The Open: Who will claim major victory at Royal Portrush? Sky Sports’ pundit predictions, potential contenders and ones to watch | Golf News
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McILroy are the two overwhelming favorites for the major glory to the open, but who could prevent one of them from lifting the jug of Blaret to the Royal Portrush?
The first two in the world have both won one major each year, McILroy ending the big career chelem with this Masters and Scheffler dam victory guaranteeing the title of PGA champion.
The two players have three victories worldwide in 2025 and are probably pretenders to challenge in Northern Ireland again, where Scheffler can claim the third stage of the Grand Chelem de Carrière and Mcilroy could match the Sir Nick Faldo count of six major titles.
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Jamie Weir of Sky Sports looks at the open and analyzes the chances of Rory McILroy to win a sixth major title
McILroy missed the cup when the tournament took place for the last time in his country of origin in 2019, but showed signs of return to form at recent departures, sharing second place at the Genes Scottish open last week, while Scheffler is on a series of 10 consecutive top 10 in the world.
Xander Schauffele defends the defending champion and seeks to become the first consecutive champion since Padraig Harrington, although each of the last 11 editions of the Open has produced a new Golfer of the Year.
Will this race continue this week? Could the open produce a first winner or a surprise champion? The Sky Sports team offers their predictions and chooses the players they expect to impress …
Fleetwood “Under the Radar” to end the expectation of the English winner?
England has produced only one winner since Tony Jacklin won the 1969 competition, with the success of Sir Nick Faldo in 1992, the last English champion at open, but Tommy Fleetwood is part of a strong contingent that seeks to change this.
Fleetwood did not face any of the majors this season, but has three top 10 top 10 at the Open, the 34 -year -old hoping to get better than his 2019 result and obtain a first major title.
Tommy Fleetwood (right) plays alongside Mcilroy and Justin Thomas in the first two days
Rich Beem: “He finished finalist here in 2019 and is currently playing a fairly exceptional golf course. It’s his time. “”
Nick Dougherty: “He arrives on the back of the disappointment of the Travelers championship, but he plays a fantastic golf course. He could go a bit under the radar because of this, but he should not be, because he is a great talent.”
Wayne Riley: “He likes golf ties and [winning] Must happen soon, so why not here? “”
Sky Sports expert predictions: Who will win the open?
Andrew Coltart: Jon Rahm
Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley: Tommy Fleetwood
Lady Laura Davies: Rory McILroy
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McILroy reacts to his 161 -year -old taking of 161 to Portrush, almost 20 years by day
Rich Beem: Tommy Fleetwood
Nick Dougherty: Tommy Fleetwood
Ewen Murray: Rory McILroy
Tim Barter: Xander Schauffele
Richard Boxall: Tommy Fleetwood
Inci Mehmet: Rory McILroy
Sarah Stirk: Rory McILroy
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Look every moment of the opening of Royal Portrush live only on Sky Sports. Who will impress? Jamie Dornan shows you exactly what to expect in Northern Ireland
Who could be a surprise package to impress at open?
Andrew Coltart: “”Nicolai Hojgaard managed to find something after a bad season on the PGA Tour and seems to come back to its best. “”
Lady Laura Davies: “Sepp Straka has played very well. He had been up there for a long time last week in Scotland and his year – overall – was full of very solid stuff. He seems to play very well every week. “”
Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley: “Dan Brown Won two weeks ago, finished 10th outdoors last year and at 175/1 – I think it has a chance here and that would not surprise me at all. “”
Rich Beem: “Sergio Garcia Play damn well right now and every time. “”
Could Sergio Garcia win a second major victory?
David Howell: “Tyrrell Hatton And Bob Macintyre The two threatened to win their first major at the US Open and I have the impression that the two had a major championship in them.
“They are at the top of their career. Bob will certainly earn an open at some point in his life – he reminds me of Harrington – and I could see Tyrrell do it too.”
Nick Dougherty: “MarcoConfidence is in place. He will have a great belief in his game and turned out to be a big scene last week. Come here after a brilliant week in Scotland. “”
Ewen Murray: “Cameron Young Completed second in open in 2022. He is still looking for this first victory of PGA Tour but seems to have regained his shape. “”
Richard Boxall: “Justin Rose Has a lot of experience and took some form last week at the Scottish Open. “”
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Look at the best shots of the open archives, with McILroy, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and more
Sarah Stirk: “I like Justin Rose This week, just because of the experience, the competence, the cunning and the class he has during an open championship. He has a good chance to produce something special again. “”
Inci Mehmet: “Bob Macintyre Completed in the top 10 in 2019 and finished finalist at the US Open last year, so it’s quite comfortable on the big stage. “”
Tim Barter: “Matt Fitzpatrick is a man who returns in good shape, finishing the eighth and fourth of his last two departures. He never really realized what he should have done an open and I think it’s now his time. “”
Who will win the open? Look at the last male major of the year throughout the week live on Sky Sports. The live cover of the opening round starts Thursday from 6:30 am Sky Sports Golf. Distribute open and higher sport without a contract.
