Hey there, sports fans! Today, something truly remarkable happened in the world of golf. Irish golfer Rory McIlroy just won the British Open, and let me tell you, it’s a win that’s making waves. Rory, now the third youngest ever to claim this prestigious title, joins the ranks of golf legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, who each won the tournament at the ripe age of 24. With his victory, Rory isn’t just walking away with the coveted trophy; he’s also taking home a hefty $1.66 million prize. This win bumps his career earnings to an impressive $33 million. But guess what? Rory isn’t the only McIlroy celebrating today—his dad, Gerry, has a story that’s just as incredible.

How a £200 Bet Changed Everything

Let’s rewind 10 years ago, back when Rory was just 15 years old. At that time, he was already showing signs of being a golf prodigy, but he was still three years away from turning pro. Gerry McIlroy, Rory’s dad, did something pretty gutsy—he placed a £200 bet that his son would win the British Open before his 26th birthday. Now, that might not sound like much, but let’s put this into perspective. Gerry and three of his friends pooled their money together, bringing the total bet up to £400 (about $683 USD). The bookie at the time thought it was such a long shot that they offered the highest odds allowable. Who would’ve thought that this bet would pay off in such a big way?

Rory Delivers—And Then Some

Fast forward to today, and guess what? Rory just won the British Open. And how old is he now? A spry 25 years old. This victory means not only is Rory walking away with $1.66 million, but Gerry and his three friends are about to split a staggering $342,000 from that original £400 bet. That’s right—$342,000 from a $680 bet. Somewhere in Belfast, Ireland, where the McIlorys call home, there’s probably a bookie drowning his sorrows in a pint of Guinness or a bottle of Jameson. Check out this photo of Rory with his parents and the trophy, along with a screenshot of a tweet confirming the validity of this legendary bet:

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Gratitude Runs Deep

Even though Rory is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, with a personal net worth of $50 million and a 10-year, $75 million Nike contract, that $341,000 won’t go unnoticed by his parents. You see, both of them worked incredibly hard to support Rory’s early golf career. At the time Gerry placed the bet, he was working 100 hours a week as a bartender. In 2009, Gerry reminisced about those tough early years:

“From 12pm to 6pm, I was a bartender at Holywood Golf Club, then, after going home for tea, I’d return to the sports club from 7pm-midnight to work behind the bar. I am a working-class man, and that’s all I knew—to get the money we needed for Rory to be able to learn and compete at golf.”

Thankfully, those days are long gone. Winning this bet is a testament to the sacrifices made by the McIlroy family. To show his gratitude, Rory recently bought his parents a beautiful mansion in the suburbs. In his own words:

“I’ll never be able to repay Mum and Dad for what they did, but at least they know they’ll never have to work another day. I’ll do whatever it takes to look after them.”

Tiger Woods: Where Were You?

And in case you were wondering about another golfing great, Tiger Woods finished in 69th place. Yes, you heard that right—69th place. No joke here, folks.