Often, fathers tend to talk up their children as if they’re the “next big thing” in their respective sport. Few, however, are willing to bet £400 (or $683) on their child to win a championship, never mind a major championship.
Gerry McIlroy is one of those fathers. And that’s exactly what he did.
So just to confirm – 10 yrs ago Gerry McIlroy & three friends put £400 at 500-1 on 15 year-old Rory to win The Open before he turned 26.
— Andrew Cotter (@MrAndrewCotter) July 19, 2014
Ten years ago, when Rory McIlroy was just 15 years old, his father and three friends bet £400 on 500-1 odds for Rory to win the Open Championship by the age of 26. Ten years later, the bet cashed in … big time. Like, $341,730 big time.
McIlroy won his first Open Championship on Sunday, securing his father’s bet in what was the last year for him to do so.
Yes, it was by the age of 25. So I asked the man himself. This year still counts.
— Andrew Cotter (@MrAndrewCotter) July 19, 2014
I’m sure Gerry is fairly well-off with his son being a three-time major champion and now the No. 2 golfer in the world, but that’s a lot of cash for anyone to win. And Rory knows how happy his father’s friends will be:
‘The other 3 men that he did that with, they’re going to be very happy.’ Rory McIlroy on the bet his dad made that will pay them $300K
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) July 20, 2014
That is, as long as whoever the bet was with pays up…
Big question now is: Who did Rory’s dad & friends place their bet with? Where is he/sportsbook?
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) July 20, 2014
Rory on dad’s bet: “I knew that he had done it, I’m not sure that they’ll pay on it.“
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) July 20, 2014
Regardless of what happens, it’s a great story. One that you hear about once in a lifetime. How many fathers do you know that would make a bet like this? Probably not many.
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