If you saw Scottie Scheffler finish at 17-under-par and thought Royal Portrush might have been playing soft, the numbers tell a different story.
The field average was +0.512, and several holes ranked among the most difficult played in a major this season. While Scheffler made it look easy, the rest of the field had to grind.
The par-4 14th was the hardest hole of the championship, playing more than three-tenths of a shot over par. Here’s how every hole at the 2025 Open Championship played, ranked from hardest to easiest by scoring average:
Full Hole-by-Hole Breakdown
| Rank | Hole | Par | Yards | Avg Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | 4 | 466 | 4.303 |
| 2 | 4 | 4 | 502 | 4.263 |
| 3 | 11 | 4 | 475 | 4.248 |
| 4 | 1 | 4 | 420 | 4.197 |
| 5 | 16 | 3 | 236 | 3.192 |
| 6 | 8 | 4 | 434 | 4.142 |
| 7 | 9 | 4 | 432 | 4.124 |
| 8 | 18 | 4 | 474 | 4.119 |
| 9 | 3 | 3 | 176 | 3.097 |
| 10 | 13 | 3 | 199 | 3.060 |
| 11 | 6 | 3 | 193 | 3.046 |
| 12 | 10 | 4 | 450 | 4.033 |
| 13 | 15 | 4 | 429 | 3.945 |
| 14 | 17 | 4 | 409 | 3.900 |
| 15 | 5 | 4 | 372 | 3.852 |
| 16 | 2 | 5 | 575 | 4.759 |
| 17 | 7 | 5 | 607 | 4.723 |
| 18 | 12 | 5 | 532 | 4.509 |
What the 2025 Open Championship hole stats tell us
A back-nine test of patience
While the front nine at Portrush offered a balanced mix of challenge and opportunity, the inward nine punished anything less than precision. Six of the ten hardest holes came on the back, including Nos. 11, 14, and 16.
The 14th hole, a 466-yard par-4, played to a scoring average of 4.303 and gave up just 30 birdies all week. With 134 bogeys and 12 doubles or worse, it was the kind of hole that players were happy to have behind them.
The monster Par-3
The 236-yard par-3 16th was the toughest short hole of the week. We knew going in that Calamity Corner would be a tough one for players. It averaged 3.192. Only 38 players made a birdie. Meanwhile, 103 made bogey and 11 made double or worse.
Sneaky tough start
Hole 1 played as the 4th toughest hole on the course. It had a scoring average of 4.197 and just 48 birdies made all week.
The only real breather: Holes 2, 7 and 12
Hole 12, a 532-yard par-5, played nearly half a shot under par (-0.491), making it the easiest hole on the course. It gave up 19 eagles and 219 birdies, with just 32 scores over par.
Hole 7 and Hole 2—both par-5s—also played under par and offered rare chances for recovery. Players who made it through the front nine near level par often tried to capitalize on this scoring window before the storm hit.
Total Field Stats
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Total Score to Par | +0.512 |
| Eagles | 42 |
| Birdies | 1,413 |
| Pars | 5,142 |
| Bogeys | 1,378 |
| Double or Worse | 139 |
Final thoughts
Despite Scheffler’s runaway win at 17-under, the stats show the course held its ground. The closing stretch from 14 to 18 tested every part of a player’s game, especially under pressure.
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