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Rory McIlroy's British Open win pays off for dad, friends

 
Published July 21, 2014

HOYLAKE, England — Rory McIlroy made his father and some friends big winners, too, at the British Open on Sunday.

The British betting firm Ladbrokes confirmed to espn.com that it held three bets that will allow McIlroy's father, Gerry, and two friends to make more than $300,000 off Rory's win.

One bet — believed to be made by Gerry — was for 200 pounds ($341) at 500/1 odds placed in 2004 for Rory to win the Open within 10 years, Ladbrokes spokeswoman Rachel Bridge said. That bet will pay out $171,000.

Two other bets were placed in 2005, Bridge said. They were for 200 pounds at 250/1 for McIlroy to win by 2015 and 200 pounds at 150/1 for him to win before age 50. Those bets will pay out a combined $136,700, Bridge said.

OUT OF HERE: Rory McIlroy's most important tee shot was on the par-5 16th. He hit it down the middle, leaving him an iron onto the green for a two-putt birdie that restored his lead to three shots with two to play.

His reaction was strange. He turned, glared into the gallery and pointed to someone with the end of his driver. Moments later, police escorted a fan off the property. "He was giving me grief all day, actually," McIlroy said. "And I sort of put up with it for the first 15 holes, and then he deliberately coughed on my downswing on the 16th tee. … So I turned around and got him chucked out, thankfully."

Another close call: Sergio Garcia finished two shots behind McIlroy for his fourth second-place finish at a major, but he had no regrets. "Everyone looks at a second (place) and they want to make it a negative. Not at all," Garcia said. "I did almost everything I could." This also was Garcia's sixth top-3 finish in a major. Only Lee Westwood (eight) has more top-3s without a major win.

you're so fine: Rickie Fowler was the only player to shoot four rounds in the 60s. And he didn't win. "I just got on the gas a little too late," said Fowler, who tied for second with Sergio Garcia. Fowler is the first player to finish in the top 5 of each of the year's first three majors since Tiger Woods in 2005 (Woods won twice). When asked to sum up his play in two words, Fowler said: "Ryder Cup." He'll be on the U.S. team for September's event after his performance.

Woods' worst: In his second tournament since March 31 back surgery, Tiger Woods had his worst 72-hole finish in a major. He closed with 3-over 75 to total 6-over 294, matching his highest score in the British Open. Woods finished 69th. His previous worst was a tie for 40th in the 2013 PGA Championship and the 2012 Masters. Woods was 23 shots behind McIlroy, by six shots his worst deficit in a major. "I just made too many mistakes," he said.