open championship Archives

Will B’s Picks:

Winner: Tommy Fleetwood
Each way: Tyrrell Hatton

Fleetwood’s been knocking on the door for a while now and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before he gets that win. Hatton’s been solid too, always hanging around the top of the leaderboard and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make a run.

Andy’s Picks:

Winner: Justin Rose
Each way: Aldrich Potgieter

Rose has the experience and still has the game to pull off his second major win. Potgieter’s a bit of a wildcard, but he’s got serious talent. Could be a surprise package if things go his way.

Will G’s Picks:

Winner: Scottie Scheffler
Each way: Robert MacIntyre

Scheffler’s consistency and composure make him the clear favourite at Royal Portrush. MacIntyre had an impressive runner-up finish at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, where he was the only player to card both weekend rounds under par. Additionally, his T6 finish at the 2019 Open Championship there shows he’s got a feel for the place.

Joakim’s Picks:

Winner: Jon Rahm
Each way: Tommy Fleetwood

Rahm has finished in the top 15 in all the other majors this year and is coming off a strong performance on LIV. As for Fleetwood, he’s been knocking on the door for a while. He’s on the path to a big win and could finally get one under his belt at Royal Portush.

Steve’s Picks:

Winner: Rory McIlroy
Each way: Ryan Fox

Rory’s course record at Royal Portrush speaks volumes about his comfort level of the layout. With that and his Masters win in April, he’s the top pick. Fox might be under the radar, but his ball striking capability makes him a smart each-way bet.

Jack’s Picks:

Winner: Sepp Straka
Each way: J. J. Spaun

Straka’s been consistent this season, with a win at The American Express and a solid showing on a links course at the Genesis Scottish Open last week. Spaun, fresh off his U.S. Open victory, is a great course fit. His accuracy could really pay off around Royal Portrush.

Will Buttleman is VPAR’s Social Media and Events Manager.

A former professional cricketer, Will played for Essex County Cricket Club from 2018 to 2023 before joining the VPAR team in 2024. During his cricket career, he competed in First Class, List A, and T20 matches, contributing to the club’s recent successes.
Now, Will’s focus has shifted to golf. He plays off a VPAR Handicap of 4.5 and is aiming to reach scratch in the near future. His favourite course is Poppy Hills, a hidden gem just above Pebble Beach, and his top venue to work at is Waterville Golf Links in County Kerry, Ireland.
Whether you’re seeking top golfing destinations, a fresh perspective on the ever-changing professional game, or betting tips for major events, Will offers valuable insights. For him, golf is more than just a sport – it’s a lifestyle, and he loves sharing that passion with the VPAR community.

This year’s Open Championship was brutal. Picking a winner was hard enough but the conditions made it even more of a challenge. The best man won in Xander Schauffele, with a final round 65 to secure his second major of the year. It was a ruthless round of golf from the world number two and every time he needed to step up, he did. Schauffele was very much under the radar the first two rounds. But, he hanged in there and was very consistent.

The media spotlight was more on the likes of Shane Lowry and Daniel Brown the first two days. They stood out from the field in some of toughest conditions I’ve ever seen in professional golf. Even some of the best of the longest hitters in the world couldn’t hit some of the par fours in two and watching drivers being hit into the par three 17^th hole was crazy. It was great viewing from the sofa!

At the start of the final round, I really felt the world number one Scottie Scheffler was going to push through the field and win The Open by two or three shots. But it was the world number two who stepped up. Schauffele made six birdies in the final round and was bogey free. His short game is on a different level to anyone else and he rarely makes a silly mistake. That was what made sure he hanged in there when other top players crumbled in the early stages of the tournament.

I can see him completing the grand slam first out of the current crop of players in the professional game. His game is trending and it suits every type of major, especially The Masters. I think he will heavily tipped for next year.

The story line of Royal Troon in my opinion was Billy Horschel. When I’ve watched him at the BMW Championship before, I’ve always felt like he had the home crowd with him, even though he is American. The Europeans love him and he always comes across the pond to play on the DP World Tour a few times a year. His West Ham golf bag is a trademark piece of his and all the West Ham fans follow him around shouting West Ham chants and cheering him on.

He’s known to be one of the nicest guys in golf so it was great to see him being in contention going into the last day and seeing how much The Open Championship means to him. His major record in the past has been statistically poor so it’s great to see Billy prove that he can handle the immense pressure of a major championship. He finished with three birdies in a row to finish T-2 with Englishman Justin Rose.

Tag: open championship

The VPAR Team’s Open Championship Picks