THE OPEN 2025: all you need to know

The world’s top golfers head to the Northern Ireland for one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments, the 153rd Open Championship.

DATE: 17-20 July

WHERE: Royal Portrush, Scotland

BROADCAST DETAILS

* Stream the action LIVE on DStv *

Day 1 - Thursday 17 July

Main Feed | SS Golf; Grandstand – 7:30am-9:30pm

Day 2 - Friday 18 July

Main Feed | SS Golf; Grandstand – 7:30am-9:30pm

Day 3 - Saturday 19 July

Main Feed | SS Golf; Grandstand – 11am-9pm

Day 4 - Sunday 20 July

Main Feed | SS Golf; Grandstand; Variety 2 – 10am-8pm

TOP CONTENDERS

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives in Northern Ireland in a rich vein of form, having won three of his past nine tournaments - including his third major at May's US PGA Championship - and finished in the top 10 in the other six.

The start to his season was disrupted by a cut hand that required an operation. The accident occurred on Christmas Day when the upturned wine glass he was using to cut pasta shapes broke and the stem punctured his hand.

He had his best Open finish last year at Royal Troon, ending joint seventh.

SCHAUFFELE AIMS FOR TITLE DEFENCE

Xander Schauffele comes in as the defending champion but accepts his form has been poor after he suffered a rib injury at the start of the season - although he finished alongside Scheffler on nine-under par at last week's Scottish Open.

On seeing the location of a photo of himself in the media tent at the Renaissance Club, the American world No 3 joked: "It was nice to see my photo out by the toilet. That was heart-warming. It summed up how I feel about what's going on right now."

MCILROY COUNTING ON HOME TURF

Rory McIlroy insists the emotion of his return to Royal Portrush will not distract him from challenging for the title.

It will be the second time that Northern Ireland's McIlroy has competed in his own country in the British Open after the tournament was staged at Royal Portrush in 2019.

THOMAS LOOKS TO SHINE

His fellow American Justin Thomas has climbed from 22nd at the start of the year to world No 4 on the back of a victory at the RBC Heritage in April and three runners-up finishes this year. He is yet to shine at an Open, although his best finish of joint 11th came at Portrush in 2019.

MACINTYRE CHASING HISTORY

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre is aiming to become the first Scot to win the title since Paul Lawrie in 1999. He finished joint sixth on his Open debut at Portrush in 2019.