Royal Portrush: A Majestic Test Awaits the 2025 Open Championship
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the stage is set for the 2025 Open Championship,returning too the hallowed grounds of Royal Portrush Golf club on Northern Ireland’s stunning Causeway Coast.This iconic venue, with its dramatic Dunluce Links, promises a captivating blend of natural beauty and formidable golfing challenge, making it a fitting host for the final major of the year.
The Royal Portrush Challenge
Royal Portrush’s Dunluce Links is renowned for its breathtaking and demanding layout, weaving through some of the most rugged dunes found on the Open Championship rota. The course underwent significant enhancements in preparation for the 2019 Open, with architects Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & ebert masterfully crafting two new holes, the 7th and 8th, seamlessly integrating them into the existing landscape.
Signature Holes:
5th – “White Rocks” (382 yards, Par 4): A challenging dogleg right that offers breathtaking views of the dramatic chalk cliffs.
7th - “Curran Point” (592 yards, Par 5): A newly created masterpiece, playing from an elevated tee that hugs the dramatic coastline.
8th - “Dunluce” (434 yards, Par 4): A true test of nerve, demanding a precise tee shot over a natural chasm, with the historic ruins of Dunluce Castle overlooking the North Coast shoreline.
14th – “Calamity” (473 yards, Par 4): Arguably the course’s most famous hole, requiring a valiant tee shot across a vast ravine.
* 16th – “calamity Corner” (236 yards, Par 3): A treacherous par-3 where accuracy is paramount, with significant trouble lurking to the right.
The unique character of Royal Portrush is further defined by its intricate green complexes and their surroundings. Many putting surfaces are artfully nestled into the dunes or elevated above the fairways, demanding exceptional touch and strategy.
Shane Lowry’s extraordinary 63 in the third round of the 2019 Open remains the official course record. However, local golf enthusiasts fondly recall Rory McIlroy‘s remarkable 61 as a 15-year-old amateur in 2005, a testament to his prodigious talent even before the course’s modern renovations.
Rory Mcilroy during a practice round prior to the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf … More
Prize Money
The 2025 Open Championship boasts a substantial prize fund of $17 million, with the champion golfer set to receive $3.1 million. This figure mirrors the winnings of Xander Schauffele in 2024,marking the first time as 2012 that The R&A has not increased the overall purse.
As the final major championship of 2025, The Open at Royal Portrush is poised to deliver compelling narratives. Spectators can anticipate thrilling contests, including Rory McIlroy’s pursuit of a historic home victory, Scottie Scheffler’s quest for a coveted links major title, and Xander Schauffele’s ambition for back-to-back open Championship triumphs. All this will unfold at a beloved venue, drawing the largest crowds outside of the venerable Old Course at St Andrews.
