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Bookies were the only one's in Great Britain not so happy with the win by Padraig Harrington Sunday - his second straight British Open victory. William Hill, which had gloated the day before that they would not be hurt by a Harrington win, said otherwise late Sunday.
"Last year Harrington cost us a fortune, and this year we're staring into the face of a similar result," said spokesman Tony Kenny.
That British bookmaker was left on the wrong side of €4m payout.
A similar fate was handed to Irish bookmaker, Paddy Power, last year. They had to pay out €5 million following Harrington's win. This year Paddy Power opened Harrington at 18/1 and again had their asses handed to them since everyone in Ireland betting on the 2008 British Open was putting money down on their native son. Either that or face deportation to the United States where they can watch Padraig's second cousin, Joey Harrington, flounder in the NFL.
Heading into the 2008 British Open, Harrington was still a 22/1 long shot to win at online bookmakers throughout the United Kingdom including Gambling911.com endorsed Sportingbet. That betting firm feared the worse when England's Ian Poulter flirted with the lead down the stretch.
The worst thing for a bookie - especially one residing in the United Kingdom - is to have a golfer from the region winning the most bet on event of the year. More money is placed on the British Open in the UK than any other single event.
"It's a similar situation to having England play in the World Cup," explains Alistair Prescott of Gambling911.com. "You would have every British household placing money on England, and probably a few people per household at that. Wilst, it's a disaster for the bookie who must pay out millions to jolly punters."
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com
Originally published July 21, 2008 10:48 pm EST
