The Open was last hosted at Royal Portrush in 2019 when one of those breakthroughs occurred: Shane Lowry capturing the Claret Jug as one of the most popular Open champions in recent memory. This year, there are a number of players seeking that same kind of moment.

And it will happen, again, when Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush hosts the 153rd edition of the game’s oldest major. In turn, it will create anxiousness for the 156 players in the field waiting to see if where their names land on the starter’s sheet and whether that might leave them on the “good” or “bad” side of the draw.

McIlroy was born just 62 miles from the site of the 153rd Open Championship and set a new course record of 61 at Dunluce Road when he was just 16-years-old, so expectations were through the roof when he returned to his old haunt for the only major this side of the Atlantic in 2019.

Chris Gotterup won the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open, securing his biggest career victory and a spot in the Open Championship. Gotterup, ranked 158th in the world before the tournament, held off a competitive field including Rory McIlroy to win by two strokes.

Chris Gotterup came up with the clutch shots on the biggest stage he has faced Sunday, taking down crowd favorite Rory McIlroy with a 4-under 66 and a two-shot victory in the Scottish Open that gives him another week of links golf.