2025 Open storylines: Rory McIlroy returns to Royal Portrush, Scottie Scheffler seeks to enter next echelon

There's plenty to keep an eye on at The Open Championship, especially with golf's biggest starts taking center stage in Northern Ireland

Only four rounds of major championship golf remain in 2025. Before you know it, once the Ryder Cup passes in September, the countdown to April and the 2026 Masters will commence and a dark seventh-month period will engulf golf fans seeking a sense of direction and a sense of purpose.  Jack Nicklaus 1975, 1980 Tom Watson 1977, 1982 Nick Faldo 1990 Nick Price 1994 Mark O'Meara 1998 Tiger Woods 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006 Padraig Harrington 2008 Rory McIlroy 2014 Jordan Spieth 2015 Brooks Koepka 2018 Xander Schauffele 2024 2024 Royal Troon MC 2023 Royal Liverpool T60 2022 Old Course at St. Andrews T8 2021 Royal St. George's T33 2019 Royal Portrush MC 2018 Carnoustie T51 2017 Royal Birkdale MC Henry Cotton 1948 Max Faulkner 1951 Tony Jacklin 1969 Nick Faldo 1987, 1990, 1992

So, cherish the 2025 Open Championship. Cherish the carnage which Royal Portrush may unleash on the world's best golfer. Cherish the weather, which may wreak havoc, and the smell of fresh coffee in the pot as those of you in North America wake up to a random name atop the leaderboard Thursday morning. 

There is nothing quite like The Open, especially one set in Northern Ireland -- a true rarity in the history of this championship. There is nothing like watching players battle internal and external elements with those inside often presenting more danger than the wind and rain they trudge through. There is nothing like this championship in this setting in this field at this time. And there will never be another like it.