Father Knows Best: McIlroy's Open Win Cashes Dad's 2004 Wager

Published on 20-Jul-2014 by J Square Humboldt

Golf    Golf Daily Update

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Father Knows Best: McIlroy's Open Win Cashes Dad's 2004 Wager

25-year-old Ulsterman Rory McIlroy joined Jack Niclaus (23) and Tiger Woods (24) as the only golfers in the Grand Slam era (1934 onward) to claim The Openat the tender age of 25 or younger.

But he's got the only dad who went to the till to put his dosh where his kid's future was.

That went down in 2004, when young Rory was only 15. The deal was he'd seal it by the time he was 25. So he did.

As detailed in London's Daily Mail, McIlroy's third-round eagle at the 18th hole initiated the cruising point.

McIlroy's eagle at the Open

The Hoylake Golf Links at Royal Liverpool offered few obstacles for McIlroy in the final round, and those that appeared weren't enough to re-claim the seven strokes that separated him from his closest pursuers. Sergio Garcia displayed the mercurial form that puts second place as his ceiling at majors, and Rickie Fowler -- resplendent in Oklahoma State colors and a cap that looks like someone stole it from the mall for him -- couldn't leverage his final-round pairing with the leader to muster a match-play atmosphere.

So, while Rory gets his name engraved on the famous claret jug, dad Gerry and his mates get to decide how to spend their personal shares -- $85,400 each -- of the winning ticket.

That payday ranks well behind Rory's prize of £1,000,000 -- that's $1,708,271 if he cashes it today -- and even his caddy's take of at least £100,000.

But it's the belief 10 years ago that counts.