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With 66/1 odds heading into Friday's play of the 2008 British Open, Greg Norman continued to excel and took over sole position of the lead.
Sportingbet would pay out US$6600 for every US$100 bet if Norman were to ultimately win. His odds were much longer prior to Friday, but those numbers were not readily available to Gambling911.com.
It was over 11 years ago that Tiger Woods took over as world number one from Greg Norman, but at Royal Birkdale on Friday morning it was Norman's turn to step into the place vacated by Woods. The Great White Shark fooled everyone that it was the 1980s again with a brilliant second round of 70 that left him sitting proud atop the leaderboard at the 137th Open Championship.
From his birdie at the first hole, the 53-year-old Norman played superb golf: his driving on a morning of strong wind was superb; his putting average of one and a half per hole well ahead of the field; and his recovery play was astounding, including, as it did, a miraculous bunker shot on the 16th, a bogey snatched from the jaws of disaster on the 17th, and a 25ft par-saving putt on the final green that earned the sort of roar normally reserved for champions on Sunday evening.
It looked as if the fairytale would be spoilt when a perfect drive on the last was betrayed by a couple of mediocre shots to leave Norman with that tricky putt to finish. Yet instead the story of the day was enhanced and underlined, the putt curling round the slope on its inexorable path to the cup.
It seems incredible to say it, but it true: the Shark is back, and he's leading The Open.
Last year's British Open winner was also a huge long shot. Padraig Harrington paid out big especially at Irish-based online bookmakers as his country folk were betting heavily on their native son.
Sportingbet does not accept US bettors. A list of online bookmakers accepting US players can be found in our Sportsbook section.
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Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
Originally published July 18, 2008 2:06 pm EST
