Europe defied in-play odds of 33/1 with Ladbrokes to win the Ryder Cup and are already chalked up as 4/5 favourites to win in 2014 with the US 5/4
As Europe were staring down a projected defeat of 16-12 nifty punters that still had faith in the visitors could have backed them as big as 33/1 shortly after 8pm as it looked like a shoo-in for the Americans who were heavily odds-on at 1/200 to win the Ryder Cup, consequently seeing the biggest in-play odds swing in golf tournament history.
Jose-Maria Olazabal’s team began Sunday’s play as the 9/1 outsiders and only became the favourites at 10.55pm where they were quoted at 5/6, however just minutes later at 11.10pm they had drifted out to 3/1 as Tiger Woods looked a certainty to tie the result (1/5) 14-14, but his left putt triggered a payout to punters of over £650,000 – making it the most expensive Ryder Cup of all time.
Ian Poulter’s heroics on Saturday night started the comeback and the one-way pre-tournament traffic for America dried up as the money came in for a European miracle at Medinah. The Englishman was also heavily backed to be the top the overall points scorer (14/1) as well top European (8/1).
And such is Poulter’s popularity in the UK he now also finds himself as the sixth favourite at 33/1 to win this year’s BBC SPOTY award, having previously been unquoted before entering the market at 200/1. Rory McIlroy has also been cut to 80/1 (from 100/1).
Confidence will no doubt be high as the European squad take to the greens of Gleneagles in 2014 where they’re already chalked up as the 4/5 favourites, leaving USA with a 5/4 chance of causing an upset and taking the Ryder Cup home with them.
It’s 25/1 that Rory McIlroy officially endorses a well-known alarm clock brand before the end of 2012 following his late arrival on the course.
Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes told betrescue.com: “We’ve never seen such a huge swing in the odds in the history of golf betting. America’s name was already being engraved on the Ryder Cup as far as we were concerned, but Europe fought back and defied the odds. Poulter’s resurrection for Europe saw every man and his dog back the visitors to come away victorious.”
She added: “It’s safe to say that Tiger’s not on our Christmas card list this year. He’s left us penniless but we’ll be celebrating empty handed nonetheless.”
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