Press Releases
THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO THE OLD COURSE AT ST ANDREWS FOR THE 150TH EDITION
Rory McIlroy is installed as the favorite to win the final major of 2022 and the last
top field golf may see for the foreseeable future, according to TheLines.com
After top-10 finishes in the first three majors of 2022, Rory McIlroy has
claimed favorite status heading into the 150th U.S. Open, being played at the
birthplace of golf, the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, according to TheLines,
which tracks odds in the U.S. regulated sports betting market.
A consensus of the nation’s largest legal online sportsbooks — including DraftKings,
FanDuel, and BetMGM — places McIlroy at +1000 to win the Open Championship
outright, meaning bettors would win $1,000 for every $100 wagered. Xander
Schauffele, who won last week at the Scottish Open and who is looking for that
elusive first major, is next on the favorites list at a consensus +1400. World No. 1-
ranked player Scottie Scheffler is part of a trio at +1600 to open the week along with
Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth. U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick is next at
+1800 with PGA Champion Justin Thomas at +2000.
McIlroy, the 33-year-old Northern Irishman, is looking for his fifth career major title
and his first since 2014. His game is in strong form, with top-10 finishes in each major
this year and a win at the RBC Canadian Open last month.
This is the 29th time the Open has been contested at the Old Course. Past winners at
this course in the field this week includes John Daly, Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen
and, of course, Tiger Woods, who won here in 2000 and 2005.
Woods skipped last month’s U.S. Open to give his body a chance to recuperate ahead
of the Open Championship. The aging superstar is 17 months removed from a car
accident that caused multiple leg injuries. He is listed at a consensus +6500 to open
the week.
The Old Course features wide fairways, a number of large double-greens and 14 par-4s
on the 7,305-yard out-and-back track. Firm conditions should lead to the course
playing much shorter than the listed yardage in calm conditions. But weather is the
great equalizer and winds and rains are possible later in the week.
“This is one of the strongest fields we’ve seen with 50 of the top 51 players set to tee
it up this week,” said Brett Collson, lead analyst at TheLines.com. “With a strong
field and a course that could be carved up by longer players if the weather stays
down, bettors will keep a sharp eye on how the forecast develops over the week.”
This may be the last top field professional golf will see for sometime. Players on the
LIV Golf, the Saudi Arabian-backed breakaway tour that has dominated headlines this
year can no longer accrue Official World Golf Ranking points outside of the major
tournaments. That makes it fair to consider that this might be the last major
championship that includes such a deep list of the best golfers in the world.
Consensus odds for the 10 favorites ahead of this year’s British Open, as of Monday,
June 11:
● Rory McIlroy (+1000)
● Xander Schauffele (+1400)
● Jon Rahm (+1600)
● Scottie Scheffler (+1600)
● Jordan Spieth (+1600)
● Matthew Fitzpatrick (+1800)
● Justin Thomas (+2000)
● Shane Lowry (+2200)
● Cameron Smith (+2600)
● Patrick Cantlay (+2200)
Following the success of its installation at Winpot Puebla, Zitro strengthens its partnership with the Mexican operator by launching its innovative line of CONCEPT cabinets at Winpot Boca del Río.
CONCEPT arrives with Zitro’s perfect game combo: Legendary Sword and King Fu Frog. Thanks to their high-quality graphics and innovative mechanics, both titles are designed to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience. The machines feature the Magic Lighting system, which synchronizes lights and sounds with the game, in addition to their modern Screen Deck, providing greater comfort and functionality for players and the operations team, among many other features that make it a worldwide success.
Anuar Haua, Operations Director of Winpot, commented: “After our success with the CONCEPT cabinets in our Puebla venue, it was natural to bring this experience to the Boca del Río public. The response from our players has been incredible, and with this new installation, we reaffirm our commitment to offering the best of the market, hand in hand with Zitro.”
Johnny Ortiz Viveiros, founder of Zitro, added: “We are proud to see how CONCEPT continues to gain ground in Mexico, now also at Winpot Boca del Río. This collaboration reflects the mutual commitment we share with Winpot to elevate the player experience through technology, design, and innovation.”
Justin Simporios is normally a sound sleeper who “can fall asleep anywhere” – but he had a very sleepless night, after learning he won an $80-million Lotto Max jackpot from the May 9, 2025 draw. This is the largest lottery jackpot ever won in B.C. and is also the largest jackpot ever won by a single individual in Canada.
“It was 10:30 p.m.,” recalled Simporios of the moment he realized he won. “I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey. I was joking and told my wife ‘we’re millionaires!’ and she told me to stop making that joke. After, I manually checked each number before scanning [using the BCLC Lotto! I cried and shouted, ‘we’re millionaires!’”
The Surrey resident woke up his wife to share the news. “She was in complete disbelief and a bit mad at me because our daughter wasn’t feeling well.” Simporios’ wife luckily agreed this was a good reason to wake her.
While still in disbelief about his win, Simporios is ultimately most excited to share his windfall with his family. “I want to help my family and my wife’s family. I’ll pay off my sister’s medical school debt and help my mom retire early – just giving my family a head start in life.”
Giving back to the community in Surrey and B.C. is also a key priority for Simporios. “I’ve struggled before and needed help. Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream.”
As an avid LA Lakers fan, Simporios mentioned he would like to see LeBron James play before James retires. He also plans to visit his family in the Philippines for a family reunion. “My wife and kid have never visited!”
On how it feels to win a record-breaking jackpot?
“The biggest change will be having more time with my wife and family. We want to live with a purpose – to help the community around us.”
Simporios purchased the winning ticket at the Walmart Supercentre in Central City on King George Boulevard in Surrey.
So far in 2025, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $101 million from Lotto Max. Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays after 7:30 p.m. (PST).
Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or at PlayNow.com. Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at www.bclc.com. Players can check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices. Learn more about the BCLC Lotto!
BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits.
LEON Esports, the international esports division of Leon.bet, has officially become the international partner of SAW, one of the leading Counter-Strike 2 teams in Europe.
Based in Portugal, SAW is currently ranked #24 in the global CS2 rankings (HLTV) and maintains a strong position within the Top 30. The team is recognized for its competitive consistency, professional structure, and growing fanbase across Europe.
This partnership marks the second major esports collaboration for LEON Esports, following its ongoing cooperation with FlyQuest. The agreement with SAW reflects LEON’s continued commitment to the development of the global esports ecosystem and its support for high-performing international teams.
The cooperation will include a range of joint initiatives, such as exclusive content creation, community activations, and brand integrations designed to strengthen the connection between the team and its audience.
With this new partnership, LEON Esports continues to expand its presence in international esports and invest in teams that demonstrate both potential and performance on the world stage.
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