This seems impossible: Bob Bubka, a radio golf analyst from Long Island, predicted on Ireland's Sportstalk Radio that Lucas Glover would win the U.S. Open. I'll be honest: I've never heard of Bubka, but apparently he's well known in degenerate gambling circles; his opinion was enough to move the odds from 175-1 to 11-8. Still, Paddy Power, a legal bookmaker, reported losses of $1.6 million, citing a "betting frenzy" following Bubka's radio appearance. But unlike some people who just stared at the list of players in the U.S. Open field and randomly selected a name (see me, for example), Bubka actually knows what he's talking about.
Via Newsday:
Bubka, an East Hampton native who has covered the tour for years and now is known as the voice of World Golf Radio, said he has been kidded by buddies that he was a personal economic stimulus for bettors in Ireland.Newsday adds that Bubka hasn't yet named his favorite for the British Open, but he did point out that he also liked Angel Cabrera to win the 2009 Masters. Which must come as a relief to Kenny Perry, who probably thought he was responsible for losing that tournament.
He explained that one night early in the week, he had dinner with Butch Harmon, swing coach to Phil Mickelson and other pros. "Our discussions naturally got around to Dick Harmon, who was a good friend of mine," Bubka said about Butch's late brother, who had been Glover's mentor and close friend.
With Glover on his mind, Bubka sought out the golfer and his caddie on the Bethpage driving range the next day. Both men told the reporter that Glover had "found something" that worked during the Open qualifier. "I told him, 'If you found something, that's good enough for me,' " Bubka said.
Via SbB
