The 2025 Open Championship is shaping up to deliver a full taste of traditional links golf at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, and of course, unpredictable weather is forecasted to walk hand-in-hand with this year’s field in the final major, upsetting the British Open odds.
Let's take a look at the British Open weather forecast and how to apply this information to your golf picks and British Open predictions.
2025 British Open weather forecast
Royal Portrush is located on the rugged coast of the North Atlantic, and the coastal exposure means the weather conditions and wind can change like the flip of a switch.
While the early-week conditions have been manageable for practice and preparation, business is set to pick up Thursday morning at Royal Portrush. Forecasts call for scattered showers and winds in the 15-25 mph range, with gusts topping 30 mph at times.
Thursday could be especially tricky for the late wave, with wind gusts expected to approach 20 mph starting around 11 a.m. local time, with the potential for heavier afternoon showers.
Friday will be slightly calmer overall, but the gusts will still build through the day and peak again late in the afternoon.
The morning groups project to have the more playable conditions in both of the first two rounds.
● Thursday: Winds gusting up to 20 mph by midday into the afternoon with scattered heavy showers/thunderstorms.
● Friday: Morning remains calm, but gusts around 10-12 mph will pick up in the afternoon alongside periodic showers.
Who will benefit from the conditions?
Changing wind directions and difficult weather conditions are primary defenses of Royal Portrush, and navigating the track’s exposed layout in unfavorable conditions will demand excellent tee-to-green accuracy, with heightened emphasis on precise iron play and tidy work on and around the greens.
My top golf picks have targeted excellent ball-strikers with international wins who also have experience playing links-style tracks, with Rory McIlroy (+700 at FanDuel) and Viktor Hovland (+3000 at DraftKings) headlining my betting card for the 2025 British Open.
