Betfacts / Joe Dyer / 10 December 2007 / 4 Comments

Bickerton - backed at 300 - the happy beneficiary

A final hole disaster from Ernie Els in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa caused betting mayhem on Betfair.

Over £34,000 was matched on Els at the minimum price of [1.01] on Betfair, as the South African stood on the tee of the 18th hole two shots clear of clubhouse leader John Bickerton.

But Els pressed the self-destruct button, shooting a triple-bogey eight, twice finding the water, to hand Bickerton a shock win.

Bickerton was backed at a high of [300.0] on the exchange, with £37 matched at that price and all odds down from [280.0] were also taken.

The very surprised winner said: "Disbelief - that's all I can say," said Bickerton.

"I was just hoping to finish second, and I wasn't even watching Ernie play the last.

"I actually feel sorry for him, but of course this is fantastic news for me in terms of my career

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "Els' supporters would not have been happy, but his [1.01] layers effectively backed a 100-1 winner and those who secured three-figure prices about Bickerton will also be raising a glass to Ernie's capitulation."

Els will not have long to get over his final hole disaster. The South African tees up again on Thursday when he competes in his home Open.

The Big Easy currently trades as the [5.9] favourite to win in a field including fellow countrymen Trevor Immelman [9.8], Retief Goosen [13.0] and Tim Clark [15.5].

Comments (4)

1. Craig S | 10 December 2007

   An absolute disaster for Els backers on Sunday but what a result for English golf and Bickerton. Also anyone who had a bit of money on him to win. However it could be worth a punt on Els for the South African Open as, if ever there was a time for a top golfer to come back and prove his credentials again, it is Els this week.

2. Northern Lad | 10 December 2007

   An absolute criminal, and totally unexpected comedy of errors by Ernie.

   Standing in the middle of the fairway, with over 200 yards to go, who would have thought it would be 7 shots later that the ball would be in the whole.

   What was Ernie thinking of going for the green when he had so many shots in hand? He had to cross water for crying out loud - lay up, take two to get down and win by two - in fact take a bogey if you like. But to go for the green, pop it in the water twice was something you just don't expect from a world class, experienced golfer like Ernie Els.

   However, it does carry on the bizarre trend of last hole collapses of recent weeks. Karlsson, Rose and now Ernie have all made at least double bogeys on the last when a par would have won.

   But then again, if Monty can do it in a US Open, then anyone can do it.

3. Northern Lad | 11 December 2007

   I might have meant a 'hole' not a 'whole' lol

4. Craig S | 20 December 2007

   It's all about the pressure Northern Lad! Even the most experienced players can get the jitters at times! I think Els has been aware that his form has not been the greatest of late and it maybe got to him as he pondered breaking his duck.

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