The Open Betting Tips 2025: Post-Cut Picks To Win And Sleepers

Who are our writers backing to win and to challenge this weekend at Royal Portrush?

Tyrrell Hatton, Brian Harman, Robert MacIntyre and the 18th at Royal Portrush during the 2025 Open
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Scottie Scheffler has pulled ahead after 36 holes of the 2025 Open after a stunning 64 on Friday afternoon, which is the lowest round of the championship so far.

The World No.1 was pre-tournament favorite and he's an even heavier favorite now with odds as low as -175 at the halfway stage.

Scheffler leads Matt Fitzpatrick by one with 36 holes left to play, with Brian Harman and Haotong Li a stroke further back. From there, there is a three stroke gap to five players on five-under, including Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre.

Take a look at the latest odds and our picks to win and sleepers...

The Open betting odds

Outright winner odds from FanDuel Sportsbook (odds correct at time of publishing)

  • Scottie Scheffler -175
  • Matt Fitzpatrick +550
  • Brian Harman +1200
  • Haotong Li +2500
  • Rory McIlroy +2800
  • Tyrrell Hatton +2800
  • Robert MacIntyre +3000
  • Chris Gotterup +5500
  • Harris English +6500
  • Rasmus Højgaard +7500
  • Ludvig Åberg +12000
  • Tony Finau +12000
  • Xander Schauffele +12000
  • Nicolai Højgaard +12000
  • Sam Burns +15000
  • Justin Rose +20000
  • Keegan Bradley +20000
  • Jon Rahm +27000
  • Jordan Smith +30000
  • Tommy Fleetwood +35000
  • Harry Hall +40000
  • Justin Thomas +40000
  • Viktor Hovland +50000
  • Lee Westwood +50000
  • Shane Lowry +60000
  • Bryson DeChambeau +75000
  • Christiaan Bezuidenhout +75000
  • Jordan Spieth +75000
  • Aaron Rai +75000
  • All other players priced at +100000 or higher

The Open leaderboard after 36 holes

  • -10 Scottie Scheffler (-175)
  • -9 Matt Fitzpatrick (+550)
  • -8 Brian Harman (+1200)
  • -8 Haotong Li (+2500)
  • -5 Rasmus Hojgaard (+7500)
  • -5 Tyrrell Hatton (+2800)
  • -5 Robert MacIntyre (+3000)
  • -5 Harris English (+6500)
  • -5 Chris Gotterup (+5500)

The Open betting: Post-cut picks

A headshot of Golf Monthly Instruction Writer Barry Plummer, taken just off the first tee at Sand Moor Golf Club
Barry Plummer

To Win: Tyrrell Hatton (+2800)

Tyrrell Hatton was a player that I identified as one of my best bets before the start of the tournament, and after two very impressive rounds I feel he is in a great position to contend over the weekend.

His links pedigree speaks for itself, with three Alfred Dunhill Links Championship titles in his career, but he has also been sticking around towards the top of the leaderboard in Major Championships more often.

Despite not being particularly accurate off the tee this week, he is scoring extremely well and if he can find a few more fairways this could be the week he takes a long overdue first Major title.

Sleeper: Tony Finau (+12000)

Tony Finau was a player that I seriously looked at before the Open kicked off on Thursday, but after a solid couple of rounds he has convinced me that I have to get involved over the weekend.

Finau's Open record is fantastic, with two top-10s and two top-20s in eight appearances. He was also 3rd at Royal Portrush in 2019, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him shake off some turbulent recent PGA Tour form to challenge once again on the Major stage.

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock

To Win: Brian Harman (+1200)

Personally, I believe either Scheffler or Harman will be lifting the Claret Jug on Sunday and, although my head says Scheffler, I'm going with my gut, which is Harman (definitely not because I backed him in 2023 when he won...).

As shown previously, Harman can excel in links conditions and, given the unpredictable nature of links golf, his game suits it incredibly well.

What's more, looking at the stats, he ranks fifth in par 3 scoring and second in par 4 scoring this week. If he can tighten up the par 5s, which have yielded plenty of birdies and eagles, I can see the left-hander lifting another Claret Jug on Sunday afternoon.

Sleeper: Chris Gotterup (+5500)

Going into the weekend of the Genesis Scottish Open, I felt that Gotterup didn't have much hope of winning, but how wrong I was, with the American fending off Rory McIlroy to claim the biggest victory of his career.

Shooting a six-under 65 on Friday at Portrush, which included two eagles, I can see the 25-year-old pushing on and really challenging once again, especially after his win no more than five days ago.

He showed he can mix it with the best and, with this new-found confidence behind him, I think Gotterup can really put it to those at the top of the leaderboard.

Headshot of Jonny Leighfield at Effingham Golf Club October 2023
Jonny Leighfield

To Win: Tyrrell Hatton (+2800)

I picked the Englishman to win before the championship began at +3000, and I'm happy he's proving me right so far.

His links prowess is coming to the fore once again and he's looked really composed as he plots his way around Royal Portrush.

A near miss at the US Open appears to have given Hatton true belief that he can contend at these Majors, so I fully expect him to remain there or there abouts heading into the back nine on Sunday.

Sleeper: Chris Gotterup (+5500)

The Scottish Open champion is really in a groove right now and playing some inspired golf. A 65 on Friday fired him right up into the top-10 and has put him within striking distance. If he finds two more rounds in the mid-60s, there is every chance he could pull off the greatest two weeks of his life. Conditions are supposed to be fairly calm on Saturday, so look out for another 65, perhaps.

Elliott-Heath
Elliott Heath

To Win: Robert MacIntyre (+3000)

Let's face it, Scottie Scheffler is rightly the bookmakers favorite at this stage and it is certainly hard to overlook him - but we want a bit of value, right?

MacIntyre is as gritty as they come and seems to be able to will himself into playing good golf, especially when you consider he had a poor Scottish Open last week.

He loves Portrush, having been T6 here in his debut, and is obviously somewhat of a links specialist having grown up in Scotland and winning the Scottish Open.

He's only five back at the halfway stage, and if Scheffler doesn't get it done this weekend, it could be because MacIntyre channels whatever he had at the Scottish Open last year and the US Open last month to get over the line for what would be an extraordinary victory.

Sleeper: Justin Rose (+20000)

Rose is eight back at the halfway stage, but we saw at The Masters that he has the ability to get extremely hot and mount a charge. He's going to need to do that this weekend, and I think he is more than capable.

The Englishman is gritty like MacIntyre and has the determination and belief in himself to play great golf when he needs to.

While he's a long way back and victory looks highly unlikely, I am expecting a big weekend for the former World No.1.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

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