Written by :
Published on :
The online sportsbooks were celebrating following a playoff showdown at the 2009 British Open featuring the most unlikely of golfers. Ultimately, Stuart Cink won paying $3000 and up for every $100 bet.
Tom Watson was looking to become the oldest major champion in golf history. He was such a long shot that even those online sportsbooks offering the largest menu of Open Championship odds - Sportsinteraction.com - did not list Watson by name. Unofficially Watson was considered a 100-1 odds long shot but very few people ended up placing a wager on him due to the limited offering. Instead, he would have paid out on a "field" option (offered at odds of even to 6/1 at a number of online sportsbooks).
Watson missed an 8-foot putt to win on the 72nd hole.
Watson pulled ahead with a tap-in birdie at the par-5 17th, then made things tough at the final hole when he muscled his approach shot past the flag. From the back fringe, he putted 8 feet past the flag on the other side, and he didn't come close on the potential winning putt.
The bogey left him with a 2-over 72 for the round and a 2-under 278 total. Cink, playing four groups ahead, made a birdie at the 18th hole for a 69.
Stewart Cink opened at +8000 odds two weeks ago at Sportsinteraction.com but those odds were cut down to +3000 heading into the 2009 British Open.
The British Open (also commonly known as the Open Championship) is one of the most wagered on sporting events and, in the United Kingdom, it is considered the biggest.
Get your bets in early for the best payout odds on upcoming golf tournaments including the PGA Championship at Sportsinteraction.com
Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
