The British Golf Open Championship is the oldest golf tournament in the world. Golf club members and professionals will have their eyes on this year’s tournament to see which of their favourite players comes out on top.
However, at Club Insure, we know how busy the life of a golf club director and club shop pro can be. From managing staff to running events to teaching, it’s non-stop – so it can be difficult to keep up with what’s going on in the professional golfing world.
So to keep our clients up to scratch, we’ve provided a cheat sheet below. Everything you need to know about the British Open 2025, and also how you can use the tournament to benefit your club. In reading, you may also find here a few facts and figures you can drop into conversation if you’d like to impress your members and veterans.
The British Open FAQs
When is the British Open on?
Tee times for Round 1 start as early as 6:35am, playing in threes, up until the last tee off at 4:16pm. Padraig Harrington will take the opening shot, and all holes should be shot on Day 1 by 8pm, barring bad weather.
Round 2 will again begin at 6:35am, with the groups already set. The cut off for Day 3 and 4 is the top 70 players. At the end of Day 4, there could be a three hole play-off, with the aggregate score deciding the champion.
Rory McIlroy will tee off with Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas at 3:10pm on Day 1.
Every shot is available on Sky Sports, with live coverage starting at 6:30am on Thursday.
Where is the British Open 2025 being held?
The Open Championship 2025 is held in Royal Portrush in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland. Royal Portrush last hosted the tournament in 2019. This will be the 153rd iteration of the championships.
Next year, 2026, the Open will be held at Royal Birkdale near Southport. Royal Birkdale is the most regular venue of the Championships, excepting St. Andrews.
The last Open Championship was held at Royal Troon won by Xander Schauffele in 2024, then Royal Liverpool won by Brian Harman in 2023, then St.Andrews in 2022 won by Aussie Cameron Smith. This marked the 150th Anniversary of the tournament.
The earliest championship as it’s known, was held at Prestwick in 1860, won by Scottish golfer Willie Park Senior.
Who are the favourites to win the British Open 2025?
The bookies favourites are Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Scheffler won the latest PGA Championship and Rory won a (long-overdue) Masters recently. The two title holders are expected to battle it out in Ireland this year, at McIlroy’s home course.
A win will see McIlroy match Sir Nick Faldo’s six major titles, yet Scheffler has always ended up somewhere within the top ten this past decade. But don’t count out Xander Schauffele, last year’s champion, who may become the first back-to-back winner since Padraig Harrington.
Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose are all competitors and people’s favourites. However watch out for Keegan Bradley, the American has an excellent short game and tee-to-green stats, he rarely 3-puts and could be a surprise champ, despite being 34th favourite to win.
No Tiger Woods this year as he recovers from a ripped Achilles tendon. Yet not to forget, its Rory who holds the course record at Royal Portrush…
What’s the expectation with the weather at the Open Championship Royal Portrush?
Royal Portrush Golf Club sits on the north coast of Northern Ireland. The weather is always temperamental, with strong winds and intermittent rain. It really is up-in-the-air when it comes to predicting the weather over there.
Keep an eye on the weather here.
How long is Royal Portrush Golf Course?
Royal Portrush is a Par 71, 7381 yard course. Because of the layout of the holes and the firm ground, the course is notoriously difficult, also considering the weather. Royal Portrush actually has the least amount of bunkers of the Open Championship courses, at 62, but there placement makes the course tricky to navigate.
Expect the Par 5s to see low scores because of the long running fairways, and the final two holes, the most competitive on the course, to decide a players card.
How much is the Open Championship prize money?
Xander Schauffele received £2.3million after winning last year. The total prize fund was £12.6million shared across the winner and runner-ups.
Compared to other majors, this is lower than the Masters winnings at £3.1million for the winner, and the US Open which was £3.2million for the winner.
How can the British Open Benefit your Golf Club
1. Show the golf tournament on TV
Attract more players and spectators into your bar area by showing the golf tournament on TV. Bar sales and food are one of the keep revenue drivers for golf clubs. Showing the tournament on the big screen will help players stick around for longer, and therefore buy more drinks.
To show the Golf Open Championship, golf clubs will need a TV license. The best way to watch is with a Sky Sports and Sky Golf subscription.
To save money, clubs can potentially avoid the need for a full TV Licence, just a limited one, by ensuring only certain channels are shown. Clubs will need to have a policy in place for switching off the TV when the programme ends.
2. The Championship effect
As with the Wimbledon effect and the Augusta effect, the championship effect refers to the influx in customers preceding, during or following a national event. People naturally are more attracted to playing a sport when their favourite professional or celebrity is on television playing it too.
Therefore, ensure you have your course looking it’s best in preparation for the Championship effect. This might be the prime time for your club to gain new membership and advertise availability to host events.
3. Increase Pro Shop sales
Keep an eye on the tournament and consider investing in your pro shop. Men’s golf hoodies are a great example of something made popular by professional golfers that could be sought after by members at your club. Watch closely at the outfits, putters, drivers, and small assistance tools such as pitch-mark repairers and distance measuring scopes. Anything televised by the tournament could become a trend, and be sold at your club.
4. Assess policy limits within your insurance
If you have made changes to your clubhouse, grounds or equipment recently, it may not be fully covered. Underinsurance is very dangerous, and in the event of a claim can be very costly.
Following the tournament season, expect increased footfall at your club, therefore increasing the risk of a claim. It may be worth discussing with your dedicated broker whether any changes or updates you’ve made need to be followed up.
