Betfacts / Editor / 18 May 2009 / Leave a comment

Irish Amateur wins the title after dramatic 18th hole missed putt and three-hole play-off!

The 22-year-old Irish amateur Shane Lowry, a [1000.0] shot on Betfair for victory before a ball was struck on Thursday morning, won the Irish Open at Baltray on Sunday afternoon in hugely dramatic circumstances.

Lowry had a two-foot putt on the 18th hole to win the title and amazingly traded at [1.01] on Betfair to make it, only to miss the putt and trigger a play-off with England's Robert Rock - which Lowry eventually won at the third hole.

His victory is surely one of the biggest golf betting upsets in history and is certainly the most dramatic betting story ever to unfold on Irish shores in any sport.

Commenting on the amazing betting story around Lowry, Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said: "A total of €63 was bet on Lowry at the maximum Betfair odds of [1000.0], with plenty more money bet on him at smaller, yet still massive prices.

"Several Betfair punters will be celebrating huge payouts tonight, ironically something Lowry himself won't be doing because his amateur status doesn't allow him to cash the €500,000 winner's cheque.

"He certainly backed himself out there under pressure so hopefully he had a few quid on himself too!"

While the golfing world awaits Lowry's decision on his professional status punters have just the one market in which to back him - the Irish Sports Personality of the Year Award where he currently trades at [25.0]!