Gerry McIlroy and a few buddies had enough confidence in 15-year-old rising star Rory to place a 10-year long bet with 500:1 odds. The bet? That Rory (25 years-old) would win the British Open by the age of 26.
BBC’s Andrew Cotter confirmed the bet from 2004:
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
The bet equals about $170 USD each and the payout is a whopping $341,000 USD, leaving each of the four friends with over $85,000. Sure, the elder McIlroy is doing just fine financially but the longevity and timing of the bet is the story.
Rory enters The Open Championship’s final round at -16 with a six shot lead over Rickie Fowler.
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[ESPN & Twitter: @MrAndrewCotter]
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