Rory McIlroy's dad has never doubted his son's abilities, and here is a £100,000 worth of bet winnings to prove it.
When Rory was still 15 years old, his father, Gerry McIlroy, a bar steward the, has placed a £200 bet on his son, that he will win the Open Championship before his 26th birthday.
Now, the 25-year-old Rory has won the British Open and took home the Claret Jug at the Royal Liverpool after winning two shots last weekend. His father is now £100,000 richer because of the said tournament.
He has more winnings that Tiger Woods, who only took home £12,500, or $21,000.
In fact, two of Ladbrokes' friends will also earn more than Woods, after a betting s similar scenario, which will amount to a further £80,000.
Rory, the champion said, "I don't think it matters so much to my dad any more, but the mates he did it with, I think they're a little happier."
Jessica Bridge from Ladbrokes said, "As the family celebrations get under way there'll be an extra bottle or two of bubbly courtesy of the bookies. This is the most expensive Open result since Tiger Woods's heyday in 2006, but although we're facing heavy losses, we can't help but admire the foresight of Rory's dad and his pals a decade ago. It's not the first time a famous parent has taken us to the cleaners. Lewis Hamilton's family and friends cashed in from bets placed when the F1 star was just nine years old."
Gerry McIlroy and his wife Rosie, Rory's mother has said to influence Rory greatly to win at the sport of professional golf. They were not the richest of families, and at one point the father has said that he worked 100 hours to finance Rory's games in amateur events. "I am a working-class man and that's all I knew - to get the money we needed for Rory to be able to learn and compete at golf."
with reports from: theguardian.com
