Betting in play turnover records were smashed at Ladbrokes in the final hour of play at Lytham as Adam Scott blew The Open from 1/50.
Els was 25/1 at the start of play on Sunday and 40/1 at the beginning of the week but when Scott landed in the bunker on the 18th, the South African touched 1/12.
David Williams of Ladbrokes said: “The final hour at Lytham was astonishing. Far sighted punters got stuck into Ernie as the wheels started coming off for Adam Scott but all the heavyweight money came for the Aussie in-play.
“The in-play markets went into meltdown with every stutter of Adam Scott’s putter. The Ernie charge caught us by surprise but we’re nowhere near as wounded as Scott and have ended the week in pretty good shape.”
Adam Scott is 2/1 to win a Major in his career whilst Els is 33/1 to successfully defend his crown at Muirfield next year
