New British Open champion Darren Clarke has been installed as odds on favourite to win the Sports Personality of the Year award as bookmakers begin pricing up markets on what the Northern Irishman can achieve next. Clarke is 8/15 on with William Hill bookmakers, while he can be backed at long odds to add to his maiden major title.
Clarke became the oldest Open champion and the oldest first time major winner since 1967 and it remains to be seen what the 42-year-old can go on to achieve. Clarke showed remarkable skill in difficult weather conditions at Royal St George’s as he held his nerve to clinch the Claret Jug.
He finished five under par to win by three shots from Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, and what was more remarkable was the fact it was his twentieth Open Championship appearance. Furthermore, he provided the UK with a first winner since Paul Lawrie in 1999 and it was his first appearance in the top ten of a major for a decade.
The win has propelled Clarke to odds on favourite for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award later this year, with fellow Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy, his nearest rival at 7/4. It has been a remarkable year for golf in Northern Ireland as Clarke, McIlroy and Graeme McDowell have now all won a major in the past 13 months. From other sports, the best of the rest is Jessica Ennis at 7/1 and Andy Murray at 25/1, with Murray needing to win the US Open next month to stand any chance.
Once the celebration party stops, Clarke will have to get back to the business of playing golf and he is long odds on to retain his British Open title at Royal Lytham and St Annes next year. William Hill price him at odds of 66/1 for the 2012 Open Championship, with Lee Westwood and Luke Donald both 14/1 to provide an English winner after missing the cut this weekend. Tiger Woods is as short as 12/1 as he continues his attempts to return to golf and US Open champion McIlroy is currently an 8/1 favourite with WilliamHill.com.
McIlroy though has vowed not to change his game after struggling again on the links course this year and he has admitted that he doesn’t enjoy the way the weather plays such a big part in links golf.
Of more immediate concern though is the final major of the year, the USPGA Championship, next month. McIlroy is favourite for that one too at 8/1, with Phil Mickelson next best at 10/1, with Woods following at 12/1, along with Donald and Westwood, who are still searching for their first major wins.
Clarke though has proved that age is no barrier to winning a major title and he is a huge 66/1 to win back-to-back majors next month, but for now he is a hot favourite to be Sports Personality of the Year.
Sports Personality of the Year Betting
8/15 Darren Clarke
7/4 Rory McIlroy
7/1 Jessica Ennis
25/1 Andy Murray
40/1 Alastair Cook
40/1 Mark Cavendish
50/1 BAR
USPGA Championship 2011 Odds
8/1 Rory McIlroy
10/1 Phil Mickelson
12/1 Lee Westwood
12/1 Tiger Woods
16/1 Martin Kaymer
20/1 Dustin Johnson
- 66/1 Darren Clarke
British Open 2012 Odds
8/1 Rory McIlroy
12/1 Tiger Woods
14/1 Lee Westwood
14/1 Luke Donald
16/1 Martin Kaymer
20/1 Phil Mickelson
- 66/1 Darren Clarke
Odds supplied by WilliamHill.com, who provide a variety of odds, betting and specials markets for golf tournaments throughout the year.
Posted: Monday, 18th July 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: british open, darren clarke, sports personality of the year, uspga championship, william hill,
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