You can win a pile of money too. All it takes is a small wager, faith, and patience. That, and having a son grow up to win a few golfing majors.
Once upon a time Rory McIlroy's dad and some friends pooled their quid, or was that pounds sterling? Guineas? Euros? Anyway, they scraped together a few hundred bucks and placed a gentlemen's wager with Ladbrokes, the British based bookmaker, that young Rory would win 3 majors, including the British Open, before he was 26 years old.
About 10 years ago, when the bet was made (and Rory was only 15), this seemed preposterous. After all, only two men in history had accomplished that feat. Jack Nicklaus at the age of 23, and Tiger Woods at the age of 24. So Ladbroke's not only gladly took the bet, they gave long odds. 500:1.
Oops, by just winning the British Open at the age of 25, Rory McIlory pulled it off. To their credit, Ladbroke's has publicly stated they will honor the wager and be paying the elder McIlroy and friends roughly $180,000.
That's a whole bunch of shillings, bob, and/or farthings with perhaps a thruppence or 3 left over. Maybe even equivalent to a crown or two, but I doubt Queen Lizzie the Deuce will be donating hers to Rory just because he won the Claret Jug on her turf.
At any rate, let's just say $180K will likely tide the elder Irish lads over for a while with their pints at the local pubs. Or was that quarts? Litres? And, by the way, do the Irish dye their beer green on St. Patricks's day, or is that only a dopey American tradition?
Nevertheless, since the younger McIlroy has come to his senses and dumped that lady tennis player he was busy following around the world with goo goo eyes -- to the detriment of his own game -- he seems to have rediscovered his own phenomenal golfing skills. After three rounds at The Open, he enjoyed a comfortable 6 shot lead. Either Rory would have to crash on Sunday, or somebody else would have to go "really low" to catch him.
But yet it got interesting for a while. Sergio Garcia carded a 66 to put a little heat on him. But Senor Garcia started off 7 shots back. American Rickie Fowler would post a 67, but he faced a 6 shot deficit going in. They would tie for second place. Under the radar, Jim Furyk shot a superb 65 to claim 4th. As did Marc Leishman with his own 65, and Adam Scott with a 66 to finish tied for 5th. Several world-class golfers were making birdies galore, with an occasional eagle -- but it wasn't enough for any of them to catch McIlroy. He would shoot a modest one under 71 to win by two strokes. But it's a four day tournament, and when one has kicked the field's behind -- or is that bum -- for the first three days to build up a huge lead, one need only avert a total meltdown to cruise to the title on Sunday. And despite the heroics and phenomenal play by the above-mentioned golfers -- that's pretty much what happened.
On a related note, Tiger Woods would card a 75 to finish a whopping 23 shots back. Fourth from last. Curiously, even Eldrick would better reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer by 2 strokes. Little more than a month ago, Kaymer won the Yank Open by an equally whopping 8 shots over the field. In Liverpool, the German came unraveled like the Griswold family in the movie European Vacation. A final round 79 to finish third from last? Oh my, how quick the mighty can fall at times.
Idle thought: After once being an odds-on favorite to accomplish such a feat -- I wonder what sort of odds Ladbrokes are giving right now regarding Tiger Woods ever catching and/or surpassing Jack Nicklaus' all-time record of 18 major victories? 2:1? 10:1? 100:1? A McIlroyish 500:1?
Beats me, but gather up whatever farthings you can spare and make your wager with Ladbrokes while the odds remain a lot longer than they used to be. At least we know they pay off when a long shot comes in.
Are you willing to risk a house payment on such a gamble, with the chance of reaping a fortune in the future?
So with apologies to Dirty Harry -- one of my heroes -- do you feel lucky punk?
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