What a lot of players and caddies on the PGA Tour are saying about Royal Portrush ahead of it hosting The Open later this year

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The PGA Tour continues this week with the WM Phoenix Open, with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am having just concluded.

Justin Rose said the Pebble Beach greens were slow after finishing T3 at the tournament, where Rory McIlroy emerged victorious.

McIlroy was delighted to win at Pebble Beach, having secured his 27th PGA Tour title with his two-shot win over Shane Lowry.

It was McIlroy’s first PGA Tour event of the 2025 season, with Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth also making their first starts after returning from injury.

The star names will be using the current events in the calendar to prepare for the Masters, which represents the first major of the season.

Sepp Straka among players ‘really excited’ for The Open at Royal Portrush

Augusta plays host to the Masters in April, and it is one of the major championships that Sepp Straka currently has his eye on.

Asked on the Sky Sports Golf podcast if he thinks he is capable of lifting major trophies, the three-time PGA Tour winner replied: “Yeah, for sure. I definitely think my best is good enough.

“A lot of things have to come together, you can’t really force a major, force a tournament. You just have to prepare and have to get your game as sharp as possible. And then just try to try to let it happen, try to hit the shots and execute.

READ MORE: Sepp Straka reveals the question he immediately asked Rory McIlroy after his win in the AT&T Pro-Amat Pebble Beach

“There’s a few weeks where I felt like I had the game, a few things just didn’t go my way. Hopefully I can have more of those this year.”

And asked if he has circled one major in particular in his diary, Straka said: “Yeah I think Augusta is always circled.

“But I think Portrush is… I’ve heard from a lot players, a lot of caddies that that’s their favourite open, and just really excited to get there.

“That’s going to be a really special one. I’ve always loved The Open, it’s just a special week, that one’s definitely circled in there as well.”

Sepp Straka recalls links golf ‘nightmare’ as he looks ahead to The Open Championship

Like his 2023 Ryder Cup teammate McIlroy, Straka is already off to winning ways on the PGA Tour in 2025.

He emerged victorious at The American Express last month, finishing on 25-under to win by two shots ahead of Justin Thomas.

That triumph came at PGA WEST’s newly restored Pete Dye Stadium Course, arriving in just his third start of the season.

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy names the three tournaments he wants to win more than any other over the remainder of his golfing career

Further success is now being targeted at The Open at Royal Portrush in July, with Straka believing his links golf game is in a good shape ahead of the major.

Another of his recent Ryder Cup teammates in Shane Lowry won the tournament when it was last held there in 2019.

“I’ve gotten a lot better at links golf over the years,” said Straka. “Before I started playing professionally I played one junior tournament there at the Duke of York at Royal St George’s, and it was a nightmare.

“I didn’t know what to do. It was my first time playing real links golf, and at 16 years old I didn’t know how to hit it low.

“I had a tough time with it, but yeah I think my skillset kind of matches up better for that major than a lot of others.

“Nobody likes to play in those conditions, but at The Open, you kind of just enjoy it and know it’s part of it. Maybe we’ll have some more of those conditions this year.”