship, T-7th U.S. Open.

Rahm was in a close battle with Scheffler at the PGA before the world number #1 took over and Rahm fell off on the inward nine holes. He’s coming in with strong form also, posting a runner-up at the latest LIV golf event in his home country in Spain, and he’s racked up three top-7s the last four years at this tourney, including a runner-up in 2023. Worldwide, the fiery Spaniard has had nothing worse than that T-14th at the Masters in his last 13 starts, and top-10s in 20 of his last 23 outings.

When Royal Portush hosted the Open in 2019, Rahm had a solid T-11th showing. At +1200, he has the third shortest odds on the board to win it all, which isn’t a ton of value, but still a decent enough value to stomach.

Odds as of 9:35pm ET on July 13th at DraftKings. If you happen to be in Missouri, this will be the last golf major you are unable to legally bet in your home state, as online sports betting is set to launch before the end of the year. Keep up with the latest Missouri sports betting apps to know all the details, including launch date and signup promos!

Past Open Championship Winners

*There was no 2020 British Open due to COVID-19

The last Open Championship was won by Xander Schauffele with a -9, ousting Justin Rose and Billy Horschel by two strokes. Scottie Scheffler, this year’s favorite, finished eight strokes back (T7th alongside Jon Rahm) last year. McIlroy didn’t even make the cut at last year’s Open Championship.

However, it is important to keep in mind that last year’s event was played at a different course.

British Open 2025 Picks & Value Bets

1. Viktor Hovland +3000: In a three-year stretch, Viktor Hovland was no worse than T-13th at the Open Championship, including a T-4th in 2022. He’s come close in other majors in his career, notably a third place result at the U.S. Open this year, where he was in contention in crunch time, before J.J. Spaun snagged the trophy. He’s had a fairly spotty 2025, but does have a win at the Valspar Championship, and that excellent finish at the aforementioned U.S. Open. At some point it feels like it’s only a matter of time that the 2023 FedEx Cup champion joins the elite club of major champions.
2. Brooks Koepka +5500: This price is just tempting enough that I’ll sprinkle some cash on Brooks Koepka to win the third leg of the career grand slam. He’s a five-time grand slam champ, with three PGA’s and two U.S. Opens, and has had a solid record at the Open, with four career top-10s. After disappointing missed cuts at the Masters and U.S. Open, he had a respectable T-12th at the U.S. Open at Oakmont.
3. Russell Henley +6500: Russell Henley has a victory on the campaign (Arnold Palmer Invitational), and was fifth at this tournament in 2024. He’s racked up three straight top-10s, with a T-5th at the Memorial Tournament, T-10th U.S. Open and T-2nd Travelers Championship stretch. Henley has recorded a top-10 in three of the last five majors he’s teed it up, and is second in total strokes gained the last twelve rounds.
4. Sam Burns +8000: Sam Burns very nearly captured his first career major championship at last month’s U.S. Open, where he led on the back nine in the final round. A sketchy ruling cost him dearly, and he wound up T-7th, but he was in the mix until the end. The event prior to that, Burns was runner-up in a playoff at the RBC Canadian Open. He’ll be interesting to monitor in the top 10/20 markets.