Weekend Review: Rory McIlroy claims golf’s Grand Slam with nail-biting Masters win 

A strong weekend for the bookies in the Premier League was offset by Rory McIlroy’s stunning Masters victory on Sunday, as he joined the elite club of golfers to win a Grand Slam.

In the Premier League, Manchester United’s (4/1) woes continued with a 4-1 loss away at Newcastle (3/5), putting the Magpies in a strong position for European qualification.

However, Chelsea’s (1/5) 2-2 draw with Ipswich (11/1) and Brighton (3/10) drawing by the same scoreline to Leicester (8/1) dealt a blow to their European dreams, with the relegation certs able to spoil the party somewhat.

Liverpool’s (1/4) procession to the title continued with a late winner against West Ham (10/1), who had drawn level thanks to a comical own goal from Andy Robertson in the 86th minute.

Arsenal (3/5), perhaps with one eye on the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in mid-week, drew 1-1 at home to Brentford (4/1) as the Gunners lame league form continued.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest (19/20) losing at home to Everton (3/1) 1-0 was a positive, but City’s (13/20) 5-2 demolition of Crystal Palace (4/1) after coming back from 2-0 down was less welcome for the bookies.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “We benefitted from a number of teams having games sandwiched in between key European ties with rotation coming into play and big names being rested.

“Saturday’s returns were more than satisfactory, and it was a similar outcome on Sunday despite a number of early payouts over the weekend.

“Manchester City don’t have Europe to worry, in a game where we ended up paying out on both teams before the hour mark due to our ‘2 goals ahead early payout’ [offer]. We also paid out on Ipswich at Chelsea just after the half hour before the hosts got it back to 2-2.

“Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford was great for both multiples and bet builders, with Thomas Partey being on the scoresheet and the subs doing no damage from the bench.

“The other Premier League 3pm kick offs on Saturday were profitable as 2/7 Brighton drew with Leicester and 10/11 Forest lost at home to Everton, but we gave plenty back on Sunday thanks to wins for Liverpool and Newcastle.”

Betfred’s Alan Firkins added: “Arsenal fluffed their lines at home to Brentford, drawing 1-1, and draws at Chelsea and Brighton were all cracking results for the football desk. Everton’s late winner at Forest went down well, too.”

On the continent, slim wins for Real Madrid (7/10) and Barcelona were welcomed by bet365, with Los Blancos edging past Alaves (4/1) 1-0 while Kylian Mbappé was sent off. Barça (1/4) squeaked past Leganes (10/1) by the same scoreline away from home.

Freeth remarked: “Last weekend we had both Spanish giants dropping points and, while 1/4 Barcelona and 7/10 Real Madrid both returned to the winners’ enclosure this week, it was the manner of their victories which helped us enormously with 1-0 wins in under-par performances that aided us on the bet builder front.

“We did lose on the La Liga games at Athletic Bilbao (17/20) and Osasuna (6/4) but with 6/5 Real Betis losing at home to Villarreal, it was strong weekend in Spain.”

Meanwhile, over at Augusta, Georgia, Rory McIlroy made golfing history as he finally won his coveted Grand Slam at the 11^th attempt following a play-off round against Justin Rose.

The Northern Irishman went into the fourth round on Sunday -12 and ahead of Bryson DeChambeau, before an inexplicable double bogey on the first wiped out his lead.

McIlroy recovered as DeChambeau faltered, while Rose galloped up the leader board to finish -11. McIlroy had the chance to win the famous green jacket on the 18^th, but a bunker shot meant he bogeyed the final hole.

So, onto the play-off round, and McIlroy avoided the same mistake, his second shot this time landing feet from the pin. A routine but nervy putt later, and victory was his.

Freeth said: “I can think of a million or so reasons to be frustrated with Rory McIlroy finally completing the Grand Slam, but sometimes you have to doff your cap to some scintillating sporting action, despite the liabilities.

“The support for him both pre-tournament (13/2) and in-play (biggest 20/1 on Friday) was the strongest I’ve ever seen at the Masters, with many punters predicting that this was his time – and how right they were.”

Firkins likened McIlroy’s moment to that of other great sporting achievements, as he too espoused the excellence displayed in Georgia.

Firkins concluded: For me, it’s right up there with ‘Aguerrrrooooo’, Man United’s ‘Name on the trophy’ in ’99 at the Nou Camp and [Muhammad] Ali and [George] Foreman’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in ’74.

“For sheer drama on an epic scale, Rory McIlroy’s career Grand Slam-clinching Masters win on Sunday night was surely as stunning a piece of nerve-shredding sporting theatre as any that’s gone before. He’s the first European in the now six-man Grand Slam club and although extremely well-backed to do so, no-one will begrudge him this stunning achievement.”

Lee Phelps, William Hill spokesperson, said: “Masters Sunday 2025 will go down as one of the most dramatic we’ve ever seen, but also as one of the most significant in the history of betting on golf for William Hill.

“Rory McIlroy was always the biggest liability in our book before a ball was hit, and the stakes were raised when we announced ‘Money Back as a Free Bet’ if McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam. In total, we’re now looking at a seven-figure payout.

“We laid tens of thousands of individual bets on McIlroy to win the Masters alone, while there was a good spread of business across the competitors this year, with punters safe in the knowledge they had some Rory insurance. In the end it was an amazing sporting moment and it’s great to see Rory in that elite group of golfers.”

Betway spokesman Mike Reading commented: “Rory McIlroy etched his name into the history books last night, finally completing the career Grand Slam he’s pursued for 14 long years with a sensational victory at the Masters. The Northern Irishman was, as ever, a huge fan favourite in the betting – and his win proved to be an absolute nightmare for the book, delivering the worst result imaginable for our golf traders!”

“We have already priced up Rory’s chances of adding more major silverware in 2025. He’s currently 6/4 to win another one or more this season, 16/1 to land three or more, and a 40/1 chance to scoop all the remaining majors on offer.”