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Rory McIlroy 11/10.
There’s a long way to go but is that a gift? In a non Olympic or World Cup year, which British sportsman or sportswoman is going to achieve anything better?
The betting is of course a guide to where your dangers come from.
Obviously Littler will be up there but his World Championship win will have been nearly a year before the ceremony and given his age and the fact that he’s clearly going to win more, will people just think that he can have it another year?
Lando Norris will be a big danger if he wins the F1 title especially as it’ll only be a couple of weeks before the ceremony. There are question marks over whether he has the temperament of a champion and he has a team mate who is also very capable.
Jack Draper surely needs Wimbledon in order to be a factor. Even the other slams carry nowhere near as much weight with the wider public.
There is the women’s Euros this summer but only an England win gives one of them a chance. Also the women’s rugby world cup is being held here but again England would need to win and even then I’m not sure it would be enough.
Beyond that there really isn’t anything I can see happening.
I can’t see Littler beating McIlroy. The latter’s achievement with a career grand slam is greater.
I am not concerned about any of the tennis players. It will be a huge surprise if they are able to win Wimbledon.
Norris is a danger and the motor sports fans tend to turn out in force.
I don’t think a female rugby player will win, no matter how much the BBC tries to promote her. One of the “Lionesses” might emerge as a danger and will have the BBC onside – but I wonder if the novelty of voting for one of them in this contest has worn off a little bit now?
McIlroy has achieved something only 5 other players have done, the last two being Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. He is also the first European to achieve it.
I think he will win. And if he can win the Open at Royal Portrush (for which he will start as favourite), the bookmakers may as well open the betting on who will finish in second place.
It’s a very good point that he has another chance to solidify his position. That’s going to be quite some atmosphere when he tees off on the Thursday, if he’s in contention on Sunday then it’ll be nuts!
Littler and McIlroy do seem to both be ‘BBC approved’ so they’ll be happy to promote them. It’s been female winners for a the last four years now including two Lionesses so there can be no accusations that they have been ignored.
I was following the Masters on a combination of their live text and the radio commentary and yesterday they were probably more pro-McIlroy than Englishman Rose.
As you say, Norris will be a big danger if he pulls it off. I was looking at the stats and Formula 1 has the second most winners behind athletics.
Yes, the petrolheads tend to vote as a block.
Laura Davies said on Sky last night that she thinks McIlroy will now win multiple majors because “he will never feel pressure like he did today ever again”.
I know what she means but I think he will still feel the pressure at Portrush. Last time in 2019 he shanked his tee shot on the first hole (I remember it well because I was there), never got going in the first round and eventually missed the cut by one shot.
He is going to want to put the record straight. Realistically he will probably only have two more chances to win at Portrush and he is bound to get a bit tense. Having said that, he still wins if he plays anywhere near his best. He won at Augusta despite carding four double bogeys, including two 7s on the par 5s!
“They were probably more pro-McIlroy than Englishman Rose.”
Which probably won’t please Justin Rose, if he finds out. I followed McIlroy’s group for a few holes at the Open at Hoylake in 2023. He was partnered by Jon Rahm and Rose. Both were clearly getting irritated with the crowd constantly cheering for McIlroy, especially Rose. At one point Rose got a birdie to a more muted reception than McIlroy had received and he started gesturing to the crowd to turn up the volume.
I couldn’t help noticing on the 18th that Rahm and Rose chucked a ball and a glove to the children who had gathered in the stand, while McIlroy ignored them.
I am going to Portrush on the Thursday but trying to get near McIlroy’s group will be a waste of time. I may head out to the 5th green when he tees off on the 1st, just to get in position to see him on one hole.
It’s relatively early days but there are cracks appearing for Norris. He crashed in qualifying yesterday and although he managed to get back up to fourth it’s almost certainly cost him two places and perhaps the win. Every point counts because it is likely to be close at the business end. For me his teammate Piastri is showing that bit more ruthlessness and winning mentality. Verstappen isn’t going down without a fight either and there may come a point where Mclaren have to decide who they focus on.
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