The two-time major champ found himself in a tough spot in the high grass on No. 4 during his opening round. And he wound up completely whiffing on his next shot. Yep, whiffing.

At least, that’s what it looked like on TV. It’s hard to tell exactly with Portrush’s gnarly native grass. Anyway, have a look as DeChambeau stares at his golf ball in disbelief for a moment before taking a second swing hack at it—and only managing to move his ball slightly farther as it dribbles down the hill.

pic.twitter.com/h6Ut5zA5am

— Golf Clips (@clips_golf) July 17, 2025

Ouch. Earlier in the week, Bryson said he was hopeful about figuring out how to play better in the wind, however, it appears his fescue calculations still need a bit of work.

DeChambeau did recover from there, getting up and down to at least save double bogey. But that’s a tough way to get your tournament started.

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“For whatever reason, the Open Championship is not kind to Mickelson,” the writer noted. “Every little mistake there is magnified and anything that can go wrong for Lefty in England usually does.”

The assessment wasn’t overly harsh. Mickelson never seemed to take to links golf, and in his first 17 appearances he notched just one top-10 finish. We had to figure he’d seize a long-sought U.S. Open in his time, and not one over here.

Then a breakthrough in 2011: Mickelson tied for second with Dustin Johnson behind champion Darren Clarke at Royal St. George’s, and something clicked. Two years later, in the most recent Open played at Muirfield, Mickelson produced a performance nearly as stunning as his later PGA Championship victory at the age of 50.

Mired in ninth when the final round began, Mickelson stormed with a closing 66, blowing past the likes of Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Lee Westwood and Angel Cabrera to lift the claret jug.

Fourteen years later, after opening the first round of the 153rd Open with a steady one-under 70 at Royal Portrush that featured only a single dropped shot, a satisfied Mickelson recalled the triumph at Muirfield with a rather notable statement for the six-time major champion.

“I think winning the Open in 2013 was the greatest accomplishment in my career because I had to learn a style of golf that I didn’t grow up playing,” Mickelson said. “It’s kind of the greatest source of pride for me as a player to overcome those obstacles. Now I’ve come to really love it, enjoy it, and I seem to play well in some of the adverse conditions too.”

The Open victory solidified Mickelson’s standing as more than just an American superstar, and the respect for him rose across the pond.

“I think it’s a sign of a complete player, to be able to win in all the conditions of the majors that they provide,” Mickelson said on Thursday. “Obviously, I’ve never won a U.S. Open, but winning a Masters requires a whole different style of play than winning a U.S. Open and a PGA. This is unique as well. I just think it’s a sign of a complete player.”

Mickelson, the current LIV Golf player whose grouping didn’t exactly befit a past Champion Golfer of the Year—he went off in the day’s sixth threeball with Daniel Van Tonder and Ryan Peake—got the last smile, because he only had to pull on his rain suit over the last couple of holes, birdied the 17th, and was warm and dry in the clubhouse when heavy rain and wind arrived.

“Our group had a pretty good break, I thought,” Mickelson said.

In 2024, the R&A changed its age limit on Open past champions’ exemptions to 55 years old, and that’s the age of Mickelson now. But he doesn’t have to worry about it yet, because winners before ’24 are grandfathered until 60. Observers have no doubt questioned why Mickelson should even be playing, considering he’s missed the cut in six of his last seven Open appearances.

But after three seasons of mediocre play in LIV, Mickelson has seemingly found some form and has three top-10s this year, including a T-4 in Virginia last month.

Mickelson said he absolutely drew on his past Open experiences in his round on Thursday.

“When you get conditions like this, you start to fall back on realising that 60, 80 feet in the proper spot is like a good spot, and you start to realise that you can make 20- or 30-footers out here. You don’t have to hit it six feet to make birdie. You can hit it 20, 30 feet because the greens don’t break a lot, you can hit them aggressively.

“I didn’t make a ton of long ones, but I made a lot of short ones and a lot of good up-and-downs and lag putting. You find that going back on past experience, you don’t have to press it. You don’t have to force it.”

Mickelson did have one spectacular shot, holing out from 26 yards on a blast from a pot bunker at the par-3 third. “It was crazy,” Mickelson said. “I was just trying to save bogey, and I got lucky when it went in.”

Mickelson has never been able to truly relive his victory at Muirfield because the Open hasn’t gone back there since ’13, much to the consternation of the tournament’s fans. On Wednesday, new R&A CEO Mark Darbon said discussions about the venue continue, adding “there are some things that need to evolve” to host a “modern Open.”

Mickelson, who isn’t shy about expressing his opinion about American politics on social media, took a pass on jumping into the Muirfield debate.

“I don’t know. I don’t really get into the politics on that,” he said “There’s some things I get in politics on, but not that.”

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The two-time U.S. Open champ would love to add an Open title to his major collection this week. But even if he isn’t crowned the “Champion Golfer of the Year” on Sunday, he’ll still leave as the unofficial people’s champ.

A video shows DeChambeau walking off a tee box to some disappointed groans after he hit an iron instead of driver. Ever the showman, Bryson then turns around and heads back to the tee to give the fans what they want.

“People go crazy for it, I don’t know why,” DeChambeau says before being handed the big dog by his caddie. “Alright, here’s the hard one.”

Bryson then bombs a driver and the crowd goes wild. Have a look and listen:

Fans were disappointed that Bryson hit an iron off the tee.

He saw it as an opportunity to create a memory for every single one of them.

Great stuff @brysondech. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/vHQ3JrNzdl

— Tee Times (@TeeTimesPub) July 16, 2025

Now, it didn’t look like he was too pleased with the result. But, again, it’s a practice round. He could have hit that golf ball anywhere and those fans would have loved it. And that, folks, is why he’s golf’s undisputed Content King.

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MORE: Rory’s caddie, Harry Diamond, gives rare live TV interview

Jordan Black, a Northern Irishman and Carrickfergus Golf Club member, has been working on perhaps the most impressive body art in golf history. And, according to the PA News Agency, he already has “Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Aberg and captain Luke Donald all depicted on his left leg.” The 35-year-old wasn’t able to get everything done before this week’s Open Championship, but he’s planning on having the full squad on his body by the Ryder Cup in September.

Photos from David Young, PA News Agency

While taking in the sights at a Royal Portrush practice round, Black had the chance to show the work-in-progress to one of the golfers tattooed on his leg. And, apparently, Rahm “loves” it.

“He’s seen it and he really likes it,” Black added. “So it’s nice to know that. I started it in February. I wanted to have it finished before the Open, but fell short of that deadline, but I’ll get it finished for the Ryder Cup.”

We’re not sure what will happen if Team Europe pulls off the road upset in a few months. Jordan Black might want to memorialise the victory, but it looks as if he’s running out of room.

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Brad Ullman, Vice President of Rules for LIV Golf, has received an invitation from the R&A to officiate at Royal Portrush, as he becomes the first rules official from LIV Golf invited to work at a major championship.

“What a great acknowledgement for LIV Golf and our league to be recognised by the R&A to receive such an invitation,” Ullman said. “It means a great deal to me to be asked to represent LIV Golf on one of golf’s biggest world stages.”

David Benne, LIV Golf’s Senior Vice President of Competition Management, added: “We’re very happy that Brad will be at Royal Portrush in a working capacity. It’s a great honour for any rules official to be invited to work a major, and we’re fully supportive of the R&A’s decision to reach out to Brad.”

This will be Ullman’s first time working at one of the four men’s majors, but prior to joining LIV Golf, he collated more than 15 years of experience as a rules official at various events, including the Presidents Cup, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and multiple U.S. Amateur championships.

“Personally, to be invited is very exciting,” said Ullman. “To be a part of the foundation of what is to come for our league, in partnership with one of golf’s governing bodies as a part of the rich history and traditions of our game, is something special.

“To represent LIV Golf as a referee at the oldest championship in the world and to work alongside referees from over 20 other professional golf organisations is indeed an honour.”

Ullman won’t be the only LIV Golf presence at Royal Portrush. Nineteen familiar LIV players are in the field for the 2025 Open Championship, which gets underway on Thursday:

Dean Burmester (England)

John Catlin (USA)

Bryson DeChambeau (USA)

Sergio Garcia (Spain)

Tyrrell Hatton (England)

Lucas Herbert (South Africa)

Dustin Johnson (USA)

Brooks Koepka (USA)

Jason Kokrak (USA)

Tom McKibbin (Northern Ireland)

Phil Mickelson (USA)

Joaquin Niemann (Chile)

Louis Oosthuizen (USA)

Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)

Patrick Reed (USA)

Jon Rahm (Spain)

Cameron Smith (Australia)

Henrik Stenson (Sweden)

Lee Westwood (England)

This news also comes after the LIV Golf League recently resubmitted its application for inclusion in the Official World Golf Ranking system. LIV members can only currently earn official world ranking points in the major championships and international tours, including the DP World Tour and the Asian Tour.

The OWGR Board of Directors, including the chairman, Trevor Immelman, is expected to hold a meeting this week at Royal Portrush during The Open Championship as to how it moves forward.

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Liam James, Dubai-based coach

That balance is important. Players are constantly on the move — different continents, courses, and time zones — so having a familiar place to train and reset has been invaluable. Everything we’ve done in the lead-up was built around last week’s Genesis Scottish Open and The Open.

Thorbjørn Olesen. Image by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Thorbjørn Olesen is the only player I work with who’s currently exempt for The Open, having qualified through last season’s DP World Tour Race to Dubai Rankings.

RELATED: Here’s every player in the field (so far) at Royal Portrush

When it comes to The Open, it’s always a special week — not just for the players, but for us coaches too. Growing up watching The Open, it’s the kind of event you dream about being part of in any capacity. The history, the atmosphere, the way it captures the full personality of the game — there’s nothing quite like it. Even now, I always make a conscious effort to take it all in. These are the moments you feel genuinely grateful for.

Royal Portrush 5th hole. Image by David Cannon/Getty Images

This year’s venue, Royal Portrush, brings back some brilliant memories. I was there in 2019, working with Matt Wallace during the week Shane Lowry went on to lift the Claret Jug. Matt was paired with Tiger Woods for the first two rounds, which — as you can imagine — was something pretty unforgettable to witness firsthand. You never quite forget the roar of a Tiger crowd, especially at an Open.

When it comes to Portrush itself, it’s a spectacular venue. It’s not just a great test of golf; it’s one of the most stunning places The Open visits. The design, the natural layout, the atmosphere — it all adds up to a very unique challenge. And like any Open venue, the real defences come from the course and the conditions working together. You’ve got the wind, the rough, the rain — and often all three in the space of a few holes.

Royal Portrush. Image by David Cannon/Getty Images

There are several standout holes at Portrush. The 5th, for instance, runs along the coast and becomes a completely different beast in a crosswind. The 14th has a tough blind tee shot that requires real trust, and the 16th — a par 5 — has a well-protected green that can make or break momentum. What I love about this place is that no hole feels easy. Every shot asks a question, and every mistake can cost you. That’s the essence of The Open.

In terms of preparation, I tend to leave the detailed course strategy to the player and their caddie — that’s their team dynamic. But I always walk the course in practice rounds to understand the layout and get a feel for where the real challenges lie. From a coaching perspective, it’s about preparing the player with the tools and confidence to adapt. If a player isn’t fully comfortable on a certain tee shot or with a particular shape in the wind, that’s where we come in — finding solutions, simplifying decision-making, and building belief in the plan.

One of the most overlooked aspects of links golf is patience. You can hit a perfect shot and end up in trouble, or get a lucky bounce from a poor one. That randomness is part of the charm, but it also requires a certain mindset. The ability to absorb frustration and stick to your game plan is often what separates the contenders from the rest. That’s something we talk about a lot during prep.

So as The Open draws near, there’s plenty of hard work still to be done — but also a real sense of excitement, it’s infectious! It’s a privilege to be part of that environment, and I’ll never take that for granted.

Liam James, professional golf coach based out of JA The Resort, Dubai, UAE.

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Also on Sunday, the R&A announced that two-time winner Ernie Els had withdrawn from the championship, with first alternate Si Woo Kim taking his place.

Below is everybody in the field as of July 13. We’ll update this post as news of any other withdrawals or changes to the player list are announced.

FIELD

Ludvig Aberg, 5, 12

Cameron Adam (a), 28

Mikiya Akutsu, OQS Japan

Byeong Hun An, 5, 12

John Axelsen, Final Qualifying

Daniel Berger, 5

Christiaan Bezuidenhout, 12

Akshay Bhatia, 5, 12

George Bloor, Final Qualifying

Keegan Bradley, 5, 12

Daniel Brown, 4

Dean Burmester, Final Qualifying

Sam Burns, 5, 12

Brian Campbell, OWGR

Laurie Canter, 6

Patrick Cantlay, 5, 12

John Catlin, 18

Bud Cauley, OWGR

Sebastian Cave (a), Final Qualifying

K.J. Choi, 20

Stewart Cink, 1

Wyndham Clark, 5, 11, 12

Darren Clarke, 1

Corey Conners, 5, OQS USA, Arnold Palmer Invitational

Martin Couvra, OQS Italy

Jason Day, 5

Bryson DeChambeau, 5, 11

Thomas Detry, 5

Nicolas Echavarria, OWGR

Harris English, 5

Ethan Fang (a), 26

O.J. Farrell, Final Qualifying

Darren Fichardt, OQS South Africa

Tony Finau, 5, 12

Matt Fitzpatrick, 11

Tommy Fleetwood, 5, 6, 12

Rickie Fowler, OQS USA

Ryan Fox, 7

Sergio Garcia, 15

Lucas Glover, 5

Chris Gotterup, OQS Scotland

Connor Graham (a), Final Qualifying

Max Greyserman, 5

Ben Griffin, 5

Julien Guerrier, 6

Harry Hall, Final Qualifying

Brian Harman, 1, 3, 5

Padraig Harrington, 1

Justin Hastings (a), 24

Tyrrell Hatton, 5, 6

Russell Henley, 4, 5, 12

Lucas Herbert, Final Qualifying

Angel Hidalgo, Final Qualifying

Daniel Hillier, 8

Tom Hoge, 5, 12

Nicolai Hojgaard, OQS Scotland

Rasmus Hojgaard, 6

Rikuya Hoshino, 6

Viktor Hovland, 5, 12

Mackenzie Hughes, 5

Sungjae Im, 4, 5, 12

Shugo Imahira, 19

Stephan Jaeger, 5

Felip Jakubcik (a), 27

Dustin Johnson, 9

Zach Johnson, 1, 3

Ryggs Johnston, OQS Australia

Frazer Jones (a), Final Qualifying

Matthew Jordan, 4

Sadom Kaewkanjana, OQS Korea

Takumi Kanaya, 18

Riki Kawamoto, OQS Japan

Si Woo Kim, OWGR/Alternate

Tom Kim, 5

Michael Kim, OWGR

Nathan Kimsey, Final Qualifying

Chris Kirk, 12

Curtis Knipes, Final Qualifying

Brooks Koepka, 10

Jason Kokrak, OQS Macau

Romain Langasque, 6

Thriston Lawrence, 4, 6

Min Woo Lee, 5

Marc Leishman, OQS Australia

Justin Leonard, 1

Haotong Li, 8

Oliver Lindell, Final Qualifying

Shane Lowry, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12

Curtis Luck, OQS Australia

Robert MacIntyre, 5, 6, 12

Matteo Manassero, 6

Hideki Matsuyama, 5, 9, 12

Denny McCarthy, 5

Matt McCarty, OQS Canada

Rory McIlroy, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13

Tom McKibbin, 6

Maverick McNealy, 5

Phil Mickelson, 1, 10

Guido Migliozzi, 6

Francesco Molinari, 1, 3

Collin Morikawa, 1, 3, 5, 10, 12

Dylan Naidoo, OQS South Africa

Bryan Newman, (a), 25

Joaquin Niemann, 6

Niklas Norgaard, 6

Shaun Norris, 8

Andrew Novak, 5

Thorbjorn Olesen, 6

Jacob Skov Olesen, Final Qualifying

Louis Oosthuizen, 1

Carlos Ortiz, OQS Macau

John Parry, 8

Matthieu Pavon, 12

Ryan Peake, OQS New Zealand

Taylor Pendrith, 5, 12

Marco Penge, OQS South Africa

J.T. Poston, 5

Aldrich Potgieter, OWGR

Jon Rahm, 4, 9, 11

Aaron Rai, 5, 12

Patrick Reed, 18, OQS Macau

Kristoffer Reitan, 8

Justin Rose, 4, 5

Antoine Rozner, 6

Adrian Saddier, OQS Italy

Jesper Sandborg, Final Qualifying

Xander Schauffele, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 12

Scottie Scheffler, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16

Matti Schmid, OQS Scotland

Adam Scott, 4, 5, 6, 12

Cameron Smith, 1, 3

Jordan Smith, 6

Elvis Smylie, 18

Sebastian Soderberg, 6

Younghan Song, OQS Japan

J.J. Spaun, 5, 11

Jordan Spieth, 1, 3

Henrik Stenson, 1, 3

Sepp Straka, 5, 12

Justin Suh, 17

Jesper Svensson, 6

Nick Taylor, 5

Richard Teder (a), Final Qualifying

Sahith Theegala, 5, 12

Justin Thomas, 5, 10, 12

Davis Thompson, OWGR

Daniel Van Tonder, 18

Jhonattan Vegas, 5

Matt Wallace, 6

Justin Walters, Final Qualifying

Paul Waring, 6

Lee Westwood, Final Qualifying

Cameron Young, OQS Canada

Daniel Young, Final Qualifying

Kevin Yu, OQS Canada

Sampson Zheng, Final Qualifying

Note: Past champions Ben Curtis, John Daly, Todd Hamilton, Paul Lawrie and Tiger Woods are eligible to compete but have not entered the championship.

Alternate List

Davis Riley

Exemption Categories

1. The Open Champions aged 60 or under on 20 July 2025 (for all Champions up until 2024)

2. The Open Champions aged 55 or under on 20 July 2025 (for all Champions from 2024)

3. The Open Champions for 2014-2024

4. First 10 and anyone tying for 10th place in The 152nd Open at Royal Troon in 2024

5. The first 50 players on the OWGR for Week 21, 2025

6. First 25 in the Final Race to Dubai Rankings for 2024

7. The BMW PGA Championship winners for 2022-2024

8. First 5 DP World Tour members and any DP World Tour members tying for 5th place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai Rankings on completion of the 2025 BMW International

9. Masters Champions for 2020-2025

10. PGA Champions for 2019-2025

11. U.S. Open Champions for 2020-2025

12. Top 30 players from the Final 2024 FedEx Cup Points List

13. The Players Champions for 2023-2025

14. First 5 PGA Tour members and any PGA Tour members tying for 5th place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 20 of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup Points List for 2025 on completion of the 2025 Rocket Classic.

15. The first player and anyone tying for that place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 5 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Season Standings on completion of LIV Golf Dallas.

16. The 2024 Olympic Men’s Golf Gold Medalist

17. The 118th VISA Open de Argentina 2025 Champion

18. The first 5 players on the 2025 Federations Ranking List as of closing date

19. 2024 Japan Open Champion

20. 2024 Senior Open Champion

21. 2024 U.S. Amateur Champion

22. 2024 Mark H McCormack Medal (Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking) winner

23. 2024 Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion

24. 2025 Latin America Amateur Champion

25. 2025 Africa Amateur Champion

26. 2025 Amateur Champion

27. 2025 European Amateur Champion

28. 2025 Open Amateur Series winner

Note: Exemptions 21-28 can only be taken up by players retaining their amateur status.

OPEN QUAILFYING SITE VENUES

OQS Australia, ISPS Handa Australian Open
OQS New Zealand, New Zealand Open
OQS South Africa, Investec South African Open
OQS USA, Arnold Palmer Invitational
OQS Macau, International Series Macau
OQS Korea, KOLON Korea Open
OQS Japan, Mizuno Open
OQS USA, the Memorial Tournament
OQS Canada, RBC Canadian Open
OQS Italy, Italian Open

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The Englishman advanced through Final Qualifying on July 1 to secure his place at Royal Portrush, finishing the gruelling 36 holes at West Lancashire six under par and in solo third behind China’s Sampson Zheng and Australian Lucas Herbert.

Despite having one eye on the final Major of 2025, the 28-year-old is eager to concentrate on the second of two HotelPlanner Tour stops in Czechia this year.

“I picked a schedule at the start of this year, and this was part of it,” he said.

“The Open is heightened compared to these, but I didn’t want to change everything. I’ve spoken to people who’ve given me advice, and they’ve said that playing is a good thing.

RELATED: Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2025 D+D REAL Czech Challenge

“It’s nice to feel like I am out the way doing my work. This is great preparation for next week, we’ve got clouds and waterproofs on, I am definitely prepping for the weather in Northern Ireland.”

Bloor heads into this week’s event at Royal Beroun Golf Club fresh from finishing inside the top 25 at the Interwetten Open having posted four rounds in the 60s at Schladming-Dachstein Golf Club, and the former Clutch Pro Tour Order of Merit winner is feeling positive about where his game is heading.

“I am confident with my golf now after posting four rounds in the red last week,” he added.

“I feel like I am in a good place mentally and the game is trending nicely. I am really pleased with my prep and the way things are going at the moment.”

Although Bloor’s attention is currently centred on the D+D REAL Czech Challenge, the Englishman admitted the prospect of a practice round at Royal Portrush with World Number One Scottie Scheffler was particularly exciting.

“I am down to play with Scottie Scheffler on the Wednesday actually,” Bloor revealed. “I saw there was a slot, and I was like he’s the World Number One; that’s an opportunity that I really want to take.

“I don’t know if some people would shy away from it, but I just want to jump straight in. Playing with him on the Wednesday will give me some feelings that I’ve never felt before and then hopefully it will make Thursday feel more comfortable.

“I know I am going to be super excited and there’s so much that goes on with it that’s a bit like a circus but at the same time I am serious about going there to compete and maximising my performance.”

Bloor joins a strong field at this week’s D+D REAL Czech Challenge that includes Road to Mallorca Number One Renato Paratore, two-time DP World Tour winner James Morrison and Interwetten Open victor, Maximilian Steinlechner.

Main Image: Supplied

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Six years ago, Tommy Fleetwood walked up the 18th fairway on Sunday afternoon of The 148th Open at Royal Portrush, finishing in the closest position he has ever been to hoisting the Claret Jug. He’d gone toe-to-toe with Shane Lowry in the final group — but it wasn’t to be for the Englishman.

Now, The Open is heading back to the Northern Irish coast, and Fleetwood returns with both the memories and motivation to perhaps have one more chance at golf’s grandest prize.

“It means a lot,” Fleetwood says, reflecting on that Sunday in 2019. “It’s mad to think that was six years ago now.

RELATED: Here’s every player in the field (so far) at Royal Portrush

“I think it’s easy to look back at coming so close, but of course it didn’t quite happen. That was Shane’s week 100%.”

He isn’t wrong. Lowry’s fairytale win in front of a roaring home crowd has become part of Open folklore. But Tommy’s performance — and the charm with which he handled the disappointment — has left its own lasting impression.

“The best consolation is how well Shane did and played,” Tommy said at the time. “It hurts… but I finished six shots back and it feels closer. It was Shane’s time, Shane’s week. Fair play.

“I played well early on, but the margins… the putts on one, two, and three, I scrambled a bit, and missed a short one on 10. It was nice to still be in The Open with six or seven holes to go,” he said after the round. “But the mountain was too high to climb.”

Tommy Fleetwood. Image by David Cannon/Getty Images

Fleetwood’s solo second-place finish remains his best result at The Open.

“I had such a special time there,” he says. “I still look at that Open at Portrush and remember playing in the final group on Sunday and being that close to achieving a lifelong dream.”

“I look at it with so many fond memories… you have to take all the positives from what happened then, and take them into now and be prepared for it and look forward to it.”

Fleetwood has come a long way since that week. Three further wins on the DP World Tour has taken his total to seven, a second Ryder Cup victory, a silver medal in the Olympics at Paris 2024 and now a DP World Global Ambassador, plus he’s also put down roots in Dubai with his family — where he set up the Tommy Fleetwood Academy at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Tommy is one of golf’s ‘good guys’ and a fan favourite for many, but that major moment — and a Claret Jug — remains a glaring omission from an otherwise stellar résumé for himself.

MORE: Lee Westwood secures spot in first major since 2022

This summer’s return to Royal Portrush is shaping up to be historic. The 153rd Open, running from 13–20 July, will welcome a record-breaking 278,000 fans — the largest Open ever staged outside of St Andrews. Demand was so high that over one million ticket applications were submitted in the ballot last year.

In addition, it will be the biggest sporting event Northern Ireland has ever hosted, with an estimated £213 million economic impact, according to research from Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre.

For Fleetwood, with a familiar course and a crowd he knows will be electric, it’s an opportunity he is relishing.

“I think the crowds are going to be amazing,” he says. “It’s an amazing golf course and an amazing tournament. So I’m very excited.”

As The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush, Tommy Fleetwood knows his opportunity is there.

Main Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

This article was featured in the July 2025 issue of Golf Digest Middle East. Click here for a digital issue of the full magazine

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Richard Teder had to be, in Brit speak, gutted. The 20-year-old from Estonia double bogeyed the 36th hole of his Open Championship Final Qualifier outside of Liverpool on Tuesday and faced a four-man playoff for two spots in the upcoming major at Royal Portrush.

MORE: Lee Westwood secures spot in first major since 2022

Then Findland’s Oliver Lindell birdied the second extra hole at West Lancashire, and there was just one berth remaining. That’s when Teder, the only amateur in the playoff, produced two shots that he and his golfing countrymen will recall for decades.

Teder blasted a 340-yard drive on the par-4 third playoff hole, and with only 90 yards left he lofted a wedge shot that checked up nicely on the green and rolled into the cup with perfect speed for a walk-off eagle. Playoff over.

Dozens of people following in the fairway let out big cheers, and Teder’s caddie celebrated by lifting him into the air. As Teder approached the hole, he put his hands over his face and peeked into the cup before lifting his ball out.

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It was one of those remarkable ocassions that arise in major qualifiers, when a player known to few produces a moment that all the world is heartened to see.

“It doesn’t feel real to have qualified for the Open. It feels like a dream,” said Teder, who tied for fourth at five under (70-69). “I knew the putt on 18 to make the playoff was so important; it’s not over until it’s over, as they say. I’m glad I made the putt. I couldn’t believe the shot went in during the playoff—it just disappeared. It’s an unbelievable feeling. “Everyone dreams of playing in a major. I didn’t think I would ever get to play in a major, but here I am!”

Teder’s accomplishment will be celebrated by his entire country because he’s the first player from Estonia to qualify for The Open, to be played for the 153rd time starting on July 17. Estonia, which is south of Finland across the Gulf of Finland, was part of the former Soviet Union and has a population of 1.3 million. According to the European Golf Association, as of 2024 the country reported having 12 golf courses and an estimated 2,257 male golfers.

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Teder can certainly be considered at the top of the heap. He has risen to 91st in the World Amateur Golf Rankings with three wins over the last year. His victories came in the pro Estonian National Stroke Play Championship and Latvian Open Amateur Championship last year, and the Estonian Match Play Championship in 2025. Teder also last month reached the quarterfinals of the British Amateur and earlier finished second in the Estonian Amateur.

Main image: Richard Teder (left) celebrates a hole out for eagle with his caddie during the third playoff hole to qualify for The Open Championship. Richard Martin-Roberts/R&A

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The post The Open 2025: Estonian amateur makes history with walk-off eagle in qualifier appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.