Wet, breezy week ahead Royal Portrush, the 153rd Open...full story

 DP World/PGA Tours : the 153rd Open Entry List

Mother Nature ! After a week they dubbed the "Scottish Riviera" at North Berwick with stunning sunshine, warm breeze, a burnt out Renaissance Club and Scots with sunburns, can you believe there is nothing but rain, rain and more rain in their forecast all this week !

Talk about Mother Nature smiling on the Scottish Open !

Now that was the good news, but she is not being so kind, as the golfing world makes the short trip over the Irish Sea to Belfast, then up the coast to Royal Portrush for this week's 153rd Open.

There is rain in the forecast Tuesday right through Sunday at various times, with winds 8-27kph.  This according to "The Weather Network"

A field of 156 players are assembling in Northern Ireland for the last of this year's four men's Major Championships.

Chris Gotterup, Nicolai Højgaard and Matti Schmid earned spots via the Genesis Scottish Open, the final event in The Open Qualifying Series.

Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland is one of the world’s leading courses and the only Irish layout to host The Open. The Dunluce Links – one of two Championship courses at the site along with the Valley Course – shares an impressive North Atlantic backdrop with views of Scotland and Donegal.

This marks the third time The Open has been hosted at this renowned coastal links course, following previous staging's in 1951 and 2019, and just the third occasion the championship is contested outside Scotland and England.

Shane Lowry stormed to a six-shot win in 2019

Hometown favourite Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and still world #1 Scottie Scheffler headline a stacked international field looking to win the coveted Claret Jug. Rory set the course record of 61 as a 16 year old in a qualifying round. 

Rory McIlroy was among the first players on site at Royal Portrush on Monday at 7am.

To see the full field list, click here.

Who is the defending champion?

Xander Schauffele won his second Major Championship of 2025 at The 152nd Open as a flawless 65 saw him break free from a congested leaderboard and earn a two-shot victory at Royal Troon.

By doing so, he became the first player to win two Majors in the same season since Brooks Koepka in 2018, and also the third American winner of the Claret Jug in the last four editions.

England's Justin Rose and American Billy Horschel were the nearest challengers after rounds of 67 and 68 respectively, one clear of South Africa's Thriston Lawrence.

As with the other three Major Championships, the tournament is decided over 72-hole stroke play with 18 holes a day over four days, weather permitting.

Each player has one morning and one afternoon tee time over the first two days, in groups of three.

The cut at the Open is made after the second round is fully completed, as the top 70 players and ties go on to face two more rounds.

The final two rounds are generally played in groups of two, with last place going off first and the leaders going out last.

What does the winner receive?

Among the benefits enjoyed by The Open winner are:

• The Claret Jug

• The Gold Medal

• Title of ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’

• Entry to all future Open Championships until the age of 55

• Five-year exemptions to The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Players Championship

• Automatic invite to three of the five senior Majors once the player turns 50, with a one-year invitation to the US Senior Open and a lifetime invitation to the Senior PGA Championship and Senior Open Championship

* $3,100,000 US.

The 153rd Open will be televised in 199 countries and territories, enabling golf fans to watch the world’s best players compete for the Claret Jug.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus

Rory confident after another T2 at Genesis Scottish Open..

 Rory McIlroy hailed a positive week despite narrowly missing out on his fifth Rolex Series title at the Genesis Scottish Open.

The 36-year-old was hoping to shake off ring rust during his first start in three weeks at the Renaissance Club - his first event in Europe since completing the career Grand Slam with his Masters Tournament success in April.

McIlroy shared the lead with American Chris Gotterup heading into the final round in North Berwick and moved into a one-shot lead after a birdie at the fifth.

However, he could only add another birdie at the eighth before parring his way home, with Gotterup going on to close with a 66 to seal his maiden DP World Tour crown with a -15 total on only his sixth start.

The World Number Two, who carded three birdies and a dropped shot in his 68,  shared 2nd with Englishman Marco Penge at -13, but McIlroy was thrilled with his performance ahead of next week's 153rd Open Championship on home soil at Royal Portrush.

"It's been a great week," he said. "I'm really happy with where my game is; the way I played over the weekend, the shots that I hit, how I controlled my ball flight.

"It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that's about it.

"No frustration, really. I'm really happy with where everything is.

"Looking forward to getting to Portrush tonight and getting out on to the golf course early tomorrow and just turning my attention to that.

"But I feel like I've gotten out of this week everything that I wanted."

"I feel like my game got a little better each and every day.

"I controlled my ball flight, some of the iron shots I hit, especially today, sort of the five iron into 12 after Chris hit it in close.

"Getting stuck behind the tree on 11 and hitting a great third shot in there making par. Iron play was great.

"I feel like I did enough good things off the tee. Everything is in a really good spot and I'm happy with how my game progressed as the week went on."

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

DP World Tour: Genesis Scottish Open wrap.. Final results

 DP World /PGA Tour : Genesis Scottish Open Leaderboard

 Chris Gotterup showed calmness and quality to hold off Rory McIlroy by two shots and claim the Genesis Scottish Open.

The 25-year-old shared the third-round lead with the World Number Two and the pair went toe-to-toe in their bid for a Rolex Series victory at the Renaissance Club.

McIlroy led by one at the fifth but after a birdie at the eighth, he endured a barren run of ten straight pars to open the door for his American rival.

Gotterup took full advantage with birdies at the eighth, tenth and 12th to open up a two-shot lead, only to bogey the 15th.

However, he bounced back with a birdie at the next to re-establish his lead before parring his way home to secure his maiden DP World Tour title and earn a place at next week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

His post game response was understandable..

"I just hung in there tight and tried to keep it together," he said. " Held it together really well and then it was so much fun out there.

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to get it out but everyone at home, I don't know, but I mean, this is awesome. I'm not going to be able to keep it together.

"It's awesome. I can't wait to see everyone and then I'm playing The Open next week.

"It's all hitting me. It's just so cool. I played really well this week, and I knew today was going to be tough. I hung in there like a champ and finished it off in style.

"I was a one-time champion. Two-time champ sounds a lot better. I know what I'm capable of and I know when I feel the way I did today, I can beat the best. It's just awesome."

McIlroy was inches from rejoining the lead with his lengthy birdie effort at the 15th and he missed another chance at the next from eight feet.

Gotterup, though, kept his cool and drained his birdie putt from similar range to regain his two-shot advantage with two to play.

He nervelessly then parred his way home in a 66 to land his first Rolex Series success on only his sixth DP World Tour start.

McIlroy signed for a 68 in a share of second, with Englishman Penge continuing his stellar season with a closing 66 to finish at -13 

Nicolai Højgaard earned his place at the 153rd Open Championship with a final-round 64 in a share of fourth at -12  alongside Fitzpatrick.

Justin Rose carded the lowest round of the day - a flawless 63 - to finish one shot further back -11, while Ryder Cup team-mate Sepp Straka, of Austria, was in sole seventh at -10

Scott Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Swede Ludvig Åberg and Norway's Viktor Hovland wrapped up the top ten at -9

German Matti Schmid fired a closing 71 to finish at -6 and claim the third spot available at Royal Portrush next week.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

American rookie, Chris Gotterup wins Genesis Scottish Open...Final Results

   DP World /PGA Tour : Genesis Scottish Open Leaderboard Tee Times Weather

Ranked 158owgr, 25 year old big hitting American, Chris Gotterup who T138th at this event last year made headlines on Friday when he was within 3 holes of shooting 59, settling for -9 61 which he rode all the way into today's final pairing with world #2 Rory McIlroy.

He then backed his week up under intense scrutiny, outplaying Rory with a -4 66 to Rory's -2 68 to win his biggest tournament of his career, a week before playing in the 153rd Open Championship. 

His numbers 68 61 70 66 -15, Rory T2 68 65 66 68 -13 with Marco Penge T2 65 67 69 66 -13.

In doing so, he beat guys like Scott Scheffler T8 -9, Justin Rose 6th -11, Xander Schauffele, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg all owgr top 10, and all the rest, to fill him with confidence that he belongs in this company.

He is exempt on the DP World and PGA Tours for 2 years, just a few of the baubles coming his way after a very worthy win, his 2nd after taking the 2024 Myrtle Beach alternative event.

Bio :

Born in Easton, Maryland his family moved to New Jersey, where he won Big Ten Player of the Year playing golf at Rutgers. 

He won the Haskins award, and Jack Nicklaus award in 2021-22 at University of Oklahoma as the best college player in America. He resides in Oklahoma.

Turning pro in 2022 he finished T3 Korn Ferry Q School, and with 3 top10 finishes earned his 2024 PGA Tour card as the 23rd highest finisher on the Korn Ferry Tour.

In May that year he won the Myrtle Beach Classic his 1st PGA Tour win. 

His father Morten has won 5 New Jersey State amateur titles and his sister Anna plays lacrosse at the US Naval Academy.

Bryan Angus

 

Aussie Grace Kim wins Amundi Evian Championship in style.. Final results/Prize money

  LPGA/LET: Amundi Evian Championship 

Leaderboard

Aussie Grace Kim has made an eagle on her 72nd hole to force a playoff with Jeeno Thitikul, then minutes later made another on the 2nd playoff hole to win her second LPGA title, this one a major, the Amundi Evian Championship.

Paul Devlin

Both ladies were at -14, 270 for the week. Kim wins $1,200,000 with the eagle, while Thitikul who birdied both playoff holes received $722,000.

Brooke Henderson had a good weekend T31 73 71 68 68 -4 280 worth $58,000.

Bryan Angus

Sunday at Genesis Scottish Open...Canadian scores... live scoreboard

  DP World /PGA Tour : Genesis Scottish Open Leaderboard Tee Times Weather

* The final round is under way, players paired in three's off split tees #1 and #10 due to fog in the afternoon forecast. Play began under partly sunny skies, wind 8-12mph ENE, temperature 18*c

* For all TEE TIMES, WEATHER and now live scoring, click on my links above.

* Rory McIlroy -11, Chris Gotterup -11 and Wyndham Clark -9 13.40 1st tee are the last group

Canadians, Final

Taylor Pendrith T12  67 69 69 68 -7 

 Nick Taylor T23 67 66 73 69 -5

Corey Conners T47  70 69 71 68 -2

Gems from Sam Torrance

* Bemoaning his lack of length off the tee nowadays " I can hear them land now !"

* Watching a toddler in the gallery crawling on all fours "she's faster than Hovland, "wait for me Viktor, I'm coming !!"

Bryan Angus

Rory is the Story at Genesis Scottish 0pen...54 hole scoreboard.. Sunday TEE TIMES

 DP World /PGA Tour : Genesis Scottish Open Leaderboard Tee Times Weather

Rory McIlroy carded the joint lowest round of Saturday to join Chris Gotterup in a share of the lead at the Genesis Scottish Open.

McIlroy began Moving Day four shots behind the overnight leader, but he reeled in the American with a patient 66 to set the clubhouse target of -11 at the Renaissance Club.

Gotterup, who equaled the course record 61 on Friday, missed a lengthy birdie putt at the last for the outright lead as he signed for a level-par 70.

McIlroy spoke about his renewed optimism on his first event in Europe since completing the career Grand Slam with his emotional Masters Tournament victory in April.

He put himself in pole position for a fifth Rolex Series triumph before next week's Open Championship on home soil at Royal Portrush.

"It's my first realistic chance to win after the Masters, and I've had a great season," McIlroy said. "I won at Pebble. I won PLAYERS. I said this, when you do something that you've been dreaming your whole life to do, it was a huge moment in my life, my career.

"I think I just needed that little bit of time. And to be back here for last couple of weeks, and feel like I could actually digest all of it.

"I feel like I came to this tournament with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the year.

Gotterup had three holes left to play, but he followed McIlroy home with pars after missing his birdie effort from 22 feet at the last.

"I know what I'm capable of. I've won before," Gotterup said. "Obviously different tournament. But I won in college and I've won before. So I know what it takes.

"It's going to take a good round for sure and I'm going to go give it my best.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (EDIT)