Boy wonder bashes bookies

AS Rory Mcllroy’s memorable victory in the US Open at Congressional sparked celebrations north and south of the border, one sector of the island’s industry was cursing it’s luck as Irish bookies forked out over €3 million to patriotic punters who had backed the 22-year-old to win.

Prior to Thursday’s sterling performance, Mcllroy was hotly tipped to challenge for the major, with odds hovering between 16/1 and 22/1. However, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, both battling for the world number one ranking spot, were favourites by most betting houses.

But by the start of play yesterday Mcllroy had smashed his odds as he continued to set record scores at a US Open with Boylesports flipping their odds from Thursday’s 20/1 to 1/20.

Paddy Power took the biggest hit overall, paying out a whopping €1.7m on the Holywood prodigy. Boylesports lost nearly €750,000, William Hill paid out €500,000 while Ladbrokes also parted with a six-figure sum on Mcllroy alone.

Having made such a considerable mark on the worlds of sport and gambling with a remarkable eight-shot victory, the bookies are determined not to suffer on the back of Mcllroy’s future success and his odds for everything from BBC Sport’s Personality of the Year to next year’s Masters have plummeted.

With the British Open only around the corner, kicking off on July 14, punters planning on backing Mcllroy again will not get quite the same return. A scan of the Irish bookies throws up odds of 9/2, 11/2 and 7/1.

Mcllroy is now favourite to scoop the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award with odds of 10/11 from William Hill.

Meanwhile, Paddy Power are offering odds of just 12/1 for Mcllroy to achieve the ultimate honour and beat Jack Nicklaus’ record major tally of 18 victories.