Rory McIlroy's father wins $171K

[Bob Of Burleson]

By Darren Rovell | ESPN.com

A spokesperson for British betting firm Ladbrokes confirmed on Sunday afternoon that it had held three bets that will allow Rory McIlroy's father Gerry and his friends to make more than $300,000 off his son's victory at Hoylake.

Ladbrokes' Rachel Bridge told ESPN.com that one bet -- believed to be made by McIlroy's father -- was a 200-pound wager ($341) at 500/1 odds placed in 2004 for his son to win within 10 years. That bet will pay out $171,000.

Ladbrokes first revealed on Twitter that it was paying out the winnings.

Two other bets, which Bridge says the firm believes were placed by friends of McIlroy's father, were placed in 2005.

Those bets, Bridge said, were for 200 pounds at 250/1 for him to win The Open by 2015 and 200 pounds at 150/1 for McIlroy to win The Open before age 50. Those bets will pay out a combined $136,700.

"We take the chance on bets like these," Bridge said. "We can make a lot money, but it's a big risk if one comes through. Unfortunately, on this one, we have egg on our face. Rory's father and his friends are having champagne on us tonight."

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