British Open DFS picks 2025: I love this LIV golfer's chances at Royal Portrush
After a thrilling week in Scotland, we head to Northern Ireland for the final major of the year, the Open Championship. The host venue will be Royal Portrush, hosting just its third-ever British Open. Portrush is the only golf course that has hosted an Open outside of England or Scotland, and it is a tremendously deserving choice. We were last here in 2019, when Shane Lowry triumphed at 15-under par by six strokes over Tommy Fleetwood. This year, we should see somewhat similar weather conditions to what we experienced in 2019, at least at time of writing. Royal Portrush is a Harry Colt design that came much later in his career, and after many of the other courses on the Open rota. It features far less pot bunkers than the average Open venue, as well as much more narrow fairways, much smaller greens, and it is framed by breathtaking dunes.
Rory McIlroy will obviously attract most of the buzz in his hometown of Northern Ireland, but Scottie Scheffler remains the tournament favorite and the highest-priced player on the DFS slate by a healthy margin. Yet concerns about his putting across the pond might cause DFS players to look in a different direction this week. Jon Rahm has been trending positively in 2025, while Bryson DeChambeau has been going in the other direction. Both make intriguing options at the top of the board as well.
Let’s dive into the 2025 British Open DFS slate with DraftKings pricing.
$10,000 range
Play: Jon Rahm, $10,400:
I have been circling Jon Rahm at Royal Portrush for months, and his recent play has only bolstered my confidence. Rahm has finished top-15 at all three majors this year, and he had a major opportunity to win the PGA Championship on Sunday afternoon. His 11th-place finish at Royal Portrush in 2019 and prior Open form displays an extreme comfortability in links conditions, and his driver remains as strong as any in the field.
Fade: Bryson DeChambeau, $10,100:
Angel Martinez
While the leverage opportunity on Bryson DeChambeau this week is certainly intriguing, I have significant concerns about his putter and links form. Bryson has now lost strokes putting on LIV in four straight starts, and he is coming off a disappointing 30th-place finish at LIV Andalucia where he also lost significantly around the green and with his irons.
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$9,000 range
Play: Xander Schauffele, $9,700:
Ross Parker - SNS Group
Xander Schauffele is coming off his best approach performance of the season at the Genesis Scottish Open, and he is rounding into form in perfect time to defend his Claret Jug. Over the last five years, no one has been better at Open Championships than Xander Schauffele, and I expect him to continue his strong play this week at Royal Portrush.
Fade: Ludvig Aberg, $9,100:
It’s not that I dislike Ludvig Aberg, but he just happens to be my least favorite player in a range loaded with excellent options. Ludvig’s short game remains a problem, and Royal Portrush is one of the Open venues where that will be very important.
Keith Stewart joined the crew from Five Clubs on Golf Channel for a special Open Championship betting episode. Watch the episode here.
$8,000 range
Play: Patrick Cantlay, $8,100:
Mark Smith/ISI Photos
I know this one won’t be popular with some, but this is a perfect buy-low spot on Patrick Cantlay, who has not been priced this low in years. Cantlay is playing far better than his results would suggest, and he is coming off an elite approach performance at the Rocket Mortgage where he gained over five strokes with his irons. With the ownership heading to more popular players in this range, I will happily take my chances on the well-rounded skill-set of Cantlay.
Fade: Brooks Koepka, $8,000:
I would love to see Brooks Koepka truly contend in a major again, but he has not provided enough evidence on the LIV Tour this year that he is anything close to that guy at the moment. Koepka is coming off a disappointing T-32 at LIV Andalucia, where he lost strokes in both ball-striking categories. Koepka has simply failed to garner any momentum in the latter half of the year, with his last top-10 finish on the LIV Tour coming in March.
$7,000 range
Play: Jordan Spieth, $7,700:
Charlie Crowhurst/R&A
I know there are a few injury concerns surrounding Jordan Spieth at the moment, but I’m willing to take that risk on one of the best Open Championship players of the last decade. Spieth finished 20th at Royal Portrush in 2019, and he also has a runner-up finish at Royal St. George’s in 2021, one of my favorite comp courses for the week.
Fade: Justin Rose, $7,600:
I know that Justin Rose is coming off an elite performance at the Genesis Scottish Open where he charged up the leaderboard on Sunday en route to a sixth-place finish. I am also aware of his magical week at Royal Troon last year as well, but for the vast majority of 2025, Rose has been a very below average golfer, with just three top-25 finishes this season. I know that the upside is high and the former U.S. Open winner is a boom or bust player, but I foresee a letdown this week.
Flier: Corey Conners, $7,200:
Warren Little
I always have interest in Corey Conners at major championships because he can be counted on to keep the ball in play off the tee and he is an excellent approach player. What has really impressed me this season with Conners is the improvement of his putter. At one of these big tournaments, the Canadian is going to fairway and green his way to the top of the leaderboard. Why not this week?
$6,000 range
Play: Davis Thompson, $6,400:
Icon Sportswire
I love Davis Thompson as a sleeper play this week. I know that he has minimal links experience, but of course, that is baked into his $6,400 price tag. Thompson has been quietly playing some strong golf this season, and I fully trust his driver and middle iron play to cooperate this week. Thompson’s best finish of the season also came at TPC Sawgrass, my favorite American comp course for this week.
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Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports