FOLLOWING Paddy Power’s €1.7million payout on Rory McIlroy’s maiden major victory at the US Open the bookie has opened betting on how great the Northern Irish wizard will go on to be.
One man who must have been sweating almost as much as the bookies would have been an absent Tiger Woods with McIlroy now more than a threat in preventing the former world No.1 from getting back on track in his quest to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Majors.
Not only is the Boy Wonder 6-1 to tame the Tiger and win more career Majors than the fallen American idol but Paddy Power also offer 12-1 the Holywood star goes on to break Nicklaus’ tally.
However, his first target could be to break Nick Faldo’s European record of six Majors – well within his grasp at just 8-15.
McIlroy, who has already been backed in to 11-2 to win next month’s Open Championship, is 28-1 to lead all four rounds of the Sandwich tournament – just as he did at Congressional – and 22-1 to win both The Open and the US PGA. He’s 3-1 for another Major victory this year.
Paddy Power specials
How many Majors will Rory win? 28-1 only 1, 5-2 between 2-4, 2-1 between 5-7, 10-3 between 8-10, 7-1 between 11-13, 9-1 between 14-18 and 12-1 more than 18.
Rory’s Next Major: 11-2 The Open 2011, 8-1 US PGA 2011, 10-1 US Masters 2012, 12-1 US Open 2012, 16-1 The Open 2012, 16-1 US PGA 2012, 4-7 No major win before 2013.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2011: 4-5 Rory McIlroy, 6-1 Andy Murray, 17-2 Jessica Ennis, David Haye, 25-1 Lee Westwood, 30-1 Alistair Cook, 40-1 Amir Khan, Paul Scholes, Lewis Hamilton, 50-1 Luke Donald.
William Hill specials:
Mcllroy Major Victories In 2011: 1-7 One, 4-1 Two, 25-1 Three.
Next Northern Irish winner of a Major: 8-15 Mcllroy, 11-8 McDowell, 16-1 Clark.
Open Championship outrights: 9/2 Rory McIlroy; 8/1 Lee Westwood; 12/1 Martin Kaymer; 14/1 Luke Donald; 14/1 Tiger Woods; 25/1 Paul Casey; 25/1 Phil Mickelson; 25/1 Graeme McDowell; 25/1 Sergio Garcia; 25/1 Jason Day; 33/1 Padraig Harrington; 33/1 Ian Poulter; 33/1 Charl Schwartzel; 40/1 Justin Rose; 40/1 Steve Stricker; 40/1 Dustin Johnson; 40/1 Nick Watney; 40/1 Hunter Mahan; 40/1 Bubba Watson; 40/1 Matteo Manassero; 50/1 Ernie Els; 50/1 Retief Goosen; 50/1 Ross Fisher; 50/1 Jim Furyk; 50/1 Camilo Villegas; 50/1 KJ Choi; 50/1 Geoff Ogilvy; 50/1 Louis Oosthuizen; 50/1 Matt Kuchar; 50/1 Martin Laird; 66/1 bar.