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'This is insane': Punter turns $8 into $1 million at Ryder Cup

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Spieth, pictured here after tying their singles match at the Ryder Cup.
Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Spieth shake hands after tying their singles match at the Ryder Cup. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images) (PGA TOUR)

A punter in America has pulled off arguably the bet of the year, turning $8 into nearly $1 million thanks to the Ryder Cup.

The unnamed bettor reportedly nailed a 12-leg multi in the Ryder Cup singles, correctly predicting the outcome of every match on Sunday at Whistling Straits.

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According to renowned sports betting expert Darren Rovell, the punter won US$966,290 from an $8 outlay.

Labelling it the "sports bet of the year", Rovell wrote: "Bettor somehow predicted ties between Morikawa and Hovland and Spieth and Fleetwood."

Some of the more extraordinary outcomes of the 12-leg multi included:

  • Rory McIlroy to defeat Xander Schauffele, despite McIlroy previously going winless and Schauffele undefeated

  • Scottie Scheffler to defeat World No.1 Jon Rahm

  • Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland to tie

  • Jordan Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood to tie

  • Paul Casey to miss a short putt on the final hole to give Dustin Johnson victory

  • Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood to win

  • Matt Fitzpatrick to lose after leading early

Social media users were left gobsmacked after Rovell posted the bet on Twitter.

USA crush Europe to reclaim Ryder Cup trophy

Trailing 11-5 heading into the final day's singles, Europe registered just three individual wins - with experienced trio Poulter, McIlroy and Westwood all scoring their first points of the week.

Poulter sprung to the defence of Europe captain Padraig Harrington in the wake of their record defeat.

"The toughest bit about all of this is this is going to be hard because Paddy will be questioned and that is not fair," Poulter told Sky Sports.

"He has done a great job but we have been outplayed."

McIlroy's most difficult week at the Ryder Cup - one of his most difficult weeks in golf - came to a merciful and bittersweet close.

"I've been extremely disappointed that I haven't contributed more to this team," McIlroy said, after his 3-and-2 victory over Schauffele.

Europe fell 19-9 - the most lopsided loss under the current format that dates to 1979.

In the post-defeat dissection that's sure to come for a European team that had won nine of the last 12 of these meetings, certainly the disappearing act by McIlroy will be one of the top talking points.

The Americans, pictured here with the trophy after winning the Ryder Cup.
The Americans celebrate with the trophy after winning the Ryder Cup. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images) (PGA TOUR)

But Europe's issues went deeper than that, and the match-up against the US doesn't look great for the near future.

Europe had four 40-somethings - Westwood, Poulter, Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia - while America had none that old.

That 40-plus crowd went 5-9 over three days, a mark that would've been worse had Garcia not been paired with Rahm for three wins in fourball and foursomes to start the week.

Eight of America's 12 players are in their 20s; 11 of them were ranked in the top 20 in the world rankings.

"The US were very strong," Harrington said. "Whatever their plan was, they got it right this week. A strong team, played well... It's a great win for them."

with AAP

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