WILLIAM HILL were breathing a sigh of relief on Monday morning following JJ Spaun’s stunning and unexpected triumph at the US Open.
The American, a 125/1 outsider before the tournament began, produced a dramatic finish at Oakmont to clinch his first major – and in doing so, saved the bookmaker from a significant payout.
Spaun was backed by just 1% of punters before the event, with the majority of bets placed on favourites such as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
Late money poured in for the likes of Viktor Hovland, Robert MacIntyre, and Tyrrell Hatton during the final round, with the trio accounting for a combined 9% of the outright market.
Spaun, however, was still trading at around 6/5 before he teed off at the 17th, but a birdie there was followed by a clutch 64-foot birdie putt at the 18th to win by two shots on one under par.
Lee Phelps, spokesperson for William Hill, said: “J.J. Spaun’s stunning victory at the U.S. Open may have taken golf fans by surprise, but it was a welcome result here at William Hill, with the little-backed American sparing us from what could have been a costly Sunday evening.
“Spaun took just 1% of pre-tournament bets at a price of 125/1, making him a positive result in our book – especially considering some late charges by Viktor Hovland, Robert MacIntyre, and Tyrrell Hatton, who collectively accounted for 9% of the outright market.
“Had Justin Rose or Shane Lowry lifted the trophy, we’d be telling a very different story. Both were among the biggest liabilities for us heading into the week and were well supported early on.
“It was still all to play for during the closing holes – Spaun was priced at 6/5 before teeing off on the 17th, but a brilliant birdie-birdie finish saw him close with a two-shot cushion over MacIntyre and secure the title in style, holing a 64-foot putt.”
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – GambleAware.org
Read our guide on responsible gambling practices.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
